Dr M Floats Like A Butterfly Stings Like A Bee

---

At 93, Dr Mahathir Mohamad is healthy, debonair, filled with youthful vigour, and works even harder than most of us less than half his age. A lot of us passed from our teenage years into adulthood when Mahathir was prime minister from 1981 to 2003. It is hard to believe time has passed so fast. It seems like it was just yesterday. Mahathir, who is calm in making decisions and managing problems in an organised manner, has returned to power strongly. He came out of retirement 15 years after stepping down to contest for reelection. Now, he is more active than ever, crisscrossing the world as the prime minister again, and this time, capably leading a coalition with diverse political leaders. The year 2018 saw Mahathir becoming the oldest world leader, and one of great standing around the world. Moreover, the 14th general election was a Malaysian tsunami, which saw a swing of Malay, Chinese and Indian voters – or a revolt of Malay voters – against BN
As the most influential force in Malaysian politics today, he is both kingmaker and kingslayer. With his bold reforms – including placing Malaysia on a stronger economic footing – aimed at ensuring greater benefits for all segments of the society, Mahathir floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee
He campaigned on an anti-corruption platform during GE14 and has freed Malaysia from a kleptocracy. He is committed to democratic, administrative, and institutional reforms to rid the country from rampant corruption, high debt, racism and economic mismanagement
Old politics is doomed. Now is the era of New Malaysia, which means the new government will have to go back to an era of greater integrity, rule of law, respect for the wishes of the people, equal opportunity in education and a decline of race-based politics
Mahathir – once a pisang goreng seller boy during the Japanese occupation and later became a popular doctor in the kampung – climbed the political ladder to lead the country, and engineered an economic boom in the 1980s and 1990s
The prime minister-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated his full support for the government led by Mahathir. Both put aside their two-decade-old political feud and teamed up to help Pakatan Harapan win GE14. DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, after spending almost 50 years of his life in the opposition, has called on all Malaysians to support Mahathir in this first change of power since independence in 1957
The exodus of Umno leaders is also a clear indication that the party is fragmented and becoming more and more irrelevant. As many as 36 BN lawmakers have pledged their support for Mahathir, including two from MIC and one from Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang recently said Umno is now a sinking ship
After serving as prime minister for 22 years, Mahathir is known for bringing political and economic reforms, and is now insistent on bringing about reforms to increase Malaysia’s self-reliance and assertiveness
He is now seen as a ‘legendary leader’ to Generation Z. Truly, he is a strategic thinker, a remarkable and sensational leader, bringing Malaysia from Vision 2020 to 2025
Malaysia is a blessed nation endowed with a wealth of resources. The future of Malaysia rests with the young generation
I call on young Malaysians to emulate Mahathir’s work culture in bringing about a country built on excellence
M VIVEK had served as an aide to several former MIC deputy ministers. -Mkini

---