Monday, March 03, 2025

Opinion: Does Akmal Saleh see himself as the future Prime Minister of Malaysia?








Image credit: OhMyMedia


Judging by how Akmal Saleh has responded to Nazri Aziz’s jibe against him, we cannot be faulted for assuming that the Umno youth wing head might harbour ambition to be the future Prime Minister of Malaysia.


Nazri Aziz, the former Malaysian ambassador to the United States and Padang Rengas Umno division chief recently dismissed Akmal’s chances as a future prime minister of the country by saying that the youth leader did not represent the majority voice of the party.


When asked whether he was concerned about the lack of potential Prime Ministerial candidate in Umno, Nazri would concur that there is no other person that is fit to be the Prime Minister of the country other than Anwar, by sarcastically asking : “(Can) you tell me who? Akmal? You tell me who."


Further, Nazri would also dismiss Akmal by saying that the Merlimau assemblyperson represents only “one quarter” out of four Umno wings, thus, the latter’s views on various issues should not be regarded as a majority voice.


In response to Nazri’s light jab, Akmal would deliver heavy fire on the Ex law minister, by unabashedly referring to Nazri as a “bootlicker.”


"If you want to be a bootlicker, go ahead. Don't compare yourself to us," Akmal told Nazri, who had also served as the Umno Youth acting chief from 1994 to 1996.


"Maybe you have forgotten that you are not in America anymore because your contract was not renewed.


"I want to remind you that you are now in Malaysia where the majority race is Malay and Islam is the federal religion," Akmal replied on Facebook, before declaring that Umno Youth has a duty to the country to protect Islam and the Malay race.


Between Nazri’s support for PMX Anwar’s reign and his observation that Akmal is unfit to be the future prime minister of Malaysia, I am going to bet that it was the latter that had gotten on Akmal’s goat, to the point that he emptied the barrel on Nazri.


Does Akmal truly see himself as the future Prime Minister of Malaysia?


Well, if he does, we shouldn’t be surprised. I doubt that there is no politician in the country that enters politics without entertaining the hopes that they can someday sit in the number 1 post in the country.


Asking a Malaysian politician whether they wish to be the prime minister of the country is like asking a married man if he noticed the beautiful girl in front of him – even if they say no, the answer is yes, because for the answer to be no, the married man wouldn’t have been married nor the politician entered politics.


However, as hard as it is for a man to land a beautiful woman as a wife, it might actually be 10 times harder for a politician to become the prime minister of the country.


Does Akmal have what it takes?


From what I can tell, if Akmal wants to be the prime minister, he is likely to take the Dr Mahathir route to the top position.


Dr Mahathir also started his journey to become the number 1 by taking a hard position on race and religion, to the point that he was declared a “Malay Ultra”, by the reigning politicians of his time.


It was being an “ultra” that made Mahathir a household name in the country, and it was only because he had become a household name that Mahathir was able to become the prime minister of the country.


Since the KK Mart Socks controversy exploded last year, Akmal has also made a name for himself as an “ultra”.


At 36 years of age however, Akmal also has a lot of time to rehabilitate his reputation, once he has made his name.


After Mahathir had made his name and secured his position, Mahathir would also rehabilitate his reputation, by becoming less firebrand and more moderate to lead our multiracial nation.


In the same way, if Akmal can use his firebrand image to secure his position by getting a ministerial post, I will bet 1 ringgit and 35 cents that like Mahathir before him, Akmal will also tone down on his firebrand positions and start taking a more moderate stance, to appear more like a potential prime minister.


The only question however is whether the political landscape 2025 is the same as the 1960s, when Mahathir started to make his name.


We will probably only know the answer in 2027 when the next general election is scheduled.


If Akmal is given a federal seat, if he wins and if he secures a ministerial position if he wins, then perhaps there is a chance that Akmal will be able to take the Mahathir route to the top position.


We shall have to wait and see.


***


kt comments:

Mahathir had Tun Razak as a sponsor; Akmal? Nada matey.

Mahathir had a post-'May 13' to thrive in; Akmal, well I hope he doesn't, wakakaka!




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