Mahathir versus the sultan: How Chinese investment could sway Malaysian election
A row between Malaysia’s former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and the influential Sultan of Johor has put the issue of foreign influence in the country centre stage
The war of words that erupted this week between Malaysia’s former strongman leader Mahathir Mohamad and an influential sultan over a surge in Chinese investment into the country is a precursor to the issue taking centre stage in what is likely to be a general election year, analysts say.
In a rare episode of public defiance against Malaysia’s revered constitutional monarchs, Mahathir on Tuesday said he was willing to stand trial for lese-majeste for criticising the influx of Chinese projects in the country’s Johor state backed by its ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ismail.
The former prime minister was responding to an interview published a day earlier in which Ibrahim said Mahathir’s constant griping about Chinese projects in Southeast Asia’s third largest economy was “creating fear, using race, just to fulfil his political motives”.
Mahathir, 91, ruled Malaysia with an iron fist for 21 years until 2003.
But he has emerged as the top critic of current premier Najib Razak, who faces allegations that he is linked to a corruption scandal at the state investment arm 1MDB.