Do politicians really care what voters are forced to endure each time they call for snap elections?
Hardly had all the fire and fury over the Negeri Sembilan Palace controversy died down when, out of the blue, Johor UMNO drew first blood by announcing its decision to go “solo” in the coming elections. This was after the Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi declared recently that BN would contest all 56 seats in the next state election. No doubt, it was a cruel snub to Anwar and PH, with the message unmistakably loud and clear: No power-sharing!
To many, the move was akin to drawing the battle lines—a signal that the party would be calling for an early state election. And what better place to ignite the fire than Johor, its very birthplace?
But why the urgency when the state is doing perfectly fine—especially with the help of Anwar and his PH-led Unity Government?
Truth be told, isn't the nation now grappling with the deepening cost-of-living crisis, alongside troubling uncertainty over global fuel prices? Of course, elections are also a hugely costly affair for the government. Yet, some politicians feel that this is the opportune moment to strike—never mind if the people are stretching their every ringgit.
Amid the escalating tensions, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke swiftly countered the grandstanding by the Johor UMNO. He declared that Negeri Sembilan stands ready to follow Johor’s lead into a snap election—should the latter force a dissolution of its legislative assembly.
Not mincing words, Loke stressed that DAP and its coalition partners are fully prepared for an all-out electoral contest if UMNO continues to posture aggressively across these crucial battlegrounds.
Perhaps the failed “political manoeuvre” by Negeri Sembilan UMNO last month was an attempt to force a state election after all?
As if the external friction between UMNO and PH wasn't enough to spike the country's political temperature, along came another bombshell. This was after PKR heavyweights-turned-rebels Rafizi Ramly and Nik Nazmi announced the launch of a new political platform under Parti Bersama Malaysia banner. This effectively confirmed the deep split within Anwar's party—leaving him with more than just another routine headache.
Fed up with all the posturing, a fired-up PMX then vowed during the recent Pakatan Harapan Convention that PH was prepared to go all-out and contest every seat nationwide should UMNO-BN go against the script and violate the pact forged within the Unity Government.
Anwar’s challenge to UMNO was blunt: “Johor and Negeri Sembilan—we fight everywhere. Is Johor ready? Is Negeri Sembilan ready? If it is a fight they want, then we will fight.”
But wait, did he forget Melaka—with Akmal Saleh and all?
The prime minister's statement is a clear signal that PH is now ready to abandon electoral understandings if tensions with UMNO escalate ahead of key state elections. He further warned that if relations with his key unity government partners continue to deteriorate, Putrajaya will be forced to consider dissolving Parliament ahead of schedule.
Has Anwar been forced to change his election plans now for GE16—thanks to UMNO's trademark impatience and petulance?
Having tasted virtually absolute power for more than 60 years, the nationalist party appears incapable of reining in its political lust. Call it instinct, second nature or whatever, historically, it has never had any qualms about going for the jugular—even that of its own allies—if it had to!
In fact, during the immediate post-COVID-19 era, didn't Muhyiddin Yassin and PN—UMNO's faithful “Sheraton Move” co-conspirators—end up being ruthlessly forced out by Zahid and his party?
Is it now the turn of Anwar and PH to suffer a similar fate?
Back then, following the thumping victories in the Johor and Melaka state elections prior to GE15, the hungry power brokers within UMNO pressured their own prime minister, vice president Ismail Sabri, to call for an early general election.
Now, the UMNO leadership—and its Akmal Saleh-inspired grassroots—seem bullish and confident that they can replicate its past successes. Moreover, the opposition PN is now deemed to be weak and divided, fractured by the breakup of Bersatu. Crucially, it has been without a recognized “poster boy” following Bersatu's sacking of Hamzah Zainudin. And now, even PKR is in shambles with the exit of two of its brightest shining stars—Rafizi and Nik Nazmi.
Could the current timing be any better for UMNO?
Still, has the party forgotten the brutal lesson of GE15—following the euphoria over the triumphant state elections earlier—when BN was sent crashing down unceremoniously by furious voters, ending up with a measly 30 parliamentary seats? They say politicians have a thick skin—perhaps they have a short memory too.
This time around, will history repeat itself, or will the tired, hapless rakyat be held hostage again—and forced to sit through yet another round of sandiwara by those impatient, self-serving political actors?
Main information source: CNA, The Vibes and Fulcrum.
JK Joseph (jtkingsworld@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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