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Sunday, August 7, 2011

A morning session with The Oracle of Syed Putera-Part 2

I am repeatedly asked about the identity of the Oracle. I shall have to decline the request to reveal his identity. The identity of the oracle is not important. It should remain anonymous as long as it can be. Then I will be able to share information which is spoken candidly and in full candor.

I had a good laugh when someone suggested that the Oracle is Sanusi Junid. That someone commented I was lucky to be an intimate acquaintance of the illustrious Sanusi. That is not possible. Sanusi as many of us know has just survived a quite serious heart attack. The Oracle recounted the day Daim receiving a text message a few weeks ago informing that Sanusi was critically ill.

Happily he is doing well now. We wish him a speedy recovery. He is an estimable combatant and a worthy opponent. The Oracle told me, he and Daim rushed over to the hospital to see how Sanusi is faring. I am happy to be told by the Oracle- Sanusi is Sanusi, weakened but indomitable in his unrelenting criticisms on how Najib is handling this country.

And Sanusi is also a committee member of the PENAWAR NGO whose members are made up of previous UMNO MPs. It’s led by a former political secretary of Tun Mahathir and a Mahathir loyalist, Aziz Shamsudin.

Here is the problem says the Oracle. The low estimation of Najib as PM and UMNO president is no longer just confined to the man in the street whose opinions may be justifiably dismissed as idle talk of the chattering class. The same opinions are being said and repeated, by UMNO luminaries, people of some significance indicating a very serious perception problem. Opinions of people of influence can snowball into a movement.

But the Oracle isn’t ready to concede any consequence to the group led by Aziz Shamsudin. Precisely because it’s led by Aziz Shamsudin.

I thought Aziz is a Mahathir major domo? Mahathir’s dogsbody?

No, you are not quite correct, said the Oracle. Aziz has proven himself to be a man of all seasons. He was with Tengku Razaleigh then switched allegiance to Mahathir. After Mahathir to Pak Lah. And now?

Penawar hasn’t got the impact potential. Not at the moment anyway. Unless the Old Man throws his weight into the ring.

I haven’t updated myself on this Penawar grouping having just come back from overseas following Tun Daim. I will know more when we meet up with Dr Mahathir.

The Oracle wasn’t even aware that the PAS Ttiwangsa MP, Dr Lo’ Lo’ has passed away.

Many of us have fond memories of Sanusi for 1001 reasons. He can be comical at one time, deadpan serious at another. Sanusi used to regal many of us with his caustic remarks aimed at disarming Najib or discrediting Najib as it were. He related his many conversations with Tun Razak and how Tun Razak was sighing about how Najib can’t cut his teeth into politics. Sanusi would let out a half smile when he tells us of the moment when he cheekily asked- why Tun? Too much skirt chasing, came the answer.

Look, say the Oracle- there is a growing divide between the UMNO president and UMNO and the Malays. What is he doing now? He’s seen as busy finding ways to find money for Chinese National Type schools and that alienates the Malay voters farther. He’s seen as appeasing non Malays more and more. It seems to me his way of solving problems is by paying his way through.

Yet the UMNO warlords from which UMNO and its president depend for political power are not amused. They are NOT receiving projects for their areas. The UMNO leaders in Kedah are complaining for example. They are asked to set the agenda to retake Kedah , yet they are not given resources to go into battle.

Speaking about Kedah, I interjected- what’s your take on the 3 M grouping of Mahathir, Muhyidin and MUkhriz?

I wouldn’t give much credence to the 3M thing. For what purpose? For Muhyidin to ascend to the PM post? He can do that by other means at his disposal. He is enjoying better credibility with his Malay first, Malaysia second attitude with the Malay hoi poloi.

To prop up Mukhriz so that Mahathir will lend his weight to Muhyidin? That, possibly. But how long can Mukhriz survived in politics by hanging on the coattails of the father? It’s like you said about Najib being cornered to come out with his last resort defense when attacked on his policies. All he could muster was- He is Tun Razak’s son. How long can you sell that?

We all have to admit Dr Mahathir somehow refashioned Malaysia after his dynamic personality. But that is soon going to be history as the new generations of voters are more comfortable at accepting the general level of development which we are now enjoying, for granted. Who was behind our country’s drive to modernization isn’t as significance as we of the older generation holds it.

So no, Mukhriz isn’t going to last long banking on the popularity of his father which is beginning to diminish now.

So why should Muhydin be a party to declining forces? - The estimation on Mahathir is fading, while the son hasn’t sunk his presence onto the local stage. Muhyidin isn’t as stupid as he looks. So the 3M thing is perhaps just another red herring to disguise some sort of power struggle within UMNO. It could be even be something the Najib camp is manufacturing to justify isolating Muhyidin.

He prefers the advice and company of greenhorn advisers. They may be clever people, but haven’t got the political wisdom and savvy.

Personally, I think, said the Oracle- Najib is politically finished. He is isolating himself with a band of highly self-opinionated advisers. He has this habit of abandoning friends and dismissing advice and frank criticisms.

Who does Najib have for advisers as Mahathir had? Mahathir had Daim, Anwar( then) Sanusi, Megat Junid who were his operatives. They did the ground and underground work so that Mahathir can do what he does best.

Which is, projecting himself as an unrelenting crusader to about almost anything on earth. Why was he able to do that- because he had a team of sewer workers. Najib hasn’t got people who will want to do the dirty work for him.

He’s got who? JJ? If it comes to the USA, maybe JJ can do something about it. What about the opinions of others? You look at the issue that is going to explode in France soon. Najib handled that badly. That French lawyer who was deported? He will soon be a cause celebre in Paris. And world attention will be drawn to Malaysia and in particular to Najib. If it were during Mahathir’s time, the issue would have been neutralized by his operatives who would have probably spent time in France diffusing the situation. Najib is inept at these things. Somehow, he has lost the plot.

He came upon the scene sending positive vibrations that things are going to be exciting and different. Over the months, that positive note quickly turned out of tune as he made repeated misjudgments. He promised a smaller cabinet and broke that promise by coming out with an even bigger cabinet. Now his cabinet is more known for being filed up with unelected politicians. You have Idris Jala who seemed to have added even the PM as an admiring fan, Tsu Koon, Raja Nong Chik, Shahrizat, and many others. You want to know what the MCA ministers are doing. They are busy making money. All of them. The mocking phrase of Yen Yen Jalan Jalan Curi Makan is not without substance you know. The market knows it.

How many states? Thousand apologies, another article.

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