YOURSAY | ‘It's not easy for him to admit a mistake like this.’

Reflecting on past, Dr M says he should not have acted against Anwar

Anonymous 242641505703475: Right or wrong, the deed has been done.

As a leader, Pakatan Harapan chairperson and former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, like many others before him, had to make tough decisions. Decisions made have strong implications and could lead the nation to success or failure.

For his decision on PKR de facto leader and former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, everybody must applaud Anwar for being forgiving and magnanimous, and also his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar for their big-heartedness for the greater cause, the cause of the whole nation and the people of Malaysia.

Anonymous_b3cdcd05: Mahathir is being gracious in hindsight, but at that time in the heat of the moment, politically both had to share the blame. But while Anwar was battered and left to languish in a cell, Mahathir has been proven wrong beyond a doubt.

Mahathir then claimed that he did what he did for Umno and the nation but look at what has happened to both men.

Today, in his twilight, he has forsaken Umno as a decadent outfit and is fighting together with those he had trampled to save the nation from his handpicked successor. Karma works in strange ways.

Ipoh PP: Let’s step back and ponder for a moment. Why is this man doing what he is doing? At 92, it’s not going to benefit him in the least.

With his wealth built up over the years as prime minister, he could have taken the paved road and spent the last years of his life in comfort and peace as another former prime minister has done and is doing.

Enjoying his retired life, there is not a squeak from this other former prime minister even though the country is going under. He has no concern at all for where we are heading.

Why? Let’s give this some thought before we judge.

Clever Voter: It means a lot for Mahathir to admit he was wrong. Not many would have the courage to do so.

While he knows that he cannot undo the past, he has every opportunity to get it right this time. That is humility.

Headhunter: Yes, it's not easy for him to admit a mistake like this. If what he says is true, there must be a separation of power in the new government where a public institution’s power must be fretted by having institutions such as the police report to the cabinet instead of the prime minister.

Many people had reservations that the prime minister was holding too much power and that has proven not only to be right but in fact, one can say that it's fatal to the well-being of the country and people.

As a result, every institution has been corrupted and compromised, and laws in the country twisted and trampled.

Anonymous: What is past is past. What is much more important now is to face GE14 with confidence that Umno/BN will be defeated.

Work on the rural Malay votes and deliver a victorious punch against Umno/BN. That's the only way to save Malaysia.

Mahathir: Harapan needs a 'Malay party' to deliver Putrajaya

David Dass: Whether we like it or not, this is a reality. It is okay for policies to reassure the Malays, whilst looking after the poor of all races.

But it would be best in the years ahead to have policies that are race-blind whilst still keeping an eye on racial parity. Inequality, whether of race or class, will always threaten stability.

Cogito Ergo Sum: Mahathir is the master strategist. He understands the big picture of Malaysian politics.

If he says that you need to counter Umno in the rural areas with an alternative, he knows what he is talking about.

Win the war with his strategies and take Putrajaya first. Our multiracial agenda will take generations. Do not let BN and Umno perpetuate their divisive policies.

Anonymous_2679c6e5: Mahathir, this is where we disagree with your vision of the future. The issues of uneven weightage for different constituencies has been the creation of Umno under your tutelage.

The role of Bersatu, and Mahathir in particular, is to enable a win for Harapan to be able to carry out real reforms and return power back to the real people.

They have to address all the disproportionate gerrymandering and corrupted administrative and judicial systems that have been at the beck and call of Umno.

Otherwise, the pendulum will swing between a Malay and a Chinese tsunami, as has been the case in the last few elections since 2004. Only a true Malaysian tsunami can bring about a change of government.

Wong Lu Shin: As much as I dislike the idea of race-based parties, I must concede that Mahathir is correct on this occasion.

You can't turn around decades of Umno scaremongering amongst the rural folk. Let's take this one step at a time.

Kamaapo: “Somehow, this kind of people - the rural people, they fear multiracial party," said Mahathir. True.

But who initially created this phobia among the Malays, especially among the rural Malays? Not you, Mahathir?

You have to fight back hard now against many of your then-found-expedient, though highly non-ethical, creatures.

Have A Great Day: Those of us who are rooting for change certainly hope Bersatu will tip the balance and evict the Umnoputras from Putrajaya.

Yes, by all means, continue affirmative action for those disadvantaged, but, please make sure it is needs-based.

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