“Time for UMNO top echelon to put its foot down on defiant Akmal for instigating revolt against Madani gov’t”

 

AS PAS Youth welcomes with open arm the proposal by its UMNO counterpart for both parties to re-unite in one formidable coalition to ensure both the survival and political strength of the Malays, detractors are fuming over his treacherous action which would only expedite the demise of Malaysia’s oldest political party.

At yesterday’s (Jan 3) UMNO’s Direction in the Unity Government special convention which he mooted in the spirit of “UMNO belongs to its members” – but obviously sans blessing of the party’s top brass – rightist UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh was quick to dismiss his action as “a coup in the unity government”.

Instead, the staunch defender of race and religion envisages UMNO to emerge a credible opposition given that the Madani government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would remain even though UMNO as the key ally of Pakatan Harapan (PH) has left the ruling coalition.

“The situation today is very much different. UMNO has 26 seats (in Parliament), the government has 152-153 seats. Even without UMNO, the (Madani) government will still exist. You lead, govern … let UMNO be the opposition,” he told a packed Dewan Tun Dr Ismail in the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL).

“We (UMNO) will focus on strengthening the party for the 16th General Election (GE16). We shall take back this government.”

As proponents – mostly disgruntled grassroots members who are both Bossku loyalists or aspiring to rid party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for failure to upkeep his “No Anwar, No DAP” pledge – hailed the Merlimau state assemblyman for his heroics, one wonders if he has strayed overboard to the point of no return.

Surely the 38-year-old Russia-trained medical doctor can claim that “truth is bitter but such is the medicine for UMNO’s betterment” but such simplistic argument dwarfs a much complex political reality which he is probably aware yet ignored in the quest to realise his seemingly populist pursuit.

‘Powerful entity behind Akmal’

Firstly, his party’s reigning president might secretly be wanting Bossku to remain out of sight (what more with the latest 15-year jail sentence after being found guilty in the 1MDB scandal) for his own political survival.

Secondly, it is public knowledge that he is emboldened to PMX whom he looks up to as his mentor not for his deputy premiership per se but for his DNAA (discharge not amounting to acquittal) from 47 prima facie charges encompassing criminal breach of trust (CBT), graft and money laundering.

As if Akmal cannot visualise the Sword of Damocles hanging right above Zahid’s head or the albatross round the latter’s neck should he be ever rebel against the Madani government.

This has prompted political observer Sharifuddin Abdul Latiff to foresee some ‘powerful forces’ and vast implications to the country’s political landscape from Akmal’s incessant push to revive the UMNO-PAS Muafakat Nasional (MN) tie-up.

There must be a very powerful entity behind Akmal Saleh’s bold move for UMNO to re-unite with PAS.

With the UMNO annual general assembly scheduled in two weeks, this has to be a calculated initiative to get rid of Zahid Hamidi who is also facing renewed efforts (by others) to re-visit his DNAA status.

The potential loss of UMNO from PH Plus may destabilise the Madani administration in terms of Malay grassroots support but then UMNO itself is increasingly rejected by the Malay electorate.

PMX Anwar Ibrahim cannot say – “It’s not my problem” – and pretend everything is still hunky dory for PKR.

What if DAP decide to quit PH Plus and align itself with more progressive political parties like GRS and Warisan to form the ‘Third Force” coalition?

 Who Dares, Win 

- focus malaysia