COMMENT Every hero becomes a bore at last, predicted the American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson.

This fate awaits Dr Mahathir Mohamad judging from the contents of his latest salvo at the Najib Razak administration.

But Mahathir's 'hero' stature in the eyes of assorted Umno and Perkasa types has always meant that anything he says is regarded as legal tender, worthy of interactive exchange in the political realm.

Mahathir says that the Najib administration has pandered to extremists among the opposition and has lost support because this effort at placating the ultras has not drawn votes from them...