Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3064764/what-mahathirs-endgame-malaysias-game-thrones Letters
What is Mahathir’s endgame in Malaysia’s Game of Thrones?
Malaysian prime minister-designate Muhyiddin Yassin features on the cover of a newspaper displayed at a stand in Kuala Lumpur on March 1. Muhyiddin, 72, was named prime minister the previous day by the country’s monarch to end a six-day tussle for power, after Mahathir Mohamad suddenly resigned. Photo: Bloomberg
It has been the craziest and longest week in Malaysian politics, as its own Game of Thrones unfolded, sending the nation on a roller-coaster ride. With Muhyiddin Yassin sworn in as prime minister on March 1, many think it spells the end of the Mahathir Mohamad era.
Mahathir, whom United Malays National Organisation (Umno) members refer to as “atok” (grandpa in Malay), is upset and said he felt most betrayed by Muhyiddin, who is also the president of Mahathir’s Bersatu party. There are no signs as to what Mahathir may do next, but Malaysians would not forget how he treated those who tried to succeed him, such as Musa Hitam, Ghafar Baba, Anwar Ibrahim, Abdullah Badawi and Najib Razak.
Soon after Mahathir resigned as prime minister, he also quit as Bersatu chairman, reportedly due to his unwillingness to work with Umno and his ambition to form a unity government; Muhyiddin holds a different opinion. Mahathir, together with his son, Mukhriz Mahathir, and four other members of parliament from Bersatu, declared they did not sign the statutory declaration to support Muhyiddin as prime minister, and that they intend to reconcile with the Pakatan Harapan coalition.
With Mahathir since persuaded to resume party chairmanship, Bersatu is divided into Team Muhyiddin and Team Mahathir. But with Muhyiddin sworn in as prime minister, would there still be any Bersatu members backing Mahathir? If Team Mahathir is sacked from Bersatu, is there any other political party they could join? It seems unlikely that the People’s Justice Party or the Democratic Action Party would have them.
Mahathir also said that the king refused to grant him an audience to prove that he and Pakatan Harapan commanded majority support in parliament, before the new prime minister was sworn in.
Mahathir has threatened a vote of no confidence against the new prime minister in the upcoming parliament sitting, scheduled for March 9, although the Speaker of Parliament has said this may be postponed. Could Mahathir make a comeback or is this the end of the road for the 94-year-old fighter?
Sing Pei Tan, PhD candidate, School of Humanities, University of Tasmania