What have I done wrong? That was the question Dr Mahathir Mohamad asked of his critics who still continue to smear his name. Yes, what wrong has the hero of the Third World committed which has resulted in him not being allowed to retire in peace? Is his sin against the rakyat, Malaysia and the world so great that more than a year after retirement, his rest is still disturbed?

Only his critics and those who are not happy with Mahathir can offer the most accurate answer. We know that if that question is posed to the fanatical supporters of Anwar Ibrahim, they will quickly answer that it is because Mahathir sacked and shamed the former deputy prime minister.

If members of PAS are asked, they will firmly reply that it is because the fourth prime minister is anti-Islam. As for Western leaders, especially the Americans and foreign currency speculator George Soros, they hate Mahathir due to him being brave enough to speak out against the degradation of their culture and system.

Such are the answers which each faction has, depending on their respective priorities and appetites. Even if the majority of Malaysians support Mahathir, the picture which the mass media, especially the foreign publications, tries to paint is that Mahathir is not popular with his own people.