I asked whether it could be for the love of the country or love for Mahathir. Or was it for PAS’ own political survival or fear of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Mahathir’s designated successor?
Long-time PAS watcher Mohd Sayuti Omar had remarked then that while he agreed that Hadi and PAS were trying to drive a wedge between Mahathir and Anwar, he felt that PAS could also have a theory that an Anwar-led Pakatan Harapan would be stronger than the current set-up and that PH under Mahathir would be an easier target come GE15.
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To me, that would be a strange thought to have because many within and outside the political fraternity feel that if there is a strong leader who can put PAS in its place, it would be Mahathir, Anwar’s Islamic credentials notwithstanding.
Mahathir, as we all know, sees Islam differently from PAS and has never minced words in lashing out at the party’s version of Islam.
I am repeating all this because I feel the same questions must be asked again. In fact, more questions need to be asked, what with the ongoing talk of support for Mahathir to serve his full term, although the man himself has never said anything to that effect. True, the prime minister has not given a date and painted a somewhat unclear picture until now.
For the record, based on many media reports, Mahathir has repeatedly said, “I promise I won’t stay too long but I think based on my past experience, I can try to correct all the wrongdoings of [former prime minster] Datuk Seri Najib [Razak].
“When I am satisfied, I will not continue. But I cannot give the specific time as the country is in really big trouble that we cannot easily solve. We have a lot of debt and Datuk Seri Najib has damaged the government machinery. That and other problems left by Najib need to be fixed.”
We are also hearing what political observers describe as “disturbing news” of opposition members working with some people in PH to pledge so-called support for Mahathir. They want to set up what is seen as a backdoor government — an all-Malay line-up that will not feature DAP and Amanah.
So, in addition to the questions posed to Hadi and PAS in my August article, I would say the questions now should be extended to those who are on record as saying that they want Mahathir to go the distance as well as those who are said to be involved but have denied involvement.
The big question would be what’s in it for them. To put it another way, what do they want? To be in power or should it be to regain the power that was lost in GE14? Cabinet posts perhaps? Or could it be like what Anwar said recently, “for personal survival ... to close MACC [Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission] cases”.
Dr Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, says, “I think apart from obvious self-interest such as political power and positions, being conservative elements, their minds are coloured by the various salacious allegations against Anwar over the years despite his sizeable religious credentials.”
Political analyst Dr Sivamurugan Pandian puts it this way: “They may want to reposition themselves, strengthen power inside or outside the party ...  and the timeline may decide their future career in politics as well.”
Anwar has reportedly stated that there are saboteurs in PH seeking to derail the plan for him to take over from Mahathir.
“There are pockets — people who, for their own reasons, would like to sabotage the arrangement,” he had been quoted as saying. That implies that he does not seem to know why they would want to throw a spanner in the works. Or that’s the impression he wants to give.
There are people who have said upfront that they want Mahathir to serve his full term, such as 18 MPs from PAS and six from Umno.
A key question for them and those working behind the scenes is do they want Mahathir to also lead PH in GE15? Or assuming he does serve his full term and makes way for Anwar, would they support Anwar as the new prime minister? Their stance thus far has always been for Mahathir to stay for the full term without Anwar coming into the picture midway.
As Oh sees it, “I think they hope by the end of a full term for Mahathir, the premiership would be passed on to somebody else, with the excuse that Anwar by then would be at an advanced age, for example”.
With so much noise on the transition plan, Mahathir reiterated recently that only the PH presidential council can determine who is prime minister.
He said the suggestion by opposition MPs that he remain as prime minister until the next general election was only their opinion.
“That is their opinion. The one who will determine is the Pakatan Harapan presidential council. We will decide,” he said.
That’s as clear as it gets for now.