PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari is caught in a catch 22.
Following Umno’s decision to pull out of a planned rally in solidarity with former prime minister Najib Razak, in compliance with a statement issued by Istana Negara, Fadhli had shared the cryptic post on Facebook.
The cryptic message, in the form of a metaphor, said:
“Disangka jantan berkokok nyaring, rupanya ayam betina bertelur sebiji. Disergah biawak, digadai reban.”
Translated, the metaphor would mean: “ Although we assumed that it was the cock that was crowing, it turns out that it was only a hen that laid a single egg. The moment the monitor lizard startled it, it fled and abandoned the coop."
Several government representatives have taken umbrage to Fadhli’s metaphor, and alleged that it could be interpreted as defiance against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Sungai Petani MP Taufiq Johari pointed out that the post, made shortly after Istana Negara called for respect towards the royal prerogative on pardons and established procedures, was raising questions as to who it is that that the metaphor is referring to.
“Perhaps the one who ‘startled’ (‘disergah’ in Fadhli’s metaphor) was the king. To me, this is a treasonous statement by the Pasir Mas MP,” he said.
Batu Pahat MP Onn Abu Bakar also questioned whether Fadhli’s post was tantamount to defiance.
“Is the YB trying to defy the king?” he wrote on Facebook, sharing a screenshot of Fadhli’s post.
Pulai MP Suhaizan Kaiat, in a more advisory note, cautioned Fadhli to be more careful with his statements.
“PMX (Anwar Ibrahim) stated that pardons are at the king’s discretion. The inspector-general of police (Razarudin Husain) also emphasised that it is the king’s prerogative, and Umno has complied with Istana Negara’s orders,” he said.
Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, not to be left out, also has demanded that the Pasir Mas MP clarify the metaphor, specifically in regards to the reference to “biawak”.
“If you’re brave, directly state who you are referring to. Perhaps Fadhli only knows how to crow but lacks the courage to act,” the Merlimau assemblyman reportedly told FMT, in response to Fadhli's message.
With multiple government representatives taking affront to Fadhli’s post, Fadhli is now in a pickle.
Before him, there are only two options. He can either confront the challenges issued by the government representatives or he can be cowed by it.
If he confronts the challenges, he will have to, in one way or another, say that yes, his metaphor was in reference to the Najib rally, but if he does that, no matter how he construes his response, his metaphor might be taken as an act of defiance against the palace.
But if he is cowed by the challenges, by perhaps claiming that that metaphor has no relation to the Najib rally or by remaining silent, then the metaphor he issued might turn and bite him, for it will then be perceived that it is he himself that his metaphor was referring to.
What a predicament indeed it is for the Pas information chief.
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