Mahathir has been on the defensive recently as the MACC zeroes in on the source of his family’s fantastic wealth. The MACC recently announced that the two sons of former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad have declared assets worth over RM1.2 billion (S$365 million).
Not bad for the grandson of a rubber tapper.
Then, as if by clockwork, Mahathir posted a scathing “lecture” on social media, indirectly calling the investigation an “abuse of power.”
This is not the first time Mahathir has made such statements, as he has been engaging in attention-grabbing behaviour since his retirement during the Sheraton Move. The reason for this behaviour is quite apparent, as Mahathir has been embroiled in a bitter feud with Anwar Ibrahim, almost seemingly in a one-sided manner.
Of course, Mahathir has not taken the investigation lying down. He has, after all, filed an RM150 million lawsuit over claims that he amassed wealth for personal gain while in power. He also stated that all his children succeeded in the business world without his intervention or any abuse of power by him as a then-prime minister.
We can afford to respect Mahathir for helping the country industrialize, but that respect does not extend to wholeheartedly believing his justifications for his family's wealth.
It’s hard to ignore the glaring signs of cronyism during his tenure. For instance, Mokhzani Mahathir became one of Malaysia’s wealthiest men through Sapura Energy and Opcom Holdings, companies with lucrative government contracts. Mirzan, meanwhile, got into the oil and gas business with a helping hand, once owning a significant stake in Petron Corporation.
Mahathir’s much-touted “payung” policy was meant to uplift rural Malays by nurturing a small group of ultra-wealthy individuals who’d, in theory, help the rest. But let’s face it—that didn’t happen. Ordinary folks were left out while his cronies made billions. Take Tajuddin Ramli, who took control of Malaysia Airlines in a sweetheart deal and drove it to financial disaster. When the company went under, the government bailed him out.
Mahathir didn’t stop at Malays, either—if you were useful, race didn’t matter. For example, Sir Francis Yeoh’s YTL Corporation thrived during his time, becoming Malaysia’s first independent power producer. Ananda Krishnan also saw Astro grow into a multimedia giant with an exclusive pay-TV licence that lasted for decades.
So, while Malaysia’s economy grew under Mahathir, the biggest winners were always his inner circle.
At this point, Mahathir's continued involvement in politics has become a source of frustration for many Malaysians, who see him as out of his depth and his time.
The country will face greater problems than the ramblings of the elder statesman, and we do not have time to pay attention to him - if Mahathir insists on ruining his own legacy due to his recent actions, let Anwar unveil Mahathir as a simple fan of cronyism rather a great Malaysian leader.
Not bad for the grandson of a rubber tapper.
Then, as if by clockwork, Mahathir posted a scathing “lecture” on social media, indirectly calling the investigation an “abuse of power.”
Of course, Mahathir has not taken the investigation lying down. He has, after all, filed an RM150 million lawsuit over claims that he amassed wealth for personal gain while in power. He also stated that all his children succeeded in the business world without his intervention or any abuse of power by him as a then-prime minister.
We can afford to respect Mahathir for helping the country industrialize, but that respect does not extend to wholeheartedly believing his justifications for his family's wealth.
It’s hard to ignore the glaring signs of cronyism during his tenure. For instance, Mokhzani Mahathir became one of Malaysia’s wealthiest men through Sapura Energy and Opcom Holdings, companies with lucrative government contracts. Mirzan, meanwhile, got into the oil and gas business with a helping hand, once owning a significant stake in Petron Corporation.
Mahathir’s much-touted “payung” policy was meant to uplift rural Malays by nurturing a small group of ultra-wealthy individuals who’d, in theory, help the rest. But let’s face it—that didn’t happen. Ordinary folks were left out while his cronies made billions. Take Tajuddin Ramli, who took control of Malaysia Airlines in a sweetheart deal and drove it to financial disaster. When the company went under, the government bailed him out.
So, while Malaysia’s economy grew under Mahathir, the biggest winners were always his inner circle.
At this point, Mahathir's continued involvement in politics has become a source of frustration for many Malaysians, who see him as out of his depth and his time.
The country will face greater problems than the ramblings of the elder statesman, and we do not have time to pay attention to him - if Mahathir insists on ruining his own legacy due to his recent actions, let Anwar unveil Mahathir as a simple fan of cronyism rather a great Malaysian leader.
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