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Monday, June 29, 2020

Pakatan Harapan Should Ignore Mahathir's Desperation


Malaysiakini:

In haste to regain Putrajaya, Harapan may end up legitimising PN gov

Malaysiakini

Pakatan Harapan and its allies have been working to wrest back Putrajaya since their government fell in late February, but in their haste to do so, they may end up legitimising the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.

With tensions rising within the coalition over the prime ministerial candidate, political scientist Wong Chin Huat (above) said Harapan’s existence was now hollow, with “four desperate parties”.

“Ironically, by attempting to remove PN as the backdoor government, (former prime minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad, DAP, Amanah, and Warisan may eventually help install PN from the front door,” he said to Malaysiakini today.

Despite Harapan’s claims that it had enough numbers in the Dewan Rakyat to regain Putrajaya, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin could circumvent their attempt by calling for a snap poll where Harapan and its allies would be badly defeated.

Not only that, but Umno and PAS would also gain the most out of a snap poll.

“Why should Muhyiddin surrender to Harapan Plus and not ask for dissolution?

“From Umno and PAS’ position, a snap poll is the best outcome, which they – with or without Muhyiddin’s Bersatu – may win some 90 to 100 seats.

“While that falls short from a simple majority, it would be a big leap from 57 (Umno plus PAS) now,” Wong said.


Various Umno leaders had been pushing for snap polls, such as Defence Minister Ismail Sabri (above), Umno deputy president Mohamad Hassan, Padang Terap MP Mahdzir Khalid, and Padang Rengas MP Nazri Aziz who all cited instability and uncertainty in the new government.

Harapan Plus, as the coalition and its allies were referred to, had been at an impasse over their prime ministerial candidate, with a choice between former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, and the latest contender Warisan president Shafie Apdal.

However, the prime ministerial candidate would be an “empty title” without the support of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which has 18 MPs, Wong said.

GPS has consistently maintained that they remain firm in their support of Muhyiddin and without any strong incentive, it was unlikely for them to switch their allegiance over to Harapan Plus.

Even if Harapan were to gain GPS’ support, the coalition would still need to win over a significant number of Umno or Bersatu MPs to block any protest in the name of Malays and Islam to push for a snap poll, Wong said.

“If Harapan is now so fragile and unstable, I can’t see why (GPS, Umno, or Bersatu MPs) would jump to join a government that looks more likely (than the previous Harapan government) to collapse and face a snap poll in which Malay voters may punish them,” he said.

He also said that out of 23 Umno and Bersatu backbenchers who are not facing corruption trials, 15 of them have government-linked company (GLC) appointments, which made it even more unlikely for them to jump parties.


This may be an acceptable risk for Mahathir (above), who is pushing 95 this year, but why should DAP and Amanah accept this risk, Wong questioned.

“Harapan Plus’ calculation to wrest back power with a counter-coup may end up in causing a snap poll which would strengthen Umno and PAS’ position for five years.

“Given Mahathir’s advanced age, risking a snap poll with even the success rate of one percent is worth it. It’s his last gamble.

“Why should DAP and Amanah, which have years to go, take such a big risk? I am puzzled,” he said.


Mahathir is also pushing for a counter-coup because waiting for the next general election will see him lose his last political battle and Muhyiddin will “have the last laugh”, he added.

At the same time, Anwar should bear some responsibility for the current situation, as he failed, as a parliamentary opposition leader, to lead the opposition in scrutinising the PN government and mobilising the public against selective prosecution, Wong said.


As the parliamentary opposition leader, Anwar (above) should have formed a shadow cabinet, even if it was just a partial one with senior PKR MPs if the other parties in Harapan Plus were not interested.

The shadow cabinet should have been coming up with alternative policies on Covid-19 and the economy, instead of attacking PN’s illegitimacy, Wong said.

“Anwar should now ignore the PM9 psywar game and get down to his business as parliamentary opposition leader.

“He can blame Mahathir for stopping him to become prime minister, but Anwar is the only one who has stopped Anwar from being an effective parliamentary opposition leader.

“If you can’t even lead a shadow cabinet lineup, how do we know that you can lead a real cabinet?” Wong asked.


5 comments:

  1. snap poll can reflect people sentiment n wants, whats wrong if majority want umno n pas? or u people prefer backdoor?

    cant believe this wch oso become a lalang.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ignorant & desperated people ALWAYS elect the wrong people & policy.

    Hence Hitler was democratically elected by the then German after the humiliated WWI defeats that led to many sopo-economic headships caused by the reparations demanded in the The Treaty of Versailles (signed in 1919) and the 1921 London Schedule.

    Closer to date, the make-American-great-again jingo has enticed many Yankees to elect Trump as their president.

    Both ONLY proved conclusively that the sentiment & wants of the majority R definitely WRONG, especially morally, when they r been hijacked by despicable politikus!

    Or is yr demoNcratic dogma teaches u otherwise such that anyone that goes against yr f*cked understanding is a lalang/stupid?

    How much clever can a fart inhaled katak under a well knows about human nature or comparative philosophy that it so farted about?

    ReplyDelete
  3. we are a hopping mad democracy, if anwar do not have the stomach to lawan tetap lawan anymore, he is free to cross over to help pn thru the front door no need to blame the hollow gang of four, but for the sake of not disappointing those who believe there are principles in our politics, it does not happen

    now why would malay first want to end his moment of glory in a hurry by calling a snap poll, he hasn't a clue yet how many seats pas and umno are willing to offer him but it does give you an indication how powerful he actually is

    ReplyDelete
  4. We should all learn to be like CCP.
    Only CCP on the ballot - perfect, no unnecessary conflict. That is how you get to be Big Man in Asia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mfer, this f*cked rant proves how ignorance of u about yr demoNcratic principle of free election!

      Go & ask that 犬养 mfer about how his ketuanan dangdut pals conducting elections within themselves for those 'water-flowing' posts lah!

      Only umno on the ballot & backstabbings & horse tradings happened all the time. With smiling faces too.

      Ditto in yr uncle Sam's lair of cheats too!

      Who learnt from who?

      Or is it the nature of human when trying to corner power?

      Delete