KOTA KINABALU: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s decision to form a new Opposition alliance to take on Barisan Nasional came as no surprise to Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
The Sabah deputy chief minister said the former prime minister was a "political animal" who would stop at nothing to dislodge anyone he dislikes.
Pairin said Dr Mahathir had openly spoke of his unhappiness with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the present Barisan Nasional government, and that was reason enough for him to form the new coalition.
“What would result from the move remains to be seen. It is anyone’s speculation but there is nothing to stop Dr Mahathir from forming a coalition.
“In the final analysis, the people have to make the decision. It cannot be otherwise. We cannot change it. If the people say this, then that is the decision just like Brexit. There is no referendum after that, for better for worse, you make the decision,” he said.
Pairin said it was only natural for Dr Mahathir to be in the thick of things despite the general thinking that he should retire at his age.
“Once he makes up his mind he does not like a person, just like how he did not like me, he would go all out to dislodge that person. He tried to do that with me,” Pairin said after receiving a courtesy call from the Kadazandusun Cultural Association Youth Council yesterday.
Pairin, who was Chief Minister from 1985 to 1994 was the subject of Dr Mahathir's wrath when he led Parti Bersatu Sabah out of the BN coalition before the 1990 elections. The party rejoined the coalition in 2002.