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The political combination that is frightening Umno … |
This blog post is a compilation of key news reports that may set new political alignments in Malaysia’s Opposition parties, a day after the historic handshake meeting in a court room between Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim.
Depending on which side of the political divide the feedback and statements are coming from, it is only to be expected that the ruling Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) politicians are condemning the possible reigniting of the Mahathir-Anwar “team”.
The more they condemn or try to throw cold water on both the veteran politicians’ coming of peace, the more it shows Umno and BN ‘s fears of a possible united front being realised to do battle in the next general election i.e the 14th General Election (GE14) which is only due in March 2018.
However, the 1Malaysia Development Berhad Prime Minister Najib Razak has the power and right to call for a snap GE14 anytime he so wishes.
Just a handshake between Mahathir and Anwar has created so much political excitement for Malaysians, and Umno and BN are trying to hide their fear.
Imagine what will strike Umno and BN when the two publicly announce their making of peace, forgiving each other for their past mistakes and calling on Malaysians to unite for change.
That will be seen as Mahathir and Anwar making a political decision in the interest of Malaysians and Malaysia, with all other considerations secondary.
Such a political scenario is frightening to Umno and BN, to say the least.
And, it is so amazing and surprising to hear from Amanah (a splinter of the Islamist PAS comprising liberal-minded former PAS leaders) that it is ready to give way for the newly-formed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to contest against PAS and Umno in the Malay heartlands.
Bersatu patron is Mahathir, who ruled Malaysia as prime minister for 22 years, and its president is Muhyiddin Yassin, the former deputy prime minister and depuuty Umno president who was sacked by 1MDB Najib a year ago for criticising Najib and 1MDB.
That Amanah has so swiftly cleared such a huge hurdle in seeking a united Opposition electoral pact to face Umno and BN in GE14 is beyond anyone’s imagination.
And this political “sacrifice” by Amanah is what frightens Umno and BN. Next, Malaysians expect DAP and PKR to display similar political “sacrifice” and “magnanimity” in the interest of Malaysians and Malaysia.
Here’s the compilation of key political developments a day after the Mahathir-Anwar handshake:
“UMNO THE LOSER – DR M’S BERSATU TO GO AFTER BIG-MALAY MAJORITY SEATS: AMANAH AGREES TO GIVE WAY IN MALAY HEARTLANDS
Politics | September 6, 2016 by | 0 Comments
Parti Amanah Negara has expressed its readiness to give way for the newly-formed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to contest against PAS and Umno in the Malay heartlands.
Amanah communications director Khalid Samad said this would be the party’s position in the event of any negotiations for an electoral pact to face the 14th general election.
“We must find a way for the sake of unity for an electoral pact. They (Bersatu) don’t necessarily need to join Pakatan Harapan,” Khalid said.
“Bersatu will go for the big Malay-majority seats while Amanah will take on seats with sizeable non-Malay voters,” Khalid said when met after a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
– M’kini"
"SUDDENLY, NAJIB SYCOPHANTS FEEL FEAR: REPENT BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE – DR M & ANWAR HAVE JOINED FORCES
Politics | September 6, 2016 by | 0 Comments
The mountain comes to Anwar …The mountain comes to Anwar …
I thought I’d never seen the two of them photographed together, like this, ever again. I also thought I’d never seen Dr Mahathir Mohamad looking this small ….
“No other way to describe,” said a fellow journalist, “except that it’s the pits of Dr Mahathir’s turnaround … first, he was hoping to lobby the Rulers to meet him; second, blaming Megat Junid for the ISA arrests during this premiership; and latest, to apologise to the Rulers for the amendment on royal assent. God knows what’s next!”
– http://www.rockybru.com.my/"
"UNLIKE ‘TEENY-WEENY’ NAJIB, BIG-HEARTED DR M & ANWAR TO LEAD M’SIA BACK TO RIGHT PATH IN GE14 – AZMIN
Politics | September 6, 2016 by | 0 Comments
PKR deputy president Azmin Ali has hailed the reunion between two arch-nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim as a start in preparation for the 14th general election.
“I am confident this is a start for uniting the people and strengthening progressive political parties as a preparation for the 14th general election,” he said.
Azmin was referring to Mahathir’s surprise appearance at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to show support for jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s application to challenge the controversial National Security Act 2016, which grants the council headed by the prime minister emergency-like powers.
It was the first meeting between the two men in 18 years after then prime minister Mahathir sacked his deputy Anwar and had him jailed for sodomy and abuse of power, charges which the latter had claimed were politically motivated.
Anwar was freed in 2004 after the sodomy charge was overturned but he was put behind bars again in 2015 under Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak based on a similar charge.
“What the world witnesses at that moment was not just two persons shaking hands but two statesmen who were willing to set aside past differences and bitterness for the future of the country and the people of Malaysia.
“The meeting proved that both men have big hearts at a time when the country is faced with a leadership crisis and needs direction to save the country and to work on economic recovery,” said Azmin.
He echoed Anwar’s believe that Mahathir’s willingness to see the former opposition leader in court yesterday was an indication that the former premier has now accepted the reform agenda.
Azmin said Mahathir and Anwar met privately for some 30 minutes and he as well as PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail were also present.
– M’kini"
"USE THE MONEY NOW, MAHATHIR: PRO-NAJIB BLOGS START TO DEFECT, TELL DR M TO OFFER PAS RM1BIL TO ‘CO-OPERATE’
Politics | September 6, 2016 by | 0 Comments
Finished unpacking and got a bit of time before going to sleep.
It’s past midnight but I better write this now because tomorrow is going to be a busy day.
The big story at the moment is that meeting between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and DS Anwar Ibrahim in court.
Dr Mahathir said he was not making peace with Anwar but instead just there to support him for filing that injunction against the implementation of the National Security Council Act.
However, I don’t buy it.
I still think that he is indeed making peace with Anwar, one way or another.
At least, as far as I am concerned, that’s how this picture seems to indicate,
Otherwise, I don’t think Anwar would hold Dr Mahathir’s hand like that.
Anwar may be very good at putting up an act, but I don’t think he was faking it this time.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who see it that way.
The NSC is just an excuse.
All that 18 years of intense animosity between the two guys seems to be over now.
All those allegations of Anwar being a sodomite and Dr Mahathir a cruel mahafiraun don’t matter too, I guess.
They are allies once more and the common enemy is PM DS Najib Razak.
The fact that Dr Mahathir was willing to see Anwar in person again after almost two decades and in my eyes make peace with him, it is a clear sign that the fight against Najib will go on to its bitter end.
I also believe that the meeting with Anwar must had surely sealed Dr Mahathir’s bond with the Pakatan Harapan coalition of PKR, DAP and Amanah.
If I’m an Umno or BN leader, I would be worried.
The biggest weapon Umno and BN have at the moment is the disunity of the opposition.
Dr Mahathir is clearly trying to repair the rift between and within the opposition rank to prepare for the assault in the next general election.
Dr Mahathir had most likely told Anwar that he is not interested to take over the opposition and later on led the country again.
He’s only interested to get at Najib.
Anwar can have the power.
Maybe that’s why Anwar was willing to make peace with the man whom he accused of jailing him for almost seven years using trumped up charges.
If Anwar is willing to accept Dr Mahathir, the rest will follow along.
They know it’s the only way they would stand a chance to put up a united front against Umno and BN.
Next, I believe, Dr Mahathir will approach Pas.
Pas is the key now.
If Dr Mahathir manages to persuade Pas to rejoin the opposition coalition, then BN will really be in danger in the next general election.
How Dr Mahathir is actually going to do it is beyond me.
I can only think of two possible ways,
1. Offer Pas to have straight fights with BN (particularly Umno) in states it can realistically win. That’s Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah. Dr Mahathir may even offer tiny Perlis to Pas for good measure. In return, Pas will have to let Pakatan Harapan and his new Pribumi party to have straight fights with BN and Umno in the other states.They may win in Penang, Perak, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan while hitting hard in Malacca, Johor and Pahang. BN and Umno may only count on Sabah and Sarawak to counter those.
2. There are quite a few stories about how Dr Mahathir actually own a huge war chest to be utilised in his fight against Najib. I always doubt this allegation about Dr Mahathir, but if it is indeed true, then he should just use the money now. Let’s imagine that Dr Mahathir tells the Pas leadership that he will give them RM1 billion in exchange for their cooperation in the fight against the Najib-led Umno and BN. I suspect that the Pas guys will be very tempted to take up such an offer. They are human like us after all.
Again, let me remind you that if Dr Mahathir manages to persuade Pas to make peace with DAP, Amanah and PKR, the same way he made peace with Anwar, then BN and Umno may expect a life and death fight in the next general election. – http://lifeofaannie.blogspot.my/"
"AZALINA SHOULD WORRY FOR HERSELF – CAN SHE GET AWAY WITH NAJIB COVER-UP? ‘I’M WAITING FOR DR M TO CLEAR ANWAR OF SODOMY I’
Politics | September 6, 2016 by | 0 Comments
KUALA LUMPUR – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad may absolve Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of the sodomy allegations that led to the latter’s sacking in 1998, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman suggested today.
Commenting on the former prime minister’s meeting yesterday with the deputy he had accused of corruption and sodomy 18 years ago, the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said it was the embodiment of political expediency.
“In politics, there’s no such thing as permanent friends or enemies.
“I’m just waiting to see if Dr Mahathir would say if the charges then (in 1998) never happened,” she told a news conference.
– Malay Mail"
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