‘Pakatan must recruit Mahathir or fail in GE14′

Blogger RPK says Dr Mahathir must join the Opposition if he wants to prove he is serious about “Saving Malaysia”.

(FMT) – Pakatan Harapan will not be able to deny BN a two-thirds majority in the next general election if it fails to recruit former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, claimed political blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin.

In a blog post on his Malaysia Today website, Raja Petra said the recently-concluded Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections had proven that voters were not buying into the “loose arrangement” between Mahathir and Pakatan Harapan.

He said with Amanah replacing PAS and Mahathir being seen as the de facto Opposition leader, voters were very confused.

The Manchester-based blogger said Mahathir needed a political vehicle if he wanted to “Save Malaysia” or he would not go far — as the past 18 months had shown.

Raja Petra pointed out that Mahathir could not apply to join one of the parties within the Opposition coalition.

“For a man of his stature, that would be seen as demeaning. Mahathir cannot lower himself and appear to be begging,” he said, reiterating that one of the parties must extend an invitation to the former premier.

The invitation could come from either DAP or Amanah, Raja Petra said, or even Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali, if he was prepared to turn his back on former Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and family to invite Mahathir to join PKR.

“Furthermore, with Mahathir officially a member of one of the Pakatan Harapan parties, and holding an important position in the party on top of that, that would give the impression that the marriage between Mahathir and Pakatan Harapan is serious and sincere.”

He said as it is, many were not convinced that Mahathir’s struggle now is really about saving Malaysia but rather to ensure his son Mukhriz Mahathir’s political future.

Raja Petra noted how no one liked to work with a person who has “one leg here and one leg there”, adding that people wanted commitment.

He pointed out that once Mahathir joins one of the Opposition parties, “Umno’s doors would be closed to him and by law he can no longer go back to Umno”.

This is why, he said, it was vital for DAP, Amanah or even PKR to invite Mahathir to join their party as it would show a serious and long-term relationship.

He said Mahathir could then be given a top post in these parties and this would convince the voters.

“This would probably impress and convince the voters that Mahathir’s relationship with the Opposition is serious and sincere to the point that Mahathir has closed the door of ever going back to Umno and that he is going to sink or swim with Pakatan Harapan.”