Are the recent crackdowns by the government an attempt to placate former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his attack on current Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's administration as “too soft”, asks Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).

The series of sedition charges against opposition politicians and the the mass arrests in Penang yesterday came shortly after Mahathir's stinging criticism of Najib, PSM  secretary-general S Arutchelvan said today.