“The very notion that “there are ways to guarantee Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad steps down within a stipulated period should he become prime minister for the third time” makes no sense whatsoever. This article explains why”
Raggie Jessy Rithaudeen
انطاني لوك تاهو دڤ اكن تڠڬلم تنڤا محضير
Last Thursday, DAP’s Anthony Loke said there are ways to guarantee that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad steps down within a stipulated period should he become Prime Minister for the third time.
According to Loke, Mahathir himself asked to hold the position for six months before handing it to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“PKR has 38 MPs. Without them, Dr Mahathir cannot continue to govern.
“Each party will be able to bring down the government by itself if they pull out. If the promise is not kept (by Dr Mahathir), PKR has the option to force an election by that time,” he said.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, Loke’s argument makes no sense whatsoever, and the reason for this is as follows:
1. Everyone agrees that should Mahathir be named Pakatan Harapan’s Prime Minister candidate, he has the ability to secure a comfortable majority from Members of Parliament (MPs) across the board.
2. This is because Mahathir has the support of MPs from WARISAN, GPS, Team B (UMNO) and a sizeable number from PPBM (government block) which Anwar does not.
3. This support will remain with Mahathir whether or not the mission is to wrest control of government from Perikatan Nasional before the next general election or to do so by means of a general election.
4. As a matter of fact, both WARISAN and GPS have made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that they can never agree to a government with Anwar in charge.
5. The duo has also made it tacitly clear that they can no longer tolerate the idea of having Anwar on board as Prime Minsiter in waiting.
6. Mahathir’s supporters from PPBM are also against the idea of Anwar becoming Prime Minister or Prime Minsiter in waiting.
7. Thus, if the mission is to wrest control of government from Perikatan Nasional before the next general election, the DAP cannot opt for a transition agreement.
8. In other words, the DAP cannot impose a condition whereby Mahathir needs to relinquish his post as Prime Minister within six months.
9 And even if WARISAN, GPS and Mahathir’s supporters in PPBM were to suddenly agree to a “six month transition plan,” when the time comes, there is nothing stopping them from collapsing government before establishing a Third Force with Mahathir.
10. Should this happen, it will be the end of the DAP.
11. Likewise, if Pakatan Harapan were to succeed in wresting control of government from Perikatan Nasional, should Mahathir suddenly refuse to resign, collapsing government and triggering a general election will be the end of the DAP.
12. So, the very notion that “there are ways to guarantee Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad steps down within a stipulated period should he become prime minister for the third time” makes no sense whatsoever.
13. Not only will the DAP not dare collapse government, neither will PKR.
14, We will then be back to square one – Anwar will not stop hounding Mahathir on the issue of power transition, causing PPBM MPs (and MPs from Team B, if they’re on board) to get fed up and collapse government anyway.
As per the reason a general election with Anwar as Pakatan Harapan’s Prime Minister candidate will be the end of the DAP, the following holds true:
15. Mahathir will form a Third Force without Anwar.
16. GPS will then opt for the Third Force, as currently, the coalition is tagging along with Perikatan Nasional only because the latter is in control of the federal government.
17. Without Anwar on board, the DAP will be forced to choose between Anwar and Mahathir.
18. If the DAP chooses Anwar, it will be Paktan Harapan vs The Third Force vs “whatever is left of Perikatan Nasional,” including PAS.
19. Under the circumstances, the winner will likely be The Third Force, as “anti-Anwar” and “anti-PAS” sentiments in Sabah and Sarawak are very much higher than “anti-WARISAN” and “anti-GPS” sentiments.
20. Likewise, “anti-DAP” sentiments are very much higher in the peninsula of Malaysia than “anti-Mahathir” sentiments.
21. Mahathir will also be appreciated by a sizeable number of Malay-Muslim voters for “doing away with Anwar and the DAP.”
22. As for the Chinese and the Indians, they will be able to accept the Third Force for reasons I am not at liberty to disclose.
23. If, however, GPS decides to tag along with “Team PAS,” it will be the end of GPS. Likewise, should the DAP decide to tag along with Anwar, it will be the end of the DAP.
24. It follows, the only option left for the DAP is to support Mahathir unconditionally by making it absolutely clear that Mahathir will lead Pakatan Harapan towards GE15, maybe even beyond.
It’s Hobson’s choice, really.
To be continued…
NOTA: SAYA MEMBUAT PENGUMUMAN-PENGUMUMAN PENTING DARI MASA KE SEMASA EKSKLUSIF MENERUSI SALURAN TELEGRAM BERIKUT:
