Sixteen years ago, Umno Youth had threatened to burn down the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) after then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad branded the Malaysian Chinese Organisation Election Appeals Committee (Suqiu) as part of an extremist organisation.

But the times have changed. Today, Mahathir walked into the KLSCAH without torches accompanying him, to talk on mega Chinese investments in the country.

Mahathir, now the Pakatan Harapan chairperson, arrived at the venue at 8.45pm and was applauded by the crowd even before his arrival was announced...