A ‘merciless’ political battle among Malays looming …

A ‘merciless’ political battle among Malays looming …

A historic and “merciless” political battle is brewing and looming in Terengganu - a east coast state in Peninsular Malaysia.

And the battle will basically be a tussle among the Malays or Muslims who make up 91.5 per cent of more than a million populace.

This means the votes of non-Malays or non-Muslims are of negligible influence.

And, if snap state polls are called, then it will be a historic and politically “bruising” battle for the Malays who are politically split into five factions - the ruling Umno, the Islamist PAS, Amanah (made up of leaders who quit PAS), PKR (the party supremo Anwar Ibrahim is languishing in Sungai Buloh and is led by his wife, president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) and a faction led by former premier of 22 years, Dr Mahathir Mohamd.In such a political battle scenario, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to predict that the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) is expected to win big compared with the 13th General Election (GE13).

In the March 2013 GE13, BN-Umno won the right to rule the state with only a two-seat majority in a 32-seat state assembly. BN-Umno won 17 seats, the then Opposition Pakatan Rakyat (now Pakatan Harapan) grabbed 15 seats with 14 going to PAS and one to PKR.

BN-Umno lost control of the state twice in electoral history - in 1959 and 2004.

BN-Umno’s possible landslide win in snap state polls can only be stopped if the other parties succeed in striking a deal to avoid three or multiple-corner fights.BN-Umno can only be threatened by straight fights, and this is almost impossible as witnessed in the Sungai Besar and and Kuala Kangsar by-elections that were triggered by the death of two elected representatives killed in a helicopter crash.

The Star online has quoted Terengganu Mentri Besar (Chief Minister) Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman as saying the state Umno is all geared up for the possibility of snap polls being called.

He added that he was confident that the party would be able to pull off a convincing win.

“But as we all know, an election incurs a lot of the taxpayers’ money, and we also know that the state is financially weak due to the global oil crisis.

“So, for the sake of the people, let’s all come to a decision by having a general election instead of holding a state election,” he said.

On allegations that the state government had mortgaged the Bertam oil well, he said this was not true.

“I have many times said in the state assembly that the oil well was never ours in the first place. So how are we to mortgage something that was never ours.

“The federal government has said before that it will help the nearest state to the oil well. So, that’s what we are negotiating for, a five per cent royalty from the Bertam oil well, located about three nautical miles off Terengganu waters,” he said.

He also rubbished claims that he had signed some documents to mortgage the oil well.

“I hope the people will be patient and wait for the outcome of the discussion. Give me time and have trust in me to complete the discussion,” he added.

It is interesting to note that the federal government, under Prime Minister Najib Razak, took over the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA) that was established in 2008 aimed at safeguarding the long-term economic well-being of the rakyat (people) of the state.

TIA was renamed the now financially controversial 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) in January 2009.

Najib was quoted by the media as saying the decision to expand TIA into a federal entity was made to enable its benefits to reach a broad spectrum of Malaysians rather than to the residents of only one state.

The Star also quoted Terengganu communications unit director Rosol Wahid as saying the best way to solve the political turmoil was for Ahmad Razif to seek an audience with the Sultan of Terengganu and call for a (snap) state election.

“Our main concern is not this state assembly sitting (on Monday Aug 8, 2016) but the next one in December.

“The question is whether the state budget can be passed. If not, the (state) government will collapse,” he added.

In another news report, The Star quoted Umno’s Kijal assemblyman and former MB Ahmad Said as giving an ultimatum to Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman to resign before he makes his next move.

He said if Ahmad Razif failed to step down, he would possibly quit Umno and join forces with PAS to form the next government.

He said this when contacted on Aug 4, 2016, after Ahmad Razif made a statement that the turmoil faced by the state government was due to Ahmad Said.

According to Ahmad Said, the Mentri Besar should know better what led to the crisis.

“I have a lot of secrets. Don't make me open my mouth. He (Ahmad Razif) speaks about my performance and that because of me, the state government lost most of the seats during the election (GE13) and only had a narrow win.

“He needs to know that during a time when there was a coup to oust me, BN was almost certain of going down by losing to PAS, he knows who saved and gave victory," Ahmad Said claimed.

He alleged there was a massive sabotage at that time, and there were two occasions when Ahmad Razif met him to confess what had happened.

“I could have sacked him at that time. I did not blame anyone and shouldered the responsibility,” he said.

He reiterated that Ahmad Razif should thank his lucky stars that he was still the MB.

“Ahmad Razif should remember that he is still the MB because of myehsan (courtesy),” he claimed.

It is quite clear that Ahmad Razif and the state Umno are confident of winning big in snap stat polls or in a snap GE14.

The question is whether Umno president and BN chairman Najib has the confidence to allow snap state polls or call for a snap GE14 which must be held after March 2018.

Will Najib muster confidence to seek a new five-year mandate from Malaysians to extend his reign?

Malaysians are waiting excitingly?