COMMENT | The Mahathir 1.0 government (1982-2003) was authoritarian and corrupt but stable. The Mahathir 2.0 government (2018 - 2020) was reformist but unstable. The Muhyiddin government (March 1, 2020 – present) is authoritarian, corrupt and unstable. How will a Mahathir 3.0 government be?

With deputy public works minister and Sri Gading MP Sharuddin Mohd Salleh switching back to Mahathir’s camp, Muhyiddin’s majority has now shrunk to the minimum 112 and a Mahathir 3.0 government (hereafter, Mahathir 3.0) becomes more probable provided Muhyiddin does not seek dissolution or the king denies him royal consent.

Supporters of Mahathir 3.0 lament the quick backsliding of reforms in Muhyiddin’s brief three months thus far and argue much can be restored if the Mahathir-led opposition seizes back power.

I don’t doubt that. Restoration of reforms introduced by the Mahathir 2.0 government (hereafter Mahathir 2.0) would have to be the Mahathir 3.0’s raison d'etre and basis of legitimacy by returning to power through reverse defections. Understandably, the reform agenda may have to be scaled down given the constraints.

The question is, will ...