Why I worry for Mahathir

COMMENT | There are those who worry about Dr Mahathir Mohamad. In fact, they dislike everything about the former prime minister and blame him for all the ills plaguing Malaysia today.

To them, Mahathir had done nothing good in his 22 Pakatanyears as prime minister. They refuse to acknowledge even his most minute achievement. To them, Mahathir is vindictive, corrupt, a dictator and racist.

They are worried about Mahathir returning to helm the nation again, especially now that he is leading the opposition Pakatan Harapan.

Yes, there are Mahathir haters around who just loathe the sight of him. Some even fear him, so much so that the mere mention of his name will send shivers down their weak, hollow spines.

Say what you like, with Mahathir leading the opposition pact, GE14 will be a different ball game altogether.

That is why some quarters are worried about him.

But I am not worried about Mahathir. In fact, I worry for him.

Mahathir is 92 going on 93. He was born on July 25, 1925. No one will deny that is old; very old.

Of course, for those of us who have loved ones in their sunset years, we would rejoice when they say that they are still young at heart. When their spirit remains high, we are somewhat consoled.

But reality must set in.

According to a health report, at age 90, life expectancy varies due to many factors including current age, gender, race, and geographic location.

“The average life expectancy for a 90-year-old is 4.4 years. The top three causes of death among people this age are heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

“Despite advanced age, eating healthy and proper exercise can contribute to living a significantly longer, more healthy life”, a Health Grove report said...