Mukhriz's Mistake with Kulim

It is ironic that Mukhriz has chosen to raise concerns over the joint venture between ECK Group and the Kedah state government on the Kulim airport project, which involves the construction of facilities for supporting industries, including an industrial park for a logistics, aerospace, and manufacturing hub.

His concerns are well-founded of course, as due to his inquisition, it has been revealed ECK Group did not make any payments over the Kulim airport that it was to develop as part of a joint venture with the Kedah state government, but it has already made “a windfall”

This is very concerning of course, especially with the sordid reputation for a lack of accountability that current MB, Sanusi has garnered in the public eye.

But the issue here perhaps is not Sanusi, but Mukhriz – because in the end, it was Mukhriz himself who had approved this project in the first place!

Who can blame him however, after all, he is a Mahathir.

With the power entrusted by the rakyat to them to lead the country, it is a very fortunate situation that they use their influence to enrich themselves.

Projects and contracts come easy when you are the Prime Minister’s son. No doubt these are essential to channel money down the grassroots level as the Bersatu elections ramp up in the coming weeks.

To many Malaysians, the dream of burying the crony nepotism complex we have been beleaguered with remains what is it – a dream and nothing more.

Nor can his voters applaud him as a judge of good character.

Earlier in Pakatan Harapan’s tenure in government, Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir stated that he is happy with the performance of the ministers from his party.

Take, for example, the former Minister of Entrepreneur Development, Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof who best known for his penchant for flying cars. While this had initially courted massive controversy, the minister has continued to double down on justifying his ministry’s “current initiatives”.

Nor can we forget the ever controversial former Minister of Education Maszlee Malik who began his tenure by ramping up fears of religious intervention in the education system such as when he remarked that religious teachers should use Sabah and Sarawak for “dakwah” (propagation).

How about Syed Saddiq, who had once ranked third in a Malaysian Insight list that counted down the worst Cabinet Pakatan Harapan ministers.

The former young minister has proven himself as lobbyist-in-chief as he continues to promote corporate interests such as Razer and GoJek, camouflaged as “youth-orientated projects”.

It is unfortunate that he does not share the same energy across his portfolio. Many athletic associations were left in the lurch if we take a look at recent reporting during Pakatan Harapan. He left and continues with his reputation as not only a glory hog, often taking credit for the achievements of our national sports teams.

Now as there begins talk of Pakatan Harapan mounting a vote of no confidence against the Mahathir government, let us remember the charlatans that got us here in the first place.

From Zakir Naik to the Malay Dignity Congress, Bersatu under Mukhriz and Mahathir have been instrumental in every major loss suffered by Pakatan Harapan – including the massive defeat and loss of public trust that was the Tanjung Piai by-election.

If anything, let us not forget the night of long knives in February, and their wielders from Bersatu.