Malaysia's embarrassing flip-flop on the half-bridge project is only the tip of the iceberg of a deeply flawed government - one that continues to be plagued by Mahathirism.

Yes it is alive, in spite of the paradoxical scene of an angry Dr Mahathir Mohamad shouting juvenile protests against the government for having scrapped his signature project - the infamous crooked half-bridge .

Let us be very honest from the outset. This very expensive project was never motivated for the benefit of the people. It is a typical Mahathir-era mega project - grandiose, high-cost and crony-driven for bumper profits without a tender being called and with no proper rationale.