The political landscape in Malaysia is once again stirred by controversy as DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng accuses former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad of selective memory and political maneuvering during his second stint in office.
In a scathing critique amplified by an upcoming book authored by a former aide to Najib Razak, Lim Guan Eng asserts that Mahathir's recollection of his tenure as prime minister from 2018 onwards is marred by "half-truths and falsehoods." According to Lim, Mahathir's narrative in the book "Shattered Hopes" portrays a skewed version of events, aimed at bolstering his own image while disregarding the commitments and challenges faced by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.
"Mahathir is an expert in selective memory to paint a favorable picture of himself," Lim declared in a pointed Facebook post. He attributes Mahathir's lapses to both senility due to his advanced age and his unyielding political ambitions, which, according to Lim, prioritize personal agendas over coalition promises.
Reflecting on his role as Finance Minister within Mahathir's PH Cabinet, Lim initially acknowledges Mahathir's promising start in Putrajaya, where efforts were directed towards fulfilling the PH manifesto from the 2018 elections. However, he swiftly pivots to criticize Mahathir's alleged disregard for key electoral pledges, suggesting a contentious dynamic within the government.
"Matters deteriorated quickly when Mahathir began opposing critical reforms such as toll reductions on the North-South Highway and the implementation of open tenders," Lim asserted. He claims that Mahathir's resistance to these initiatives contributed to internal strife within the PH administration, undermining its cohesion and eroding public support.
Lim further contends that despite Mahathir's opposition, he successfully garnered support within the Cabinet for these reforms, highlighting what he describes as Mahathir's confrontational approach toward both allies and adversaries alike.
Mahathir's abrupt resignation in February 2020 marked a pivotal moment in Malaysian politics, precipitating the formation of the Perikatan Nasional government, which included Bersatu, Umno, PAS, and other smaller parties supported by Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
The revelations in Romen Bose's book, as cited by Lim, allege that Mahathir harbored suspicions of internal plots within PH aimed at undermining his leadership. According to Bose, these suspicions were reportedly monitored by the Special Branch, with specific attention paid to DAP leaders, including Lim Kit Siang.
As the book prepares for release, Lim Guan Eng's critique underscores deep-seated divisions and power struggles within Malaysian politics. His remarks not only challenge Mahathir's legacy but also rekindle debates about the accountability of leaders in fulfilling electoral promises and maintaining coalition unity.
Kamran is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
