5 perkara tentang Mahathir dan Merdeka

Tun Mahathir Mohamad's political prowess is unparalleled, whether he holds office or not. His presence, a simple smile, and a wave of his hand, can ignite a storm of public enthusiasm. This is the essence of Mahathir's greatness. There's no need for direct quotations from the Quran or elaborate online campaigns on Facebook; just his presence on stage, accompanied by a beaming smile. It's enough to generate massive excitement.

The question arises as to why he is not formally invited. Some influencers have criticized this decision, but there is a valid point Rahfizi made in a podcast. He pointed out that Mahathir himself changed the protocol for welcoming former Prime Ministers at significant events like Merdeka in 2018. Rahfizi argued that Mahathir wouldn't want to sit next to a convicted criminal and his associates.

However, others argue that Najib wasn't a convicted criminal yet, as the case was still open. Ultimately, the point is that Mahathir remains wise in his actions, smiling and nodding as he basks in public attention.

Secondly, if we assume that there is a protocol for welcoming former Prime Ministers, it should be based on the assumption that they are no longer politically active. In Mahathir's case, he is still actively involved in politics and appears ready to hold the reins of the government for the third time. Therefore, should a Prime Minister be required to welcome their successors at Merdeka events?

Thirdly, Mahathir has promoted the narrative that Malays will lose power if they do not remain under his protection. This is a narrative he has created. While it is true that he built this narrative, it has created division among Malays and non-Malays, including other Bumiputeras. Should a former Prime Minister, who has led the country twice and continues to build this divisive narrative, be invited to sit alongside the PH party, which rarely uses race or ethnicity as an issue?

Fourthly, Mahathir has previously promoted the narrative that Malaysia is not a multicultural nation because Malaysia's concept of Malaysia is not mentioned in the legal framework. He has played the 'in-migrant' card and repeated the old tune that immigrants will take over everything if Malays do not unite and stay strong. This old song has still had a significant impact.

Malays may not all have studied philosophy or history, but most have studied engineering, architecture, medicine, and law. Mahathir is a strong reader and understands the history of Malaysia and the world. In his book "A Doctor in the House," he has delved deeply into history. Many Malays may only study engineering, architecture, medicine, and law, and only recently have they started taking philosophy classes.

Mahathir is a diligent reader and grasps the intricacies of history. So, we must ask ourselves as a people, do we want someone who denies our multicultural nation? Lastly, while it is understandable to honor a leader like Mahathir, if he himself is moving to incite division among us, that is a different matter altogether. In 2016, Mahathir campaigned to save Malaysia from the 1MDB scandal.

He fought tooth and nail to prevent Malaysia from becoming bankrupt under the leadership of that scoundrel. In my view, we owe him a debt of gratitude for his role in uniting the people to save our country. However, when he shifts to a sentiment of ethnic division to bring down a united government, that is an entirely different matter.

Therefore, we must reflect on whether we should show respect to someone like Mahathir. Personally, I deeply respect him for his unwavering stance against religious extremism, his commitment to learning, and his mastery of English, science, and technology. But I will not compromise with anyone who seeks to undermine the harmonious relationship among Malaysians by stirring racial, religious, or historical discord. This is the line I will not allow anyone to cross.