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By Koh Kok Wee WHEN Malaysia's former premier Mahathir Mohamad announced he was quitting Umno, the move was almost like a repeat of the old ploy to 'oust the chief'.
In 1969, Parti Perikatan, the precursor of Barisan Nasional (BN), also suffered a major setback in the general election, losing its two-thirds majority in Parliament and the state of Penang. This year, BN lost its two-thirds majority in the same fashion, plus five states. After the May 13, 1969 racial riots, Tun Dr Mahathir wrote a fiery letter to then prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman urging him to step down. Following the widespread distribution of this 'confidential letter' to the public, the people staged demonstrations demanding the Tunku's resignation. Dr Mahathir was subsequently sacked from the Umno Supreme Council. A year later, a dejected Tunku also stepped down. This year, although Dr Mahathir bore the halo of a former prime minister, he was just an ordinary party member. Through the media, websites, his blog and public speeches, he lambasted Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, calling him to step down. Now, instead of waiting for Umno leaders to deal with him, he made the announcement himself that he was leaving the party and called on other party leaders to follow suit. Bukit Bendera MP and current affairs commentator Liew Chin Tong once described Dr Mahathir as 'an old hand at ousting the chief'. He further alleged that Dr Mahathir had once sought also to oust Malaysia's third prime minister Tun Hussein Onn. This time, Dr Mahathir tossed an 'atomic bomb' at Umno to express his lack of confidence in Mr Abdullah by quitting the party and urging other leaders and grassroots members to do the same. Dr Mahathir's third call for an ouster is more intense and more thrilling than the previous ones. He has locked on to Mr Abdullah as his target, and there is absolutely no room for mediation. Dr Mahathir joined Umno in 1946, and in 1981 took over from Tun Hussein Onn as the leader of Umno and prime minister. He remained in power until 2003, when he handed the reins to Mr Abdullah. The hostility between the two men was triggered by the abolishment of plans to build the crooked 'scenic bridge'. But the ticking bomb had probably been already planted after the release of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. BN's crushing defeat in this year's elections might have presented Dr Mahathir with an opportunity, but what has made the 83-year-old, who has undergone heart surgery, risk all to stand in the line of fire once again? Observers believe Dr Mahathir's hardline approach, which also puts his youngest son Mukhriz's political future at stake, is linked to the conclusion from the probe on the judge-fixing video clip by the Abdullah administration, which recommends investigating Dr Mahathir and five others. Dr Mahathir has not let up in his criticism of Mr Abdullah's administration since 2005. On the eve of the Umno general assembly in 2006, there was even a rumour alleging that Umno wanted to purge Dr Mahathir from the party, but this eventually fizzled out. Recently, Dr Mahathir even made a bold projection that no one would challenge the current chairman, Mr Abdullah, in the December party elections, and hence Mr Abdullah would gain victory by a walkover. Perhaps Dr Mahathir saw that the effect of the general election setback had petered out over time, Umno was stabilising internally, and party leaders would be moving according to the 'handover timetable'. When that time comes, it might be hard for him to stir up any waves. But it still remains to be seen whether other Umno leaders will take Dr Mahathir's side this time. There is also a high chance that the de facto leader of Parti Keadilan Rakvat, Datuk Seri Anwar, is lurking in the background. This fight to the finish - no matter who emerges the winner - will likely bring forward succession in Umno. Translated by Lee Choo Kiong. This commentary first appeared in Nanyang Siang Pau.
'Observers believe Dr Mahathir's hardline approach, which also puts his youngest son Mukhriz's political future at stake, is linked to the conclusion from the probe on the judge-fixing video clip by the Abdullah administration, which recommends investigating Dr Mahathir and five others.'
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The Blogs 
In 2008, Mahathir's previous policies contributed greatly to governmental dysfunction and BN's subsequent performance deficit, and he went on the blame the UMNO leadership.
Mahathir, it seems, can never be wrong, so long as he controls the leadership.
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