5 perkara tentang Mahathir dan Merdeka

Mahathir Mohamad remains unparalleled in Malaysian politics, regardless of whether he holds office or not. His words carry weight and are often quoted by the public. Tun Mahathir's simplicity—coming to a podium, sitting, and smiling—is enough to ignite public enthusiasm. The question arises as to why he was not formally invited when his presence would have amplified the significance of Merdeka celebrations.

While I generally agree with criticisms on this matter, there are five key points to reflect upon. Firstly, Rafizi Ramli's podcast highlighted that Mahathir himself altered the protocol for welcoming former Prime Ministers at significant events like Merdeka in 2018. Rafizi's reasoning was that Mahathir wouldn't sit beside a convicted criminal and his associate.

However, other influencers corrected him, stating that Najib was not a convicted criminal yet, as the case was only recently reopened. Thus, the issue remains whether it's appropriate for the PM to invite his political opponent at Merdeka. Secondly, if we imagine a protocol for welcoming a former Prime Minister as in Malay custom, it questions whether such a protocol was designed assuming the former PM would not be actively involved in politics.

Mahathir is still politically active and seems willing to hold the reins of power for the third time. Consequently, should the PM formally welcome their political rival at Merdeka? Thirdly, Mahathir claims that Malays will lose power if they don't remain under his broad umbrella. This narrative, while understandable, creates division among non-Malays and Bumiputeras.

Should a former PM who led the country twice and continues to build a narrative of division between Malays and non-Malays be invited to a PH party that never uses ethnic or racial issues? Personally, I find it difficult to sit beside someone with such a mindset, regardless of their position. Fourthly, Mahathir once argued that Malaysia is not a multicultural nation because it's not explicitly stated in the legal concept of Malaysia.

He plays the 'migrant' card and repeats the old argument that migrants will take over everything if Malays don't unite. This familiar song still resonates strongly. Malays often focus on engineering, architecture, medicine, law, and only recently humanities in their education. Mahathir is a strong reader and understands Malaysia's history and world history.

His book, "A Doctor in the House," shows his deep understanding of history. Malays need to question if we want someone who denies our multicultural nation. Lastly, while it's polite to honor a great leader like Mahathir, inviting someone whose actions may divide the nation is a different matter. In 2016, Mahathir campaigned to save Malaysia from the 1MDB scandal and its bankruptcy.

He played a crucial role in uniting Malays to save our country. However, when he employs ethnic sentiment to undermine the unity government, that's a separate issue. I deeply respect his stance on religious extremism, his commitment to learning, and his proficiency in English, science, and technology. Nonetheless, I will not compromise on anyone trying to exploit divisions based on ethnicity, religion, or history.

This line is non-negotiable for me. This article expresses the author's viewpoint and does not necessarily reflect the position of FMT.