Siti Mastura's controversial claims: A tactical move to sustain PN support

SHAH ALAM - Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura Muhammad's recent allegations against DAP were intended to keep her supporters intact and sustain the Pas-led Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition for the remaining four years of its term, said a political analyst.

Acknowledging her academic credentials, Professor Datuk Dr P Sivamurugan noted that her decision to make such statements was likely calculated, aiming to sustain support over the next four years.

He observed that the controversy has shifted public attention away from more pressing issues, highlighting the role of political ideology in shaping public discourse.

"Mastura's tactic is not unique in Malaysian politics.

"Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor had also taken a similar approach, especially by using attention-grabbing statements as a common strategy within the Pas party," he said during Sana-Sini Tamil language podcast session with co-host former MIC Youth chief Senator Datuk C Sivarraajh.

Sivamurugan also noted that in the realm of Malaysian politics, loyalties and enmities are fluid, and Siti Mastura's primary goal appears to be to maintain her support base.

He also pointed out the importance of evidence-based politics and the need for politicians to avoid making unsubstantiated claims.

On Nov 4, Siti Mastura claimed that Dap supremo Lim Kit Siang was a cousin of the late Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng.

She also alleged that Kit Siang and his son, Lim Guan Eng, were cousins of the late Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, and that Seputeh MP Teresa Kok is a cousin of Betty Chew, Guan Eng’s wife.

Last week, Kit Siang confirmed that he would take legal action against her for allegedly making defamatory remarks against him.

In a related matter, Sivarraajh drew parallels with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's philosophy, as expressed in the Keluar Sekejap podcast with former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He expressed difficulty in understanding Siti Mastura's actions, referring to Dr Mahathir's principle that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" in politics.

Sivarraajh suggests that Siti Mastura's allegations might be a strategic maneuver, akin to Dr Mahathir's approach, to consolidate her support base for achieving common objectives.

He also quoted Mahathir's statement, "enemy to enemy is my friend," suggesting that the general public might not easily understand such a perspective.

"If you watch Dr Mahathir's interview, he states that in politics, principles are flexible. We can become friends or enemies as circumstances dictate.

"However, this concept may be challenging for the average person to grasp," he said.

Sivarraajh's comments point to Malaysia's complex political alliances and ideologies, where the lines between friends and foes can be blurred based on strategic needs and circumstances.

In the Keluar Sekejap podcast led by former Khairy, Dr Mahathir said both he and DAP were merely using each other in their shared pursuit of toppling Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his administration in the 2018 general election (GE14).

He said the collaboration with DAP was driven by the mutual desire to secure a two-thirds majority for Pakatan Harapan during GE14, bearing in mind that “the enemy of your enemy is your friend”.

The former Langkawi MP was previously a staunch critic of DAP and Pas during his time with Umno.