TTF: PPBM lacks the capacity to draw the Malay crowd. While the Padang Timur anti-Kleptocracy rally struggled to amass some 3,000 to 4,000 supporters, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak effortlessly drew 21,800 Permatang Pauh folk to a simple luncheon that waded its way into the Malaysia Book of Records. If that’s any indicator, PKR has seen the last of its glory days.
It has, considering that Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s supporters feel let down by the jailed leader’s decision to work with his onetime jailer, Dr Mahathir Mohamad. They remember the day the sacked deputy premier told them that Mahathir was an evil and despotic leader who needed to be removed at all cost. It was their detestation for the former premier that fuelled Reformasi protests in central Kuala Lumpur following Anwar’s sacking from government.
When Mahathir eventually stepped down in 2003, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail told foreign newsmen that the Reformasi struggle was “far from over.” She insisted that the core essence of Mahathirism was ingrained deep within UMNO and could never be eradicated no matter how hard one tried. Anwar’s supporters were convinced that the journey towards a more civil and liberal society could only begin the day UMNO was destroyed.
But today, their leader is rubbing shoulders with the very person who invented Mahathirism. The union caused Permatang Pauh folk to wonder if indeed their jailed idol had led them into a false sense of liberty and justice. That probably explains the 21,800 turnout at the luncheon Najib organised in Permatang Pauh.
Imagine, we’re talking 21,800 people from one small constituency, flocking in support of the man they’re calling a ‘kleptocrat’. Is it not ironical – and somewhat comical – that only 3,000 to 4,000 people from all over Malaysia flocked to Padang Timur to hear stories about that very same ‘kleptocrat’?
Get the picture?
Not only have Anwar’s supporters ditched the Reformasi express, so have the Chinese, who are now weary of the DAP’s de facto chief, Lim Kit Siang. Their aversion towards the senior Lim became evident during last year’s Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar twin by-elections when results revealed a 25 percent swing in the Chinese pendulum. With all the support deficit and PAS out of the picture, how does Pakatan Harapan expect to win the 14th general election (GE14)?
It is not as if Mahathir isn’t aware of all this. As a matter of fact, he knows that PPBM is no match to PAS and is split right down its core. He realises that the party can never draw even a tenth of the crowd Dato’ Seri Abdul Hadi Awang drew during his party’s Fastaqim 2.0. With all these realities staring Mahathir in the face, why is he still determined to bulldoze his way through the upcoming election?
Well, the answer is simple.
Both he and Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali have come to an agreement. Under the terms of this agreement, the former premier will seek an appointment with Dato Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi almost as soon as the election results are announced. During the meeting, he will offer to cripple PKR and deliver Barisan Nasional a two thirds majority (assuming Barisan doesn’t get one) by getting PPBM and pro Azmin Members of Parliament (MPs) from PKR to join UMNO.
Once in, Mahathir will work with Zahid to sabotage Najib before getting the deputy premier to stage a coup. Should Zahid disagree with all these plans, Azmin will engage in a leadership tussle with Wan Azizah to wrest control of PKR. In the event he succeeds, he will float the idea of ‘saving’ the party by discussing merger with PPBM.
Assuming that these discussions go through, the new party – PARTI KEADILAN BERSAMA MALAYSIA (PKBM) – will end up with a 30 or so seat representation by March 2019. As we speak, Mahathir is already negotiating terms with Amanah’s Mohamad Sabu who has agreed to the idea in principle.
Interesting, is it not?
Mahathir is a Machiavellian, and this is what Machiavellians do. It is he who convinced Kit Siang to allot a minimum number of seats to Amanah, and it is he who is now whispering to the devastated Mat Sabu of the merger plan. Assuming that Amanah does win four or five seats during the general election, we’re looking at the possibility of PKBM ending up with 35 or more seats in Parliament!
Once that happens, Mahathir will approach Zahid once again, this time, offering to destroy Pakatan Harapan. Should Zahid agree to rope PKBM into Barisan Nasional, the former premier will then do what he had planned to do earlier – sabotage Najib before getting Zahid to topple him. However, should Zahid disagree with the plan yet again, we will be left with a two-party opposition coalition that Dato’ Seri Mukhriz Mahathir will lead towards GE15
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Editorial by MMO:
CYBERJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad admits Mentri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali is a capable leader to be the next prime minister if Pakatan Harapan (PH) wins the 14th General Election.
The PH chairman however said although Mohd Azmin was very capable, the latter was however not chosen by the PH leadership to be the prime minister.
“He is very capable but not chosen. Not only capable but you must be chosen. I don’t know whether I’m capable but they have chosen me,” he told reporters after becoming a panellist at a Vision 2020 Forum here today.
He was commenting on a question raised on why he did not suggest other names such as Azmin to be PH’s PM candidate.
Yesterday, it was reported that Mahathir claimed he did not want to become the prime minister if PH wins the next general election but he was asked to accept the candidacy.
Asked on the comment by Karpal Singh’s daughter who slammed Mahathir’s candidacy which shows Opposition’s lack of strategy, he said: “Everyone is entitled to an opinion but I have to respect those who support and believe in me.”
The forum, which was supposed to start at 2pm, only began at 3.15pm with a low turnout of nearly 300 people compared to the expected crowd of more than 1,000.
The ballroom was initially full of chairs, but the secretariat then removed some of them after realising that the venue was half empty.
As soon as the forum started, the emcee had asked the secretariat to keep the entrance door opened hoping more to come but only a few came.
Source: The Malay Mail Online
