KUCHING: It’s a case of once bitten, twice shy, said political commentator Datuk Peter Minos.
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) would not listen to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad anymore, thus would not support his suggestion for Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal to be appointed as prime minister, he explained.
After badly suffering under Pakatan Harapan (PH) for 22 months when PH was in power, GPS and Sarawakians would not forget the pain under PH, he added.
“Proposing Shafie as future prime minister can be and even is one big trick. No way GPS will be conned and tricked. Just recall PH’s past promises and pledges that were deliberately broken and now promising again.”
He could not understand why Mahathir nominated Shafie for prime minister if PH wins the next general election, after PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim rejected his proposal that he (Anwar) be the deputy prime minister and he, prime minister, for six months.
“Proposing Shafie as prime minister and Anwar and his son Datuk Seri Mukriz as two deputy prime ministers, Mahathir is obviously thinking of putting up his son as future prime minister after Anwar.
“This proposal is not on Anwar, who seeks the prime minister post only, or no deal. Anwar and PKR have enough of him and his promises, and so rejecting his ideas outright,” said Minos.
He said Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) would also not accept anything as it was not discussed in the PH presidential council yet, but the hint however is that DAP, the biggest party in PH, may follow Mahathir.
“Mahathir definitely is eyeing for Warisan and Sabah’s support in his political scheme of things. Maybe he calculates that some people may buy his idea … but will the peninsular people accept Shafie as prime minister? They are the far bigger group and dominant in Malaysia,” he said.
“In fact, will PH accept Shafie at all? I have the feeling that Mahathir is making statements just to confuse and muddle things up, now that Anwar is not listening to him. It is like creating a muddy river and fishing in it, hoping that a big fish will take the bait plus the hook and sinker.”
Since his abrupt resignation as prime minister over three months ago, and the rise of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister, Minos said he noticed that Mahathir had been saying things that were puzzling, if not confusing, and mind boggling.
“He likes fantasising things and some say his health and age are catching up, plus the disappointment of losing out to Muhyiddin and rejection by some of his past friends and mates.”
