Under the leadership of Mahathir Mohamad, the then-opposition Pakatan Harapan, an alliance of 4 parties –  DAP (Democratic Action Party), PKR (People’s Justice Party), AMANAH (National Trust Party) and PPBM (Malaysian United Indigenous Party) – had successfully overthrown the arrogant, corrupt and out-of-touch government of Barisan Nasional.

What PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim had failed to achieve in 2008 and 2013 general elections, 93-year-old Mahathir managed to do in one master stroke. Love him or hate him, Mahathir has proven again that he can destroy UMNO (Baru), the party he setup in 1988 after the original UMNO (established in 1946) was declared illegal in 1988.

More importantly, Mahathir has shown that he is built with extraordinary ability – build, destroy and rebuild – a new government. That’s an awesome skillset that nobody possesses. After he easily defeated his protégé Najib Razak, he is now facing three immediate challenges. First and foremost, he is spoilt with abundance of young talents, especially from DAP and PKR.

Secondly, thanks to his protégé-turned-rival Najib, the country finance is in a bloody mess. His previously endorsed son of Razak had been raping the country’s assets left, right and centre. Thirdly, he has problem dividing the spoilt of war. Everybody wants the biggest and the sweetest meat. Having too many talents can be a double-edged sword, are they not?

Rafizi Ramli, PKR vice-president whose stardom skyrocketed after he exposed the CowGate scandal, has expressed dissatisfaction over Mahathir’s appointment of three vital cabinet ministers – DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as finance minister, PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin as home minister, and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu as defence minister.

PKR, armed with 47 parliamentary seats it won on May 9, clearly wants the lion share of the initial 10 ministries. The argument is this – why PKR wasn’t given any of the top 3 most powerful ministries despite winning the most number of seats, but PPBM and Amanah were allocated the home minister and defence minister when they only won 13 and 11 seats respectively?

In case PKR has forgotten, they have already secured the deputy Prime Minister post. And Mahathir is warming up the seat for PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim to take over as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia. PKR will be no difference than the disgraced greedy UMNO if they want all the juiciest meat for themselves, leaving crumbs and bones for its partners.

Perhaps Rafizi spoke on behalf of his boss. It doesn’t take a genius to tell that Anwar Ibrahim wants the powerful finance minister for himself, in addition to the premiership. But Najib is a classic example why a prime minister must not hold the finance minister portfolio at the same time. There’s no guarantee that Anwar will not turn into another power-hungry and corrupt monster.

Of course, Mahathir has his own justifications why the trio were chosen. First of all, Muhyiddin Yassin, Lim Guan Eng and Mohamad Sabu are the head of their respective parties. You don’t give them crumbs, like how UMNO treated MCA, MIC and Gerakan, if you’re sincere about respecting your partners. Secondly, the portfolios were allocated based on immediate requirement.

Mohamad Sabu, popularly known as Mat Sabu, is perhaps one of the cleanest, principled and liberal MPs alive. The defence ministry urgently needs an overhaul after 61 years under Barisan Nasional. As defence minister for 12 years, Najib had corrupted the institution to the core. The inexperienced yet simplistic, approachable and incorruptible Mat Sabu are what deteriorating Malaysian Armed Forces needs now.

On paper, it appears Malaysian ethnic-Chinese have once again regained their long lost glory and dignity. H.S. Lee (Malaya’s first finance minister) and Tan Siew Sin (finance minister from 1959 to 1974) were the only ethnic-Chinese finance ministers. Since 1974, the country’s finance minister has been an ethnic-Malay. Hence, after 44 years, Guan Eng becomes the first ethnic minority to hold the powerful post.

Sure, Lim Guan Eng said he doesn’t consider himself a Chinese but a Malaysian. However, judging by foreign media headlines after he was appointed the finance minister, one cannot help but noticed that ethnic-Chinese in the country had indeed been systematically discriminated and denied the chance under previous Barisan Nasional government.

But Mahathir didn’t appoint Lim Guan Eng just to win the popularity contest that he is a non-racist. Mr. Lim is entrusted with the portfolio because like 60 years ago, the national treasure is in deep trouble. Nine years under Najib administration, the Thief-in-Chief who happened to hold the finance minister portfolio too, had squeezed the national coffers to dry.

Don’t be surprise when it’s revealed later that the country has at least RM1 trillion of external debt. Yes, Lim Guan Eng isn’t there for honeymoon but to clear the mess left by the corrupt Najib Razak. As a former banker and chartered accountant, the Chief Minister of Penang since 2008 has done a remarkable job as the economic manager of Penang, the second richest state in the country.

As finance minister, Mr. Lim will have a great challenge ahead – fulfilling the new government’s campaign promise within the first 100 days which include repealing the highly unpopular GST (goods and services tax). Mahathir is leveraging on his good track record in Penang, which recorded the highest GDP per capita among Malaysian states in 2016, to put the country’s financial health back on track.

If Lim couldn’t fix the financial havoc created by the previous administration, he would be blamed for everything under the sun. He has revealed that the government’s plan was to review all contracts to ensure that jobs and business opportunities for Malaysians were made secure, as well as to reduce the financial burden on low-income groups.

While Lim Guan Eng was chosen by Mahathir to oversee and fix domestic financial issues, Mahathir has at the same time brought in some big guns to advise his administration at international level. This includes Malaysian richest man Robert Kuok Hock Nien. Mr. Kuok will be one of 5 members of a special advisory council, which Mahathir called the “council of the elders”.

Other members of the elite team include former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin, former Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former Petroliam Nasional Bhd President and CEO Hassan Merican, and prominent economist Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram. But why does Mahathir need Robert Kuok, the same person Najib had mocked and insulted before losing the election?

Obviously, Mahathir badly needs the 94-year-old Kuok due to his connection with China. It wasn’t a coincidence that the ethnic-Chinese billionaire released his book – “Robert Kuok – A Memoir” – just months before Najib calls for the 14th general election. And it certainly wasn’t a coincidence that Daim Zainuddin and Rafidah Aziz suddenly came out of retirement to fight Najib.

Everything happened by design, not coincidence. We had written why Najib and his band of ignorant cybertroopers, propagandists and bloggers should be careful what they wish for after they systematically bashed Robert Kuok. Whether Mahathir requires new investment or renegotiate the terms of existing investment previously signed by Najib, Robert Kuok is the only person who can make it happen.

Yes, Mahathir, despite his whining, crying and bitching until foaming at the mouth about Najib pawning national treasure to China, he is actually a desperate man needing the Chinese investment. But such investment must be free of corruption and beneficial to the people of Malaysia. Robert Kuok is President Xi Jinping’s most trusted man as far as Malaysia-China bilateral relationship is concerned.

Kuok’s influence with the Chinese leaders in mainland China was underestimated by Najib, when he together with Nazri and some dumb bloggers mocked and insulted the tycoon. Unlike ungrateful UMNO-Malay Najib, Beijing is still grateful to the renowned Sugar King, who secretly helped China overcome a severe sugar shortage in the early 1970s.

Mahathir recognises and respects Kuok’s influence, unlike Najib. Mahathir knew that whenever Chinese leaders visit Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, they deliberately choose to stay at Mr. Kuok’s Shangri-La hotel and that includes former president Hu Jintao and subsequently his successor, Xi Jinping. What Mahathir unable to speak, Kuok can whisper to President Xi Jinping.

Had Mahathir listened to noises about giving finance minister to PKR, or appoint a Malay for the post for fear of offending the Malays, his administration will be dogged with bigger problems. Without finance and economy in good hands, the gravy train cannot move fast and hence, there will be insufficient money to fulfil campaign promises, let alone to cancel GST and subsidise essential goods.

Tactically, it was a brilliant move by Mahathir. Unlike indecisive PKR leadership, the master strategist deliberately announced the portfolio of the 3 most important ministries ahead of other ministries. Now that it has become public – and receives positive response – PKR leadership will certainly look foolish trying to reverse the decision.

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