Yoursay: Biggest winner of the political turmoil is Mahathir

YOURSAY | ‘Harapan is not perfect but it is still far better than a coalition featuring Umno and PAS.’

From stillborn Perikatan Nasional to GE15 call - How BN, PAS U-turned in three days

Fair Malaysian: Umno and PAS claim that fresh elections are needed to be held in the name of "the people". That was a good joke.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin shot himself in the foot by being impatient and pulling Bersatu out of Pakatan Harapan.

When he was rudderless and wandering about, not knowing where his future stood after being sacked by then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, the “original” Harapan parties PKR, DAP and Amanah embraced him and treated him with respect as an equal.

Muhyiddin’s Bersatu did not win many state seats in Perak, and yet Bersatu assemblyperson Ahmad Faizal Azumu was made the menteri besar.

PAS, Umno and Bersatu have a lot to learn from DAP. The party and their leaders have stood by PKR and its leader, Anwar Ibrahim, since their first handshake. In politics, this is extremely rare, or maybe even non-existent.

DAP shared the trials and tribulations of Anwar and has never failed to give its whole-hearted support to him and PKR. Even in the current political turmoil, with PKR being betrayed by its own members, DAP continues to support its coalition partner.

When the late PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat was around, he became great friends with those in the DAP. Even when he was sick, he went all the way to Penang to attend the late Karpal Singh's birthday celebration.

They had such a chemistry that for the first time, non-Malays were waving PAS flags in large numbers during election campaigns.

The current PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is so narrow-minded and had brought disrepute as a leader of a religious-based political party in a multi-racial Malaysia. He may get the MCA and MIC to "support" him but these are stripped-off parties which are craving for a return to power.

Azmin was a darling from the reformasi days. He had a lot of support from the people and worked hard for PKR when Anwar was behind bars. All he needed was patience.

Unfortunately, all that changed when he became impatient within PKR, allegedly through instigation from his supporters.

Mortality: Granted what is narrated here, we, the rakyat who voted for change at GE14, ought to be grateful to interim prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for not allowing Perikatan Nasional to be formed.

Yet, let it not be forgotten that it is this very same Mahathir that is the cause behind the reneging of many promises of Harapan.

Two wrongs do not make a right but until more details of this political drama are known, I will give the new (or is it the old?) emperor the benefit of doubt.

Cocomomo: Hopefully, the MPs who were misled to follow the treacherous few and quit the ruling coalition will realise their mistake and rejoin Harapan.

I am especially disappointed that previously principled politicians like PKR’s Baru Bian would agree to join Azmin Ali’s group to topple the Harapan government.

Baru has now lost the respect of the people. He should repent and return to the fold. Harapan is not perfect but it is still far better than a coalition featuring Umno and PAS.

Kangkuong: Previously, netizens were quick to condemn PKR and DAP for tolerating Mahathir’s unpopular policies and actions while in government.

The way the political saga has played out, I realise now that it was a tactical decision for Anwar, Lim Guan Eng and Mohamad Sabu to pledge support for Mahathir to ensure Harapan is not dissolved and kicked out of Putrajaya.

The biggest winner in this entire political turmoil is Mahathir.

The biggest losers are Umno and PAS. I fully expect several Umno politicians to jump ship to Harapan if the latter is offered ministerial positions in the unity or interim government.

Black Thorn: I love this article which is peppered with a touch of sarcasm and many beautiful touching comments.

The idea of a unity government provides us with a breath of fresh air and hope. I believe this is workable when all politicians are sincere in true reforms. Perhaps this is one of the ways to chip off the race and religion dilemma in Malaysia Baru.

Quigonbond: After all these years, Mahathir finally found joy and felt at home working with competent and principled people in Amanah, DAP and to a certain extent, in PKR. This was enough for him to refuse following his Bersatu party out of Harapan.

My wish list for a better Malaysian future is:

- For Harapan to work with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) on a permanent basis.

- For Bersatu to return to the Harapan fold, but resigned to the fact that no one is going to trust them with any important portfolio anymore, not least the Home Ministry which they have abused to undermine their coalition partners and stalled reforms.

- Azmin and his group who left PKR should stay away from the party. Disloyal politicians like them are not needed by the people.

- Umno and PAS can dream about wrestling back power but without GPS, they are toast. When needs-based policies yield its desired effects and Malays are not afraid of losing their crutches, Umno-PAS’ Malay/Muslim supremacist ideology will lose its lustre.

Anonymous 2413471460628504: Their abrupt change of tune just goes to prove, yet again, that BN and PAS are a bunch of morally bankrupt politicians.

When they were engineering a backdoor government just a few days ago, they said it was the right thing to do. When they failed to force themselves into power, they now claim having a snap election is the right thing to do.

They failed to realise the hypocrisy of their diametrically-opposed stances.

Bruclax: What is most serious here is the disrespect shown to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by Umno and PAS.

First, they claim to support Mahathir and back it up with statutory declarations and a visit to Istana Negara. Now, they are making a U-turn by telling His Majesty that they are withdrawing their SDs.

The Agong’s action was a stroke of genius. He took it upon himself to find out who has the majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.

Those who orchestrated the failed coup are not realising how it is affecting the country’s economy. If they have any concern for Malaysians, they would not have started this treachery in the first place.

Kneazle: Who's left footing the bill for the dinner event at Sheraton Hotel Petaling Jaya on Sunday?

Not only did the planned coup didn’t materialise, that person had to fork out money for what is now proven a worthless exercise. 

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