Mahathir wary of plots within PH to topple him, book claims
Published on: Monday, June 24, 2024
By: FMT
Dr Mahathir Mohamad, when prime minister of the Pakatan Harapan government of 2018, felt DAP were more loyal to him, compared to PKR. (AFP pic)
PETALING JAYA: Throughout his second stint as prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad was wary of plots within Pakatan Harapan to topple him as head of the government, according to a new book.
Mahathir felt that PKR posed a bigger threat to his leadership compared to DAP, writes former political consultant Romen Bose in his book Shattered Hopes, which describes the events after PH came to power in 2018.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bose wrote that Mahathir considered DAP to be more loyal to him, and told aides that Lim Guan Eng gave him “less headaches” and was more willing to go along with what Mahathir wanted.
The only PKR minister who was “solidly behind” Mahathir was Azmin Ali, Bose wrote.
He said then inspector-general of police Hamid Bador frequently turned up at Mahathir’s office to “update” him on the goings-on among fellow PH leaders.
Hamid, a former Special Branch chief, is said to have briefed Mahathir on several alleged plots aimed at toppling him, and even produced a chart featuring likely key members of a rival administration.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Although Hamid had made Mahathir aware of what was supposedly a significant threat, surprisingly, Mahathir did not try to counter (it) by appointing (his own) loyalists,” Bose wrote.
Kit Siang and overseas Malaysians
ADVERTISEMENT
Bose claimed that the Special Branch monitored several DAP leaders, including its stalwart, Lim Kit Siang, who, he said, was keen to “rebuild the Chinese population”.
Hamid said Lim had been quite successful, and that an influx of returning Malaysian Chinese would increase the community’s political strength in the country and government, Bose wrote.
Even so, Mahathir considered DAP to be loyal to him, Bose said, adding that DAP ministers had backed him in terms of taking a hardline stance on Singapore’s access to Malaysian airspace and in water renegotiations.
Bose said his sources quoted Mahathir as saying that DAP ministers not only voiced their support in the Cabinet but also publicly sang off the same page, while PKR remained silent “and it was clear that they were unhappy with Mahathir’s posturing against Singapore”.
Setting up a grand Malay alliance
Bose also claimed that Mahathir was keen on a grand Malay political alliance comprising Bersatu, PAS and Umno.
He said, it fell on Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin to build the coalition.
“A few factions came up to own the movement and they were now trying to get the crossovers and defections using their own ways and tactics, insisting that Mahathir must stay on as prime minister for as long as possible,” Bose wrote.
Shattered Hopes goes on sale from June 30.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
.jpg)
.jpg)
