Coup d’etat in Sarawak?

Putrajaya, while watchful of the manoeuvrings in PBB, is also wary not to stoke it knowing the inroads the opposition has made since 2011 state polls.

KUCHING: Betrayal, greed, ambition and black magic are clawing at Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s door as rumours spill over from PBB corridors of an impending coup within the state Barisan Nasional coalition and his Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) party.

Speculations are that the ageing Taib is struggling to keep “his team” together and his ambitious young and temperamental wife, Ragad, at bay.

Taib, who is famed for his use of bomohs and witchcraft, seems to be somewhat ‘caught’ in the clasp of ‘overwhelming’ betrayals permeating his PBB party and family, which is threatening to engulf him.

Topping the list is his own protege Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. Tengah has allegedly used his position in Taib’s cabinet to build his own war chest and put himself in pole position for the hot seat. Tengah is the Second Minister for Planning, Resources and Environment.

Having chalked 20 years as Taib’s chief stooge, Tengah is now in a hurry. He is allegedly buying up loyalties within the PBB and in the BN.

The past months have seen his aides traversing the state identifying and securing support amongst its party and coalition members. They whisper about Taib’s age, illnesses and the two-year deadline.

Taib’s two-year pledge to step down, in the run-up to the state elections in 2011, ends this year.

PBB is expected to hold a special convention in May in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the state’s independence and an election soon after.

According to a PBB insider, the move by Tengah and his men is a pre-emptive measure and although Taib is aware of the bid to “oust” him, he is playing it calm.

But his closest aides and relatives are however worried that those he most trusted may have turned against him.

Putrajaya monitoring situation

Tengah, meanwhile is not federal Umno’s top choice. They’d prefer Abang Johari Abang Openg but he has been a good student learning the willy ways of Taib who’s held the state since 1981.

While the boys in Putrajaya are watchful of the situation, they are also wary not to stoke it knowing the inroads the opposition have made since 2011 state polls.

The 2013 general election is crucial to Putrajaya. Their only concern is the 31 parliamentary seats. PBB will contest 14, SUPP seven, PRS six and SPDP 4.

PBB cannot afford a wrestle for power for the moment.

But Tengah’s men aren’t prepared to wait. They will go to any length to ensure their boss ascends to the top seat.

They have worked overtime and have placed themselves in pivotal positions at the cost of coalition partners SUPP and SPDP.

Tengah’s boys are brokering and are pushing whichever “buttons” that work to ensure that it is Tengah who is the “power broker” post GE 13 and not Taib.

Prevailing rumours of RM5 million per head buy-outs and ‘other deals’ received a “confirmation” when online investigative portal Sarawak Report posted “an exclusive” scoop identifying the BN leaders who Tengah has “control” over and the businessman who is bankrolling the ‘buyouts’.

They include assemblymen from PBB (14), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (6), Kelab BN Sarawak (5 formerly from SPDP), Sarawak United Peoples Party (5).

Tengah is among the PBB defectors.

Two leaders – PRS president James Masing and SUPP’s Lee Kim Shim (Senadin assemblymen) – have allegedly been offered DCM posts.

According to Sarawak Report, “the high-level defectors will maintain a pretence of unity during the coming federal election, expected in March, but have collected enough supporters to supplant Taib with the Planning Minister, Awang Tengah.”