Umno is a racist party, says Dr Mahathir Mohamad. One can virtually see the banners emblazoned with this petard going up all over the four states presently under Pakatan Rakyat rule.

Pakatan would be foolish not to exploit to the hilt this faux pas by the former Umno strongman.

Some two and half years ago, Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat had the best take on the then long-running contretemps between Mahathir and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Commenting on whether Mahathir - who had theatrically quit in a high dudgeon over Abdullah’s supposed deviations - should be allowed back into Umno, Tok Guru Nik Aziz said he hoped the former premier would be.

Tok Guru’s mischief in wanting Mahathir’s readmission was a variation on American president Lyndon Johnson’s reasons for retaining J Edgar Hoover, which was that the FIB director would be more useful “in the tent pissing out than out of the tent pissing in”...