APRIL 30 — That’s what he does in his article “Bersih’s demos an attempt to bring down Putrajaya”, Malaysian Insider, April 29, 2014 .

Isn’t it the hallmark of a vibrant democracy for the opposition in any country to try and bring down the ruling government through the ballot box? Otherwise, how do governments change in a democratic system? And do governments never change in democracies, or must they never be changed? How else do people in a democracy maintain a check and balance on their government?

Mahathir’s democracy, or if we may call it “Demokrasi cap Mahathir”, is a very vile democracy. It cares nothing for fair play. All dirty means are halal to grab power and cling on to it.

For example, the previous chairman of the Election Commission (a body in the PM’s Department and thus under the PM’s direct and firm control), Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, has boldly told Malaysians how the re-delineation exercises carried out during his time were calculated to ensure the “Malays would remain in power”. (Full article: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=192471:ex-ec-chief-admitted-to-gerrymandering-ambiga-demands-explanation-from-ec&Itemid=2#ixzz30HfqXVuR)

Mahathir laments that “it was strange how even after fresh elections, when the elected government was agreed on by the majority, the minority still continues with street demonstrations”.

Did he fail Mathematics not to know that the popular vote of 52% is the majority although they obtained less seats due to fraud in delineating constituencies with some BN strongholds having just a fraction, or even a small fraction, of the electorate in opposition strongholds?

Acknowledging that democracy was not perfect, and insisting that it was by far the best system of government that Malaysia could have, he philosophized “If democracy is to survive and to serve the purpose for which it was devised, there must be some acceptance of the limits to the freedom which we consider democratic.”

So gerrymandering is a sacrifice that Malaysians must accept for the continuance of “Demokrasi cap Mahathir”? Project IC of Sabah is another such sacrifice? And there should be no other democracy in Malaysia except “Demokrasi cap Mahathir” for democracy to survive in Malaysia!

He is trying to hold Malaysians to ransom by threatening another May 13 in a veiled manner. This is uncalled for of a retired Prime Minister. 

Having killed and buried the Westminster democracy, he is now deadly against civil society resurrecting it.

Just why is he so paranoid about the possibility of “Demokrasi cap Mahathir” coming to an end some day?

* This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.