WHAT is the purpose of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim complaining about early elections when both the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state governments have not completed their full electoral terms?
I agree with Anwar on the matter of calling elections prematurely.
Since Anwar has a cosy relationship with UMNO leaders at the federal level, he could have exercised his authority as PM to prevent the early state polls.
But Anwar failed, both as the leader of the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led coalition and as the head of government.
While UMNO leaders enjoy high positions in the federal government, they do not seem to act in accordance with the spirit of the PH-BN (Barisan Nasional) ruling coalition.
It was not that Anwar could not have stopped the elections; rather, it appears that he is too beholden to UMNO.
What is the point of 14 UMNO state assemblymen rebelling against the Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar if the relationship between UMNO and the ruling coalition was truly amicable and harmonious?
‘PH at UMNO’s mercy’
Anwar was powerless to prevent the early state election in Johor initiated by UMNO. Worse still, UMNO appears determined to go solo in the state as it had done previously.
Despite his status as PM, Anwar and head of the ruling coalition at the federal level seems to be completely at the mercy of UMNO.
If UMNO wants to contest alone in Johor and possibly in other states, then what kind of coalition government exists in Putrajaya?
Hypocritical UMNO does not want anything to do with the DAP in Johor yet it is prepared to benefit from Chinese support delivered through the DAP.
At the federal level, UMNO and DAP ministers sit side by side in Cabinet meetings. Is this not another example of hypocrisy and double-talk by UMNO leaders?
One DAP minister even took pride in saying that sitting side -by-side with UMNO ministers allows issues to be addressed more effectively.
Yet the same minister does not dare to distinguish between the rhetoric and the reality of UMNO’s political conduct.
Anwar should stop complaining about early state elections. He could have prevented them at all cost but he failed to act.
Given these circumstances, one is entitled to wonder whether Anwar is genuinely serious about his objections to early state elections.
Perhaps he believes that early elections may – under the present circumstances – be the best way to secure a second term in office.
Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT
- Focus Malaysia.
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