The promise of Malaysia’s old-new leader

An autocratic politician emerges from retirement at age 92 to defeat his handpicked but appallingly corrupt successor, and to clear the way for a former deputy he had imprisoned on trumped-up charges. It’s an unlikely plot for a political thriller, but that’s what is happening in Malaysia. And if things play out according to Mahathir Mohamad’s plan, the situation could represent a rare, if curious, victory for democracy in a part of the world where the trend has been in the opposite direction.

Mr. Mahathir, the nonagenarian, dominated Malaysian politics as prime minister from 1981 to 2003, guiding the country through rapid modernization and economic expansion. He also ran the nation with an iron fist, and among his victims was his charismatic protégé, deputy and presumed heir, Anwar Ibrahim, who was imprisoned in 1998 on sham charges of sodomy and corruption. Instead, Mr. Mahathir was followed in office by two handpicked successors.

The second of these, Najib Razak, stands accused of staggering corruption. The American Justice Department, which has been investigating the theft of Malaysian public funds because they were laundered through the United States, says at least $3.5 billion was stolen under Mr. Najib, with $731 million ending up in his personal account.

Declaring his choice of Mr. Najib as a successor “the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life,” Mr. Mahathir threw his hat in the ring in the recent national elections, this time as head of the opposition coalition that had been led by Mr. Anwar until he was thrown in prison a second time, in 2015, again on politically motivated charges. Despite trying every dirty trick in the book, Mr. Najib lost, and on Thursday Mr. Mahathir was sworn in once again as prime minister, making him the oldest government leader in the world. Mr. Mahathir has made good on his promise to seek a pardon for Mr. Anwar, who could succeed him.

Mr. Mahathir’s return does raise questions. He has not apologized for how he led Malaysia the first time, including the way he treated opponents, like Mr. Anwar. But Mr. Anwar makes no excuses for teaming up with the only politician with the popularity and standing to unseat Mr. Najib and set Malaysia back on course. At his last court appearance, Mr. Anwar said the opposition was not supporting Mr. Mahathir the person, but rather “the reform agenda he has committed to.”

Malaysia’s government faces a rough road ahead, including investigations into the lost state funds that must avoid the appearance of a witch hunt. But the way has been made easier by Mr. Mahathir’s return to demonstrate that democratic processes do work. All that remains is for him to make good on his pledge to take his final curtain call as soon as Mr. Anwar returns.