Now there’s talk of a Third Force! What else for Malaysian politics?
Indeed that Sept 5, 2016, politically historic handshake in a courtroom between Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim, as expected, has heated up Malaysian politics.
The “handshake” has sent Malaysian politics into an unprecedented political turmoil, with politicians not knowing who are their real friends and who are their real enemies.
There are all sorts of political spats between friends and also between enemies, and also between political foes.
Not only that. There’s also a surge of political paradigm shifts in speculations and analysis reports, in the run-up to the 14th General Election (GE14) which is only due in March 2018.
However, 1Malaysia Development (1MDB) Prime Minister Najib Razak is widely expected to call for snap GE14 to take advantage of a massively divided Opposition.
Here’s the Third Force political theory and another report, possibly a sign related to the force:
"NO ROOM FOR NAJIB & ROSMAH: NEW POLITICAL PARADIGM IN THE WORKS – RAIS WORKING TO GLUE DR M-ANWAR PACT WITH ZAHID-LED UMNO-BN?
Politics | September 13, 2016 by | 0 Comments
On Monday 5 September 2016, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad did the unthinkable. He turned up at the High Court for Anwar Ibrahim’s filing of an interim injunction to stop the enforcement of the newly-passed National Security Council (NSC) Act. Mahathir shook hands with his former ally turned nemesis and both exchanged pleasantries. He wished Anwar well and prayed for the jailed opposition leader’s success. They talked for a good 45 minutes in the witness room — a long time indeed for two bitter foes.
It was the first time both had come into contact since September 1998, when Mahathir, then prime minister, unceremoniously sacked Anwar as his deputy and had him jailed for abuse of power and sodomy. Coming just three days after the 18th anniversary of that fateful event, the Mahathir–Anwar handshake was a ground-breaking ‘reunion’. Mahathir said he was not there to ‘talk about the past’ but to show support for Anwar’s bid against the NSC. He, like Anwar, views the NSC as unconstitutional and fears the act will give Prime Minister Najib Razak too much power.
But this is not the first time that Mahathir and Anwar have attempted to come back together. Earlier in March, Mahathir launched his Citizens’ Declaration ‘rainbow movement’ to mobilise public support against Najib, who is fighting for political survival due to the 1MDB scandal.
There were moves at the time to get the divided political opposition to throw their support behind Mahathir, who was emerging as Najib’s harshest critic. Anwar, freed in 2004 but now back in jail, initially intimated his endorsement. He later pulled back when Mahathir showed more interest in simply toppling Najib than bringing about sweeping reforms to the political system, including the national leadership. Anwar’s change of heart raised doubts about his trust in Mahathir.
Anwar’s wife Wan Azizah, who succeeded him as opposition leader, is still bitter with Mahathir for throwing her husband into jail 18 years ago on what she regards as trumped-up charges. After the historic meeting in court this week, Wan Azizah, though still guarded, seemed more accepting, possibly because of Mahathir’s gesture of apparent reconciliation. For a man of immense pride, Mahathir’s decision to turn up in court to support Anwar was doubtless a big gesture. It was magnanimity, humble pie and realpolitik rolled into one.
The shrewd politician that he is, Mahathir must be fully aware that his presence at Anwar’s court hearing could be interpreted in many ways. One interpretation is that it was a tacit apology to Anwar and his family. Anwar, when besieged by the media, said ‘anybody who supports the reform agenda must be given a chance’.
Will this mark the start of yet another chapter in Malaysian politics? Leaders of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysia’s largest party, shot down the Mahathir–Anwar reconciliation as a political gimmick born out of Mahathir’s desperation to unseat Najib. But it would be a folly for the UMNO to underestimate the Anwar–Mahathir tag team.
Both know they can accomplish much if only they could overcome their animosity and join forces once again. And both know that, despite apparent peace, Malaysian politics is going through an existential crisis that could do with their statesmanship.
On the ruling coalition side, the pillar that holds up the system — the UMNO — is under pressure to defend or replace its controversial president who is also prime minister. If the UMNO goes through another leadership upheaval, the entire ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition could unravel. The UMNO crisis has pushed Mahathir and former deputy premier Muhyiddin Yassin out of the UMNO and into the fold of the anti-Najib front.
Yet the opposition, once strong and unified under the leadership of Anwar when he was free, is now suffering from its own debacle. With Anwar back in jail, there is no leader of the same stature and pulling power; no rallying point. The once-promising multi-ethnic Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Alliance) has now split and reconfigured to become Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope). Mahathir and Muhyiddin’s new party, Pribumi Bersatu, has emerged in that leadership vacuum. But this new mix is fragile. Can Mahathir or Muhyiddin be the new de facto chief of the opposition? Or will they all rally around Anwar?
Both Anwar and Mahathir know they are rushing against time. If there is any lawful change to be made, it must be done through the general election. There are signs that Najib may hasten the next general election to capitalise on the opposition’s disarray. It takes time for an opposition to rebuild itself, especially one that has been so badly split.
Ever the wily political animal, Mahathir saw the solution in a new modus vivendi with his former protégé. Anwar, ever the embracing politician, signalled his willingness to go forward and ‘engage’ Mahathir. A new page is being written in opposition politics, or is it?
The big task ahead for both Mahathir and Anwar transcends the two individuals. The political system as a whole needs more than reform. It needs re-engineering. The UMNO as the political core, even insiders agree, needs a shake-up to root out deep-seated corruption. But can any leader do it when the UMNO has proven to be impervious to change?
Three high-ranking UMNO leaders — Anwar, Mahathir and Muhyiddin — are now out of the party to bring about change from the outside. This is as ironic as it is telling. If a two-coalition system in Malaysia is unworkable, could there be a new political paradigm? Interestingly, some maverick UMNO leaders, such as Rais Yatim, are already thinking of bringing together both sides of the political divide.
If Mahathir and Anwar succeed in forging a new alliance to challenge BN at the coming general election, they will still need to prove this new alliance can win. Assuming they do and throw BN and Najib out of power, Mahathir and Anwar will still have to bring about real political change. What that will be remains uncharted, but they are clearly disturbed by the legacy that may be left behind for the next generation.
Yang Razali Kassim is a Senior Fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
– http://www.eastasiaforum.org/"
"Zaid defends Mahathir, calls for halt to attacks
FMT Reporters
| September 13, 2016
Former Umno minister says everyone errs when in power so there is no need to blame everything on Mahathir.
PETALING JAYA: Everyone errs when they are in power, thus there is no need to pin all the blame on everything wrong in the country on former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
In coming to the defence of Mahathir, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim said the elderly statesman had apologised for his mistakes, including for amending the Federal Constitution which reduced the power of the Agong and Rulers.
“It is important to realise however, that there are two types of leaders, one who was corrupt and had abused his power but has since repented and wants to change, while the other who continues to lie and cheat the public as he has no remorse,” he said in his latest blog posting today.
This is something Zaid said, the likes of Amanah’s Saari Sungib and supporters of former Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim have to choose between.
Over the weekend, Selangor Amanah’s Saari Sungib said that Mahathir must repent and publicly apologise for his alleged misdeeds.
In response, Zaid had sent out a tweet, saying “Saari Sungib does not have to follow M, but dont humiliate and ridicule him. M has done enough apologising”.
Mahathir was instrumental behind the sacking of Anwar as the deputy prime minister and subsequent incarceration for corruption and sexual misconduct in 1998.
Zaid went on to point out that when he was a candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election, both Mahathir and Muhyiddin Yassin – both of whom have since joined forces to form Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) – had made disparaging remarks about him and his family.
“I still remember that they said I made a ‘consolation’ payment to the judges who were sacked in 1988.”
“However, when Mahathir invited me to work together to ‘Save Malaysia’ and help him in his new party, I saw it as him apologising.”
Zaid said his acceptance into Mahathir’s “team” is an honour as the latter had contributed a lot to the country, and despite Mahathir’s flaws, he was proud with his fighting spirit to right what is wrong.
The former PKR politician said that the “duty” of slamming and mocking Mahathir should be left to Prime Minister Najib Razak’s henchmen and that there was no need for Anwar’s supporters to enter the fray."
"NO ROOM FOR NAJIB & ROSMAH: NEW POLITICAL PARADIGM IN THE WORKS – RAIS WORKING TO GLUE DR M-ANWAR PACT WITH ZAHID-LED UMNO-BN?
Politics | September 13, 2016 by | 0 Comments
On Monday 5 September 2016, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad did the unthinkable. He turned up at the High Court for Anwar Ibrahim’s filing of an interim injunction to stop the enforcement of the newly-passed National Security Council (NSC) Act. Mahathir shook hands with his former ally turned nemesis and both exchanged pleasantries. He wished Anwar well and prayed for the jailed opposition leader’s success. They talked for a good 45 minutes in the witness room — a long time indeed for two bitter foes.
It was the first time both had come into contact since September 1998, when Mahathir, then prime minister, unceremoniously sacked Anwar as his deputy and had him jailed for abuse of power and sodomy. Coming just three days after the 18th anniversary of that fateful event, the Mahathir–Anwar handshake was a ground-breaking ‘reunion’. Mahathir said he was not there to ‘talk about the past’ but to show support for Anwar’s bid against the NSC. He, like Anwar, views the NSC as unconstitutional and fears the act will give Prime Minister Najib Razak too much power.
But this is not the first time that Mahathir and Anwar have attempted to come back together. Earlier in March, Mahathir launched his Citizens’ Declaration ‘rainbow movement’ to mobilise public support against Najib, who is fighting for political survival due to the 1MDB scandal.
There were moves at the time to get the divided political opposition to throw their support behind Mahathir, who was emerging as Najib’s harshest critic. Anwar, freed in 2004 but now back in jail, initially intimated his endorsement. He later pulled back when Mahathir showed more interest in simply toppling Najib than bringing about sweeping reforms to the political system, including the national leadership. Anwar’s change of heart raised doubts about his trust in Mahathir.
Anwar’s wife Wan Azizah, who succeeded him as opposition leader, is still bitter with Mahathir for throwing her husband into jail 18 years ago on what she regards as trumped-up charges. After the historic meeting in court this week, Wan Azizah, though still guarded, seemed more accepting, possibly because of Mahathir’s gesture of apparent reconciliation. For a man of immense pride, Mahathir’s decision to turn up in court to support Anwar was doubtless a big gesture. It was magnanimity, humble pie and realpolitik rolled into one.
The shrewd politician that he is, Mahathir must be fully aware that his presence at Anwar’s court hearing could be interpreted in many ways. One interpretation is that it was a tacit apology to Anwar and his family. Anwar, when besieged by the media, said ‘anybody who supports the reform agenda must be given a chance’.
Will this mark the start of yet another chapter in Malaysian politics? Leaders of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysia’s largest party, shot down the Mahathir–Anwar reconciliation as a political gimmick born out of Mahathir’s desperation to unseat Najib. But it would be a folly for the UMNO to underestimate the Anwar–Mahathir tag team.
Both know they can accomplish much if only they could overcome their animosity and join forces once again. And both know that, despite apparent peace, Malaysian politics is going through an existential crisis that could do with their statesmanship.
On the ruling coalition side, the pillar that holds up the system — the UMNO — is under pressure to defend or replace its controversial president who is also prime minister. If the UMNO goes through another leadership upheaval, the entire ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition could unravel. The UMNO crisis has pushed Mahathir and former deputy premier Muhyiddin Yassin out of the UMNO and into the fold of the anti-Najib front.
Yet the opposition, once strong and unified under the leadership of Anwar when he was free, is now suffering from its own debacle. With Anwar back in jail, there is no leader of the same stature and pulling power; no rallying point. The once-promising multi-ethnic Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Alliance) has now split and reconfigured to become Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope). Mahathir and Muhyiddin’s new party, Pribumi Bersatu, has emerged in that leadership vacuum. But this new mix is fragile. Can Mahathir or Muhyiddin be the new de facto chief of the opposition? Or will they all rally around Anwar?
Both Anwar and Mahathir know they are rushing against time. If there is any lawful change to be made, it must be done through the general election. There are signs that Najib may hasten the next general election to capitalise on the opposition’s disarray. It takes time for an opposition to rebuild itself, especially one that has been so badly split.
Ever the wily political animal, Mahathir saw the solution in a new modus vivendi with his former protégé. Anwar, ever the embracing politician, signalled his willingness to go forward and ‘engage’ Mahathir. A new page is being written in opposition politics, or is it?
The big task ahead for both Mahathir and Anwar transcends the two individuals. The political system as a whole needs more than reform. It needs re-engineering. The UMNO as the political core, even insiders agree, needs a shake-up to root out deep-seated corruption. But can any leader do it when the UMNO has proven to be impervious to change?
Three high-ranking UMNO leaders — Anwar, Mahathir and Muhyiddin — are now out of the party to bring about change from the outside. This is as ironic as it is telling. If a two-coalition system in Malaysia is unworkable, could there be a new political paradigm? Interestingly, some maverick UMNO leaders, such as Rais Yatim, are already thinking of bringing together both sides of the political divide.
If Mahathir and Anwar succeed in forging a new alliance to challenge BN at the coming general election, they will still need to prove this new alliance can win. Assuming they do and throw BN and Najib out of power, Mahathir and Anwar will still have to bring about real political change. What that will be remains uncharted, but they are clearly disturbed by the legacy that may be left behind for the next generation.
Yang Razali Kassim is a Senior Fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
– http://www.eastasiaforum.org/"
"Zaid defends Mahathir, calls for halt to attacks
FMT Reporters
| September 13, 2016
Former Umno minister says everyone errs when in power so there is no need to blame everything on Mahathir.
PETALING JAYA: Everyone errs when they are in power, thus there is no need to pin all the blame on everything wrong in the country on former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
In coming to the defence of Mahathir, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim said the elderly statesman had apologised for his mistakes, including for amending the Federal Constitution which reduced the power of the Agong and Rulers.
“It is important to realise however, that there are two types of leaders, one who was corrupt and had abused his power but has since repented and wants to change, while the other who continues to lie and cheat the public as he has no remorse,” he said in his latest blog posting today.
This is something Zaid said, the likes of Amanah’s Saari Sungib and supporters of former Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim have to choose between.
Over the weekend, Selangor Amanah’s Saari Sungib said that Mahathir must repent and publicly apologise for his alleged misdeeds.
In response, Zaid had sent out a tweet, saying “Saari Sungib does not have to follow M, but dont humiliate and ridicule him. M has done enough apologising”.
Mahathir was instrumental behind the sacking of Anwar as the deputy prime minister and subsequent incarceration for corruption and sexual misconduct in 1998.
Zaid went on to point out that when he was a candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election, both Mahathir and Muhyiddin Yassin – both of whom have since joined forces to form Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) – had made disparaging remarks about him and his family.
“I still remember that they said I made a ‘consolation’ payment to the judges who were sacked in 1988.”
“However, when Mahathir invited me to work together to ‘Save Malaysia’ and help him in his new party, I saw it as him apologising.”
Zaid said his acceptance into Mahathir’s “team” is an honour as the latter had contributed a lot to the country, and despite Mahathir’s flaws, he was proud with his fighting spirit to right what is wrong.
The former PKR politician said that the “duty” of slamming and mocking Mahathir should be left to Prime Minister Najib Razak’s henchmen and that there was no need for Anwar’s supporters to enter the fray."
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