PM and Umno president Najib Tun Razak's dagger-stab at his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin in relation to the latter's China visit will cast long shadows in Umno.
It’s fast becoming a contest of who can inflict deeper wound and draw more blood.
Who inflicted the greater wound and drew more blood, is the question that is playing on my mind.
I refer to of course, what appears to be two top leaders working at cross purposes with each other.
Last year when Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin stated that he is Malay first and Malaysian second, it must have caused some embarrassment and left his boss Najib Tun Razak red-faced.
Prime Minister Najib is the chief promoter for ’1 Malaysia” the all inclusive ‘semua kasi taruh’ concept.
So Muhyiddin’s ‘Malay first’ stance must have been like a dagger pointed at Najib’s project.
But that difference is only at conceptual level. At that level much damage control can be applied to lessen the pain.
It’s only a difference in perception.
A lot must be brewing under the surface between the two and their eager and respective supporters.
Each leader is trying to elbow out the other in terms of acceptance and relevance.
Machiavellian intrigues
But while Muhyiddin’s misstep is only at conceptual level and drew negligible blood, Najib with his reservoir of power and surprises appears to have inflicted a deeper wound and more blood.
Or dare we say, purposeful Machiavellian intrigues.
Muhyiddin as DPM visited China recently.
On his agenda were negotiations with Chinese political and business leaders to seek possible endorsement of the parties who are going to participate in a lucrative double tracking project to Johor Baru.
Muhyiddin is from Johor and for those who have forgotten, he was once Johor Menteri Besar.
It was as such a fitting honour for the numero uno from Johor to negotiate on the project.
When Muhyiddin spoke about being Malay first and Malaysian second, he was embroiled in a confrontation with the MCA numero uno, also from Johor, Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Soi Lek was to be the ‘borrowed knife’ which Najib could use to inflict the wound on Muhyiddin.
Soi Lek was strongly recommended by Tan Kay Hock, chairman of Johan Holdings Berhad.
Parallel wheeler dealer
Tan is a golfing buddy to Najib and they have known each other for a long time.
Unknown to Muhyiddin, Soi Lek was also doing his negotiations with the Chinese.
If readers recall, Tan also got a deal to supply rail coaches and it is logical to expect that by having Soi Lek as his emissary, Tan’s business interest will be taken care of.
Business cloak and dagger works aside, having Soi Lek as a negotiator having the confidence of Najib, undermines the number 2 man in the country.
Sources have told us that on Tan’s egging, Najib had issued a personal endorsement letter to Soi Lek to negotatiate with the Chinese.
To say that Muhyiddin is pissed off after knowing the story is an understatement, especially since Muhyiddin had apparently cornered Najib into admitting to the personal letter.
While Muhyiddin may have embarrassed Najib with his Malay first and then Malaysian stand, Najib’s endorsement of a parallel wheeler and dealer arrangement for Soi Lek inflicts a deeper wound and draws more blood.
Definitely, this event will shape the relations of the two men in future and will undoubtedly cast long shadows on Umno politics.
The writer is a former Umno state assemblyman and an FMT columnist.
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