What goes around comes around - so dictate the laws of karma. In an agricultural context, it would mean to reap what you sow.

Although Dr Mahathir Mohamad hailed from a state famous for its agricultural exploits, the former premier was not interested in toiling in the fields.

He was a technocrat who envisioned a modern and cosmopolitan Malaysia. He wanted towering buildings and not coconut trees to define the nation's skyline.

But Mahathir was a farmer, an expert horticulturalist to be precise. For 22 years, he planted a plethora of seeds and is now reaping the fruits of his labour.

Unfortunately for him, the harvest yields no joy.

And what did he plant?

A shackled media, timid and subservient leaders and a castrated judiciary among others. He also watered and fertilised many draconian laws.

It was all well and good when he was tending the orchard. But in 2003, he stepped aside and left it in the care of a true agriculturalist.

The latter chopped a few trees and Mahathir had been fuming since.

Press freedom

The former premier had cried foul that the media was being told to can his critical views on the current administration.

While the issue of press freedom remains subjective, the Malaysian media under Mahathir was light years away from objectivity. The global press freedom index never failed to drive this point home.

The Mahathir regime also considered the words 'foreign media' to be profane and its local employees treacherous.

If you are not with us then you must be against us - this was the order of the day then. And the state-owned RTM was always quick to vilify those that fell into the latter category.

Also in that not-so-distant past, it was common for the Home Ministry to 'advise' newspapers against publishing a particular story deemed sensitive - more often than not to the leadership.

Those perceived to have crossed or strayed to close to the line would be summoned to the ministry for a slap on the wrist.

Media organisations then - just as now - were held to ransom by the Printing Presses and Publications Act, Sedition Act, Official Secrets Act and numerous other Acts.

A clear example of media manipulation under the Mahathir administration was the sacking of his estranged deputy Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.

The media were barred from carrying his comments or stories sympathetic to his cause. Instead, they painted the town red with reports on how the 'sexually perverted traitor' had plotted against his boss.

It was nothing short of a trial by media. Mahathir had delivered the judgment and the courts later upheld it.

While Mahathir condemned the current administration for its intolerance towards criticism, he too displayed the same disdain recently when he said: "I never liked malaysiakini . It was very critical of me before."

Latest twist

The karmic wheel has turned and now the octogenarian finds himself in the 'against us' camp with the likes of Anwar and other opposition leaders.

And the latest twist to the saga came from PAS - a party which once equated voting for Mahathir to booking a place in hell - was now coming to his defence.

The party claimed to have got wind that Mahathir would be sacked from Umno and a motion to do so would be moved at the coming supreme council meeting.

While the news is to be taken with a pinch of salt, it's nevertheless intriguing.

Just eight years ago, Mahathir chaired an Umno supreme council meeting which had resolved to give Anwar the boot.

Some of the leaders present on that eventful night would also be there at the coming meet - which according to the opposition party - could seal the former premier's fate in Umno.

Would the karmic wheel come full circle and see Mahathir taking to the streets chanting 'Reformasi' and accusing the present government of a conspiracy?

Could there be any redress for the former premier then? The courts perhaps?

But the media might decide to paint the town red again while Abdullah Ahmad Badawi delivers his judgment and the courts uphold it.

On the other hand, Mahathir could decide to throw away his boxing gloves and take up golf lessons.

Lodged somewhere in this drastic turn of events, covered in hues of gray, is a poignant lesson for all politicians. The wise should heed it.

RK Anand is a member of the malaysiakini team.