This was how eight-term Kepong MP Tan Seng Giaw summed it up when asked for his views on the Pakatan Harapan chairman.
Tan, who would not be defending his Kepong seat after he was recently dropped from the DAP candidates’ list for Kuala Lumpur, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad had the tendency to make others feel small.
“Only he has a say on things; no one else has any say.
“He will make others feel small, wrap them up, then put them into his own pocket. That’s just who Mahathir is,” said Tan in an interview with Sin Chew Daily.
Tan, who was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) during Mahathir’s tenure as prime minister, also felt helpless over DAP’s decision to contest under the PKR banner, as agreed by all parties under Pakatan Harapan (PH).
He said although he understood that this move was necessary to enable DAP to win the rural votes, he felt sad that the iconic DAP symbol and flag would not feature in the coming polls.
“There was 52 years of hard work to establish this symbol.
“In the blink of an eye, it has all turned into the ‘blue eye’,” he said, referring to the PKR symbol and party colour.
Tan said he was aware DAP was hoping Mahathir would be able to draw the rural votes but he had his doubts if this could be achieved.
He questioned DAP’s future and asked if PH and Mahathir would decide on the direction it would take.
Tan said if Mahathir was able to create a Malay tsunami, DAP would be weakened after the polls.
On the other hand, the party would have to go through a gruelling and awkward rebuilding if the opposition pact lost.
Tan also believed that totally wiping out MCA was an impossible task as the party still had some power.
The DAP veteran also said that he would not contest as an independent candidate, adding that he had known since April 5 that he would not be selected to stand in the coming polls.
DAP had announced its Kuala Lumpur candidates for the coming polls on April 9.
Lim Lip Eng will leave his Segambut seat to contest in Tan’s Kepong seat.
Tan said he would continue his daily activities and serve the people although he would no longer be an MP.
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