Mahathir’s Last Hurrah
A fading former leader tries a final gambit
By: Dennis Ignatius
Earlier this week, Mahathir Mohamad announced the formation of a new coalition – Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) – comprising Malay-Muslim political parties, academics and other professionals. Included in the new grouping were Mahathir’s Parti Pejuang , the National Indian Muslim Alliance Party (Iman), Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra)and Parti Barisan Jemaah Islamiyah Se-Malaysia (Berjasa).
The 97-year-old former prime minister said the coalition’s goal is to save “our country, our nation, our religion” by reuniting Malay-Muslims under a single banner. He made clear that GTA would be going head-to-head with the United Malays National Organization, which he said had deviated from its original struggle. GTA, Mahathir said, will fight for Malay interests, address the issue of Malay poverty and ensure that the Malays get their fair share of the wealth.
Unlike Pakatan Harapan, which he was once privileged to lead, Mahathir’s new coalition brings together a bunch of nonentities, nobodies and washed-out politicians; in short, a coalition of losers. Other parties are certainly not going to lose any sleep over such an inconsequential grouping. Mahathir is hoping to field candidates in 120 constituencies come GE15; they have as much of a chance as a snowball in hell…