Look around you, those malaysians who moved away and came to SG, went to OZ, US and UK in the early 2000s.. when Mahathir was still in power. They were spitting and cursing his name... bumi policies, unfair advantage, marginalised chinese blah blah blah. Exactly those people are now voting for him and expecting reform.
Mahathir's chance was opportunistic and strategy, populist, chance came when Najib was embroiled in 1MDB and promising GST abolishment, banning Grab and ride-hailing companies and petrol subsidies were the carrot dangled in front of the electorate. At the end of the day, politics are still politics, policies to pander to majority votes will ensure bumi priority (maybe renamed) and malay first. Those expecting deviation from a tried and tested strategy to remain in power are simply delusional.
In times of uncertainty and intense crave for change, the proclivity to vote for old hands, not necessarily safe hands is strong. Nothing Mahathir promised during his campaign was ground-breaking or visionary. Oh, and don't worry unduly about the mudlanders or be hoodwinked into overestimating their patriotism by their numerous videos online (go back vote and save country etc..), their patriotism is a commodity, one that is pegged to exchange rates.
