pic TMR File

YET again, for someone dismissed as a spent force, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (picture) is getting quite a lot of attention from his political foes, negatively of course.

In fact, even the cybertroopers are working overtime, overwhelming the comment sections of social media platforms where Dr Mahathir’s opinions, or news about him appear, peppering them with caustic yet flippant remarks.

The idea is to drown his opinion and relevance simply by the sheer volume of negative comments, with the objective of influencing unsuspecting members of the public that the majority of people are opposed to him.

It is not uncommon though. In the run up to the 2018 polls, similar tactics were used by Dr Mahathir’s political enemies in an attempt to diminish his opinions and growing influence. 

In many ways than not, it was also an effort to counter balance the numerous negative comments posted against the then government led by Mohd Najib Razak.

But the strategy proved a double-edged sword, if not outrightly disastrous, for Najib and his ilk because those who commented against them were mostly ordinary folks who were disgusted with their abuse of power and corruption.

Unlike paid cybertroopers, the ordinary voters were true to their comments and definitely more rational, turning comments from the former unbelievable or irrelevant.

And unluckily for Najib and those with him, they began believing in their own propaganda so much so they were convinced that there was no way they would lose the polls and in fact, some were of the opinion that Umno/Barisan Nasional (BN) would even regain the two-thirds majority.

While these developments have their parallels between then and now, much water too had flowed since and changed other aspects of the equation.

Once allies are now rivals and companions have turned into Brutus.

If in the run up to the 2018 polls, allies in Pakatan Harapan (PH) defended Dr Mahathir, not necessarily out of love, but rather knowing fully well his failure would be theirs as well.

It was almost an equal divide — PH and Dr Mahathir on one side, BN and Najib on the other while PAS was just being PAS, the political opportunist and still is.

But now, some in the PH, their chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim included, have turned against Dr Mahathir.

With that, Dr Mahathir now has to fight another front, instead of just Umno/BN and the occasional PAS.

It is quite apparent, and to a great degree expected, that all these are caused by the tensed anticipation of a looming poll.

The knives, are sharpened and unsheathed, and enemies stabbed with increased regularity, not only in the back but at any parts of the anatomy for as long as it hurts.

Anwar, whom many perceived is bitter for missing out on becoming the Prime Minister and blamed it on Dr Mahathir for resigning in early 2020 following the withdrawal of his then political vehicle Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) from the PH coalition, has contributed further to the already chaotic political front.

This time around, there are four coalitions — PH, Umno/BN, Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Dr Mahathir’ recent endeavour Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA).

For Umno/BN, even though by default, they are the Government and seemed focused on treating PH, GTA and PN as its political foes.

PH, as the leading Opposition coalition viewed Umno/BN as the main enemy and at the same time hostile towards PN for its betrayal vis-à-vis the Sheraton Move as well as the GTA because it is Dr Mahathir-led and as we” as Malay/Muslim/Bumiputera-centric.

On the part of PN, despite sharing the government with Umno/BN, it views the latter as its main enemy simply because Umno was responsible in causing their chairman Tan Sri Mahiaddin Md Yasin to suffer the ignominy of being the shortest-serving PM in the nation’s history.

While Mahiaddin has himself to blame for bringing Umno/BN back from the cold so as to enable him to become the PM, his strong dislike for Umno/BN for backstabbing him is understandable despite his critics saying he should enjoy the taste of his own medicine.

Mahiaddin may seem amenable to working with PH so as to ensure that Umno/BN doesn’t return to helm the nation, the sentiment is definitely not mutual on the part of the PH for reasons stated earlier.

On the part of the GTA, though dismissed as a lightweight and a non-starter, it seems focussed to be the replacement Malay/Bumiputera party for Umno. It plans to contest on all Umno seats.

GTA believes that if the non-Malays are disgusted with the level of corruption and abuse of power among Malay/Bumiputera leadership as shown by Umno, they should be supporting GTA.

Simply put, GTA believes that the only way to redeem the nation is first by changing the Malay/Bumiputera political representation and equation, and if that is achieved, the reforms will follow suit.

Without having to wear the word reform on its sleeves, the GTA approach is uncomplicated and, in more ways than not, a practical solution to the mess. Understandably, Umno would stand in the path as GTA has clearly spelt out the enemy in the battle.

But for the self-proclaimed reformists blocking the way only reveal their pettiness and inability to see the wood for the trees, leading to their regular missing the boat malady.

And they remain small despite being big.

Shamsul Akmar is the editor of The Malaysian Reserve.