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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright May 2024
If there's one thing Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad excels at, it's delivering scathing commentary wrapped in the deceptive guise of earnest concern.
During the recent Nikkei’s 29th Future of Asia Forum in Tokyo, the elder statesman managed to pack a lecture, a lament, and a lesson in leadership all into a single response.
And who was the not-so-subtle target of this wisdom? None other than Anwar Ibrahim and his government.
Dr. Mahathir began with a perfunctory nod to Malaysia's potential, stating, “I believe that Malaysia has a good future. But of course, it depends on the leadership, which plays a big role in any country.”
This is the verbal equivalent of saying your old clunker of a car has potential—if only it had a better driver.
He then swiftly shifted gears to dissect the crux of Malaysia’s alleged predicament: democracy and its inconvenient reliance on popularity. "Presently, we are not doing so well because the democratic system depends on popularity," he remarked, cutting straight to the heart of what he perceives as the nation’s malaise.
Popular leaders, he implied, are often inept. This, of course, is a thinly veiled jab at Anwar’s administration, which rose to power on a wave of popular support.
"The people elected might be popular, but not necessarily capable or competent enough in running the country," he continued, as if to hammer home the distinction between winning a popularity contest and actually governing.
One could almost hear the collective sigh of seasoned bureaucrats and policy wonks who, in Mahathir's world, presumably know better but are sidelined by the charm of the ballot box.
In a particularly deft move, Dr. Mahathir juxtaposed popularity with proficiency: “Although they are popular, but they don't know how to run or develop a country. The country cannot develop well.”
Here, he positioned himself as the wise elder, ruefully observing the folly of the younger, more glamorous crowd in charge. It's a statement dripping with the kind of world-weary cynicism that suggests Mahathir has seen it all—and, perhaps, done it all better.
Finally, he offered a sliver of hope—or perhaps a challenge cloaked as advice: “Therefore, it is hoped that in the future, the government will be formed by younger people who are qualified and educated, allowing Malaysia to explore all the resources available.”
This could be read as a begrudging acknowledgment that time marches on and the baton must be passed. But more likely, it is a calculated swipe, insinuating that the current crop doesn't measure up, and that future leaders—if properly educated and competent—might finally unlock Malaysia's full potential.
In essence, Mahathir's remarks at the forum were a masterclass in political shade. He acknowledged the nation's potential, criticised the current leadership’s qualifications, and laid out his vision for a future government led by, presumably, a more capable generation.
It’s a narrative that neatly sidesteps his own contentious tenure while casting a long shadow over Anwar's government.
For those versed in the fine art of realpolitik, Dr. Mahathir's comments are a reminder that in politics, the sharpest knives are often sheathed in velvet.
His speech in Tokyo was less a critique and more a calculated reassertion of his own enduring influence and perspective.
After all, in the theatre of Malaysian politics, no one plays the role of the elder statesman quite like Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. He is just a Grandfather giving advice to the next generation.
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