Dr. Mahathir is not yet an opposition leader

Although some of his supporters now would like to style Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad as an 'opposition leader', I think he is still not yet qualified to be one. True, Tun has made public criticisms against PM Abdullah which serve to make the government and its mouthpieces like the New Straits Times attempting to look more responsive to demands for transparency and accountability.

However, the issues he has raised are not broad and deep enough as compared to his ex-deputy Anwar Ibrahim and true opposition leaders like Lim Kit Siang, Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Dr. Syed Husin Ali (left), Tian Chua, Dr. Lee Boon Chye (above) and Irene Fernandez.

For example, Tun has not called for the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA), Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA), Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) and race-based affirmative action programme under the New Economic Policy. Moreover, unlike Anwar Ibrahim, Dr. Mahathir has not summoned sufficient moral courage yet to leave the ruling class by quitting Umno. Tun is still part and parcel of the ruling elite.

So, his fights are still essentially intra-elite or elite-elite, not people-elite, power struggle.

Given this broad framework of understanding of the overall situation, I think the Opposition must also not oppose Dr. Mahathir for the sake of opposing him. The merit of his ideas and criricisms must be treated on a case-by-case basis. For example, if and when Dr. Mahathir says Malaysia must continue to be non-aligned in international affairs and must not allow foreign troops or war machinary to be stationed in any form on our sovereign territory, we cannot say he is wrong just because Tun's name has been associated with many past scandals of nepotism, cronyism and corruption.

(A main point raised in my analysis in Penang and Malacca over the weekend)

SPECIAL REPORT: The Anwar interview
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/54307

Anwar: Dangerous to back Dr M
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/54166

Don’t let Pak Lah-Dr M spat cloud real issues: Anwar
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/53201

Dr. Lee Boon Chye strives to break down racial barriers (in Chinese)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/41997