News analysis

Is Mahathir picking what he thinks is the lesser of two evils?

His choice of Muhyiddin for PM will see Umno returned to power

Shannon Teoh
Malaysia Bureau Chief
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed to win the support of parties including Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and Parti Warisan Sabah. PHOTO: REUTERS Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will insist he had repeatedly warned that his successor must command the confidence
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed to win the support of parties including Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and Parti Warisan Sabah. PHOTO: REUTERS Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will insist he had repeatedly warned that his successor must command the confidence of Parliament. PHOTO: REUTERS Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Muhyiddin Yassin is now the front runner for Malaysian prime minister. PHOTO: BERNAMA Demonstrators at Independence Square in Kuala Lumpur earlier this week, as Malaysians took to the streets to protest against the current political limbo in the country. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed to win the support of parties including Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and Parti Warisan Sabah. PHOTO: REUTERS Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will insist he had repeatedly warned that his successor must command the confidence
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed to win the support of parties including Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and Parti Warisan Sabah. PHOTO: REUTERS Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will insist he had repeatedly warned that his successor must command the confidence of Parliament. PHOTO: REUTERS Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Muhyiddin Yassin is now the front runner for Malaysian prime minister. PHOTO: BERNAMA Demonstrators at Independence Square in Kuala Lumpur earlier this week, as Malaysians took to the streets to protest against the current political limbo in the country. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed to win the support of parties including Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and Parti Warisan Sabah. PHOTO: REUTERS Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will insist he had repeatedly warned that his successor must command the confidence
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed to win the support of parties including Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and Parti Warisan Sabah. PHOTO: REUTERS Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will insist he had repeatedly warned that his successor must command the confidence of Parliament. PHOTO: REUTERS Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Muhyiddin Yassin is now the front runner for Malaysian prime minister. PHOTO: BERNAMA Demonstrators at Independence Square in Kuala Lumpur earlier this week, as Malaysians took to the streets to protest against the current political limbo in the country. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed to win the support of parties including Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and Parti Warisan Sabah. PHOTO: REUTERS Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will insist he had repeatedly warned that his successor must command the confidence
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed to win the support of parties including Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and Parti Warisan Sabah. PHOTO: REUTERS Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will insist he had repeatedly warned that his successor must command the confidence of Parliament. PHOTO: REUTERS Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Muhyiddin Yassin is now the front runner for Malaysian prime minister. PHOTO: BERNAMA Demonstrators at Independence Square in Kuala Lumpur earlier this week, as Malaysians took to the streets to protest against the current political limbo in the country. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Updated
Feb 29, 2020, 10:35 AM
Published
Feb 29, 2020, 05:00 AM
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He said he wouldn't work with Umno. But faced with a choice between working with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and handing power back to the party he had abandoned over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption case, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad picked what he must believe is the lesser of two evils.

Many Malaysians will disagree.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 29, 2020, with the headline Is Mahathir picking what he thinks is the lesser of two evils?. Subscribe

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MCI (P) 066/10/2023. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2024 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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