Rising tensions between Pakatan Harapan and BN due to the latter's partnership with Perikatan Nasional in the Negeri Sembilan polls appear to have been suppressed when ministers gathered for a cabinet meeting in Putrajaya today.
Photos posted by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on social media showed ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in a jovial mood before the meeting began.
Anwar even posted a pantun (poem), saying that diverging moves should not be a reason for a breakup, as long as they are still aligned on their partnership.
The smiles were despite Zahid actively admitting that he is considering taking the BN-PN partnership to the federal level in the next general election, a move that would be a massive barrier for Anwar's ambitions for a second term as premier.
On July 19, Harapan Youth called for BN ministers to quit over the PN partnership, while Zahid and other BN leaders have been egging Anwar to sack them or force them to resign.
Anwar himself has tried to strike a balance, issuing a general warning aimed at all ministers that they should quit if they want to attack their colleagues during the Negeri Sembilan campaign.
‘Sincerity is lost’
For Anwar's estranged protege Rafizi Ramli, the atmosphere is such that he believes ministers won't be sincere in doing their work anymore.
"I don't think any minister will go back to the meaning of their oaths of office: that is the principle to carry out their responsibilities as best as possible, because the focus now is on stabbing and political thrashing," the former economy minister said on social media today.
Rafizi said the public is not in a position to complain either, as political "marriages" for the sake of power have been widely accepted.
The Parti Bersama Malaysia leader added that those who suffer would be the "children" whose "pocket money" and "meals" will not be taken care of.
"But the ‘parents’ know, as long as they occasionally buy the latest toys for the ‘children’, they will forget.
“So don't pay too much attention to this political sketch re-run," he quipped.
This is believed to be in reference to political operatives. - Mkini
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