Aside from his past record as prime minister for 22 years, from 1981 to 2003, the key point highlighted by many is his age and the need for real change with a younger leader to challenge the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) and take the country forward.
On Sunday, at the Pakatan Harapan Convention in Shah Alam, the opposition coalition officially announced that the four-party coalition – PKR, DAP, Amanah and PPBM – had agreed that Mahathir will be its prime minister candidate going into GE14, with PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as his deputy.
“It’s not just about going against BN, we need someone who is visionary and innovative. One who has a plan to improve our policies,” 30-year-old Katrina Khairuddin, 30, told the Singapore daily.
This was a common theme with some Malaysians feeling that the onus was on the former prime minister to do the right thing.
“Mahathir should have used this opportunity to show that there is a different path to be taken. He should have taken the back seat, and groom someone younger to lead,” lawyer Al-Hadi Harun was quoted as saying by The Straits Times.
On the other side of the argument, some took to social media to voice their support with a willingness to close one eye just so that BN is defeated.
“He is trying to clear the mess that he has done. So let’s, together with him, make it happen,” Santhia Murugaya wrote on Mahathir’s Facebook wall, representing many of a like mind.
The prospect of Mahathir and his former protégé-turned-rival Anwar Ibrahim coming full circle to be in the same government again, has excited quite a number of Malaysians too.
“Teaming up with Mahathir, it will be quite a gig to watch. The dream team of the 1990s, master and once protege,” said Amir Fareed Rahim, political analyst at KRA Group, referring to the impending release of Anwar from Sungei Buloh prison this June.
Anwar started his five-year sentence, after being convicted of sodomy, in February 2015. He is set to be released in June having served 40 months, or two-thirds of his 60-month sentence.
The divide among those who wish to see a change in the federal government is not only limited to opposition supporters, however, as even the Selangor PKR has made its views known in a statement released a day after the announcement by PH.
“Millennials wish to see a fresh figure, rich with farsightedness, and who’ll effectively rectify the damage done by the leadership of Umno and BN.
“People will not forget, nor will the original reformists. Reform must involve all aspects,” Selangor PKR information chief Hizwan Ahmad said.
He was referring to the ‘Reformasi’ movement which started in 1998 to challenge the Mahathir administration after Anwar was sacked from the government and Umno.