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By Mihar Dias Copyright ((C) September 2023
In a political landscape that often feels like an ever-revolving stage of drama full of plots and intrigues, the recent news of 98-year-old former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad accepting the role of adviser to Perikatan Nasional’s State Government 4 (SG4) has left many scratching their heads.
While some hail this as a strategic move, positioning Dr. Mahathir as the de facto leader of PN, others question the wisdom of resurrecting a political relic. Netizens have come forward advising the elder statesman to retire.
But the bigger question here is, why do some fear an old man's return to power?
Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak, the former Sabah chief minister, believes that Dr. Mahathir's move is just the beginning of a grand political chess game.
He applauds Dr. Mahathir's shrewdness suggests that he may be aiming at undermining the Prime Minister's control and influence. We base our editorial on Salleh's rerecent Facebook entry as reported by Scoop.my
Salleh's assessment of Dr. Mahathir, as a political mastermind, is not unfounded, given the former PM's long and illustrious career.
However, it's worth considering whether Dr. Mahathir's return to Parliament, at this age, is realistic or a mere political spectacle.
Salleh's comparison to Dr. Mahathir's ambitious power plays against Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2015 might be somewhat hyperbolic.
While age should not be a barrier to ambition, it's crucial to analyze the practicality of such a comeback.
The question arises: Why fear an old man?
The answer doesn't lie in Dr. Mahathir's age itself but rather in the uncertainty and upheaval that his return might bring. The seasoned politician could indeed catch his adversaries off-guard, but political stability is often built on more than just surprising manoeuvres.
In a political landscape where alliances are fragile and coalitions shift like sand dunes, Dr. Mahathir's actions may be seen as a potential disruptor.
The fear, we assume, doesn't stem from his age but from the unpredictability that he injects into an already tumultuous political arena.
After all, Dr. Mahathir is a master when it comes to springing surprises on his adversaries. He did drop Musa, then Anwar as his deputies in surprise moves that not many expected. He dropped a bombshell on Thatcher, too, with a surprise announcement of buying British last and looking East to Japan instead.
However, it's crucial to maintain healthy scepticism when evaluating such political theatrics. Dr. Mahathir's return to power, if it ever happens, will be a test of Malaysia's political resilience.
It's a reminder that in politics, as in theatre, the script can change in an instant, and the old actors can surprise us with new performances.
As we watch this latest act unfold, we should remember that it's not just Dr. Mahathir's age we should be concerned about, but the potential consequences of his actions.
Politics, after all, is a stage where the players may change, but the drama endures. But do not underestimate the old man. He has many cards left to play even if this was indeed going to be his Swan Song.
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