The ham sandwich's power of damage control

The ham sandwich's power of damage control

Mariam Mokhtar
Published: Jan 17, 2025 6:14 PM


COMMENT | Do not be fooled by the ham sandwich fiasco because the timing of the whole saga is extremely suspicious.

Was Umno-Baru Youth leader, Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh ordered by his party boss, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, to create a diversion because his (Zahid’s) boss, Anwar Ibrahim, faced the wrath of the rakyat for bungling the royal addendum cum pardon debacle?

The mysterious royal addendum is like the elusive Yeti, the Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas, or the Tasmanian Tiger, or the Loch Ness monster of Loch Lomond.

For one year, Malaysians were told about the royal addendum, although no one would admit that they had seen it. A few thought they had caught a glimpse of it, whilst others were convinced that if so-and-so minister had said he’d seen it, then it must be real.

Little did Malaysians realise that they were being given the “Chinese whispers” treatment. The total breakdown in communication was calculated to obfuscate the rakyat, instead of enlightening them.

Is freeing Najib the end game?

The royal addendum purportedly ordered for the convicted felon to undergo house arrest to serve the remainder of his prison sentence.

At that time, we were still reeling from the damning news that the Pardons Board had commuted Najib’s sentence from the initial 12 years in jail and RM210 million fine to six years and RM50 million. Najib could also stave off his income tax payment.

Whilst things were certainly looking rosy for Najib, we knew that a cunning plan was being hatched to edge him closer to absolute freedom. With a full pardon, Najib will be eligible to take part in the next general election.

This time last year, we were initially told that the Pardons Board had postponed their meeting several times. Then we were told to expect an imminent announcement, but this was swiftly followed by another announcement that the ceremony to welcome the new king had to take precedence.

Worse was to follow. Anwar himself admitted that all convicts were entitled to a pardon, but did he have to help fast-track Najib’s pardon? We were told that prisoners are required to serve one-third of their jail term before being eligible for pardon. Najib fails the basic requirement.

Whichever way we argue the facts, all roads lead to Najib. Najib wields a lot of power despite being behind bars in Kajang.

With the unrecovered money sloshing around somewhere, he knows that money can buy a lot of influence. He once admitted in Sibu that if you help me, I will help you.

Look the other way

As is common with all political parties, there is an internal power struggle in Umno-Baru. Zahid probably has to look over his shoulder all the time and sidestep the knife which an ambitious Umno-Baru politician may stick in his back, to assume the Umno-Baru presidency.

Anwar needs Zahid, just as much as Zahid needs Anwar. Without Zahid, there is no federal coalition government. Without Anwar, Zahid has no “big brother” to protect him from his corruption cases.

Zahid plays a delicate balancing act. When Malaysians were outraged that Umno-Baru was marching to support Najib, Anwar probably told Zahid to call it off. He did not need more ammunition against him.

There is more than meets the eye, than just the protest march, ham sandwich, and royal addendum.

The factory producing the ham sandwiches was raided last Friday, with Jakim proposing legal action against it. Two days later, Akmal vented his rage on KK Mart. His response does not make sense.

Out of the blue, Anwar told Malaysians that the royal addendum had nothing to do with him and pointed fingers at the former and the current attorney-general.

Passing the buck

The rakyat is angry. Why did Anwar allow the issue to spiral out of control? Is the promotion of the three daughters of past and former Umno-Baru veterans to preserve their fathers’ legacies? Why the gag order?

Anwar might as well have said, “Let’s play, ‘Passing the Buck’.”

With the two AGs placed in a tight spot, the sitting AG swiftly applied to the court for a public gag order.

People demanded answers, but by then the PM was safely settled into first-class comfort on his official jet, making his way to UAE, London, Brussels, and Switzerland for Davos, and Akmal was having a field day.

Was Akmal tasked to protect Anwar by creating racial tensions as a diversion and spreading misinformation? Malaysians have not forgotten the vitriol created by the “Allah socks” and “Allah high-heels” scandal. We are easily distracted and sidetracked by trivia.

For over three decades, Malaysians have been buying chicken ham, turkey salami, or beef bacon in the country. Ham, salami, and bacon refer to the curing process of the meat.

There was a big supermarket in Jalan Ampang or nearby that caters to expats and diplomatic staff. This chain used to have a tiny well-stocked outlet in Kenny Hills. The beef bacon was sourced from Saudi. The cold meats were made locally.

Just outside the Ubudiah mosque in Kuala Kangsar, a vendor sells (or used to) halal cocktail sausages, frankfurters, and hamburgers to foreign tourists. No one has caused a stink about these meats.

Is the ham sandwich a means of damage control to cushion the PM from his poor handling of the royal addendum and pardon?

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and the president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, X.