Malaysians choose the devil over the deep blue sea

92 year old Mahathir won. My prediction that the Chinese votes would swing to Najib did not come true. The economic and business biased Chinese voters did not go for economic interest unlike their forefathers, decided that political power is more important. The years of abuses by UMNO and the deep seeded and entrenched powers of extremists in UMNO would have to pay for their sins and be gotten rid off. The years of distrust and unhappiness over UMNO leaders is probably the main reason why they took the chance with Mahathir, the extremist they knew, and hopefully to live with him for a brief moment before Anwar assumed the post of PM. Any change is better than to continue with the same pact of extremists in UMNO. In Anwar’s case this is classic phoenix rising from the ashes, being beaten and locked up in prison for good only to reemerge as the PM of the day, at least this is the game plan. Many visitors are taking Q numbers to visit Anwar, the de facto PM working behind bars. They would probably have to refurnish his prison cell to look more respectable as the office of a PM.
 
Many BN minority leaders were bundled out of Parliament with the MCA and MIC losing their key leaders to DAP. MCA is history after decades of being hapless poodle of UMNO, totally incapacitated and ineffective in protecting minority Chinese interest. DAP is emerging as the force to be reckoned with not just in Penang but the whole of West Malaysia. With its 28 seats, DAP is going to be the deciding factor in the fate of Mahathir and Pakatan Coalition. The Chinese voters have thrown their weight behind DAP. DAP would not be bullied and pushed around by the new coalition govt.
 
In Malaysian politics, it is politics and anything can happen. Najib’s day may not be over yet given the possibility that DAP could defect en bloc to Najib’s camp should Mahathir play his anti Chinese card again. DAP has enough seats to make the difference and be the check on the ultra ultras and extreme extremists in Mahathir’s camp.
 
Putting this scenario aside, knowing that behind the scene dealings are taking place now, what would this lesson be for Singapore? Would our school boys and school girls learn anything and put aside their egos and differences and do a Mahathir in the next GE here? Though we may not have someone with the drawing power and experience of Mahathir, the political scene is ripe for a change with all the unpopular and unpleasant policies still in play and being assumed as the new normal that the daft Singaporeans have no choice but to live by.
 
Malaysia boleh, would the Singaporeans be shouting Singapore oso can do?
 
Hsien Loong’s relation with Mahathir would not be as cosy as with Najib. No more durian lunches together. But not to worry, Singapore has a trump card in the Indian Malay President. She can invite the Indian Malay PM to the Istana for curry fish head in banana leaf and rebuild a new rapport with Mahathir to compensate for the lack of chemistry between the latter and Hsien Loong. Everything will be fine.