By Niza Shimi
In politics, it’s easier if you have a common “enemy” that you can rally the troops to fight against. But since the formation of the Unity Government under the tenth Prime Minister (PMX) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, nobody seems to know who the enemy is anymore.
Take the pre-election rallies when then-candidate Anwar was travelling by helicopter all over the country like a rock star, getting the audience to sing the Pakatan Harapan (PH) campaign anthem of Aduh Malaysia, the Ultimate version of Hoi, Hoi Ya Hoi.
Those were fun times because let's admit it, the song is catchy and there was a sense of nostalgia for P Ramlee in the comedy filem Ali Baba Bujang Lapok (loosely translated; “Ali Baba the Overaged Bachelor) about forty bungling thieves whose antics never age.
The hilarious turn of events that cannot be overlooked is that the Hoi, Hoi Ya Hoi song was a serenade of sorts for the United National Malay Organisation (UMNO) president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is facing trial on corruption charges.
Well, wonders will never cease in politics as Zahid is now the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and the Minister of Rural and Regional Development. Perhaps the serenade should have been Bon Jovi’s “It’s my life. And it’s now or never” for PMX instead.
As PMX, perhaps Anwar is hoping for a miracle that people have short memories or that his almost celebrity idol status could delete the past for the sake of “political stability” and peace for him to stay in power for the full five year term.
But things are not so rosy red in UMNO at its recent general assembly. The cracks that were already there before the 15th general elections (GE15) seem to threaten a split between the pro-no contest for the top two posts (president and deputy president) camp and those against it.
Outspoken UMNO’s former Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) has dubbed it (the no contest resolution) the “Langkah Dewan Merdeka” (Merdeka Hall Move) and alleged phantom voters were brought in to bulldoze the vote. KJ could be facing disciplinary action.
Would this mean an excuse to suspend or expel KJ? The former MP from Rembau is still smarting from being moved to Sungai Buloh for GE15 where he lost, unable to rise above the “Vote of KJ is a vote for Zahid” counter-campaign by PH and Perikatan Nasional (PN).
KJ has nothing more to lose in UMNO. He might feel that this is the time for him to test the limits. Although popular since his stint as Minister of Health in the short-lived PN coalition before GE15, the more conservative UMNO may not want to rock the boat.
What options will there be for the young in UMNO who look up to KJ? Will they leave en masse should KJ be forced out? That would be a great loss for UMNO with its “party of boring oldies” image.
Many speculate KJ would be more suited to Parti Keadilan Rakyat as he is on good terms with Minister of Economic Affairs Rafizi Ramli and former Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh, Nurul Izzah Anwar.
But what would it mean to PMX if UMNO is weakened by internal strife? With the Memorandum of Understanding on the Unity Government signed, sealed and delivered, is PMX safe for the next five years? Can the opposition undermine PMX with a copycat Sheraton Move?
However, I agree with Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan who said, “many delegates during the general assembly did not buy the argument presented by deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who said it was better for the party to work with DAP in the unity government than Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.”
If GE15 is any indication, the majority of Malay voters voted for PN (PAS and Bersatu) rather than PH or BN. Will PMX be able to win over the hearts and minds of Malays with a weakened UMNO?
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