PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli, widely expected to be fielded by his party in the Pandan parliamentary seat in the coming general election, is unfazed by news that Prime Minister Najib Razak had given the green light for former MCA president Ong Tee Keat to defend the seat.
"It is expected because Najib has endorsed him all along. As fas as PKR is concerned, it does not change a thing. But it will have a big repercussion on MCA and reflect very badly because it again proves that Umno is calling the shots, even in the MCA's internal decisions. The same goes for the other component parties, they are as subservient as the MCA," Rafizi told Malaysia Chronicle.
"This is the message that Tee Keat's candidacy will carry even though he may personally feel flattered by it. I think voters are sophisticated enough to realize that as a result of Najib's intervention, Tee Keat will become beholden to the PM and Umno because he owes this chance to them. Tee Keat has also exposed how powerless he is on his own and he stands or falls at Umno's pleasure. All this is good news for PKR."
Ready as I can be
Although Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the PKR adviser, has yet to officially announce the party's list of electoral candidates, it is an open secret that the seat has been earmarked for the fast-rising Rafizi.
In fact, his supporters have been working hard around the area, wearing yellow T-shirts bearing his name and the words P100 which is the number of the Pandan constituency.
A UK-trained auditor, Rafizi rose to national prominence with his drive against high-level corruption in the government. He is regarded as a hero by the young professionals, especially in the Malay community.
"Our preparation is much better than before and I am as ready as I can be," was Rafizi's reply, when asked to confirm he would contest in Pandan.
Clumsy mis-step by Najib or a deliberate ploy to kill off BN components?
The embattled Najib is expected to dissolve Parliament within the next few weeks, paving the way for the 13th general election.
PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng questioned Najib's motive in throwing a life line to Tee Keat in direct opposition to his party's wishes.
"If I were MCA, MIC, Gerakan or any of the other component parties, I would be very worried now. 
This is the first move," Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.
This is the first move," Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.
"Will other leaders in the component parties be lured to leave and become direct members of the BN. Indirectly, Umno is actually colonizing all the BN components for itself. It is time for the leaders in the BN parties to evaluate the real worth of being affiliated to Umno. Is it a good brand or a bad brand? Like Rafizi said, don't get carried away and be 'shiok sendiri' (flattered), think carefully of the implications."
Tee Keat, who is the incumbent Member of Parliament for Pandan, has been forced to keep a low profile after he was ousted from the MCA presidency by Chua Soi Lek in 2011.
The Tee Keat-Soi Lek feud has raged on, culminating with last week's announcement by Soi Lek that the MCA would not field Tee Keat in GE13.
According to Soi Lek, Tee Keat could not even command the support of leaders within the MCA Pandan division.
Obviously, the latest development will be seen as a huge slap in the face for the scandal-tainted Soi Lek.
"What is Dr Chua going to do next? Overnight, his party has lost a seat to UMNO. Technically, Ong Tee Keat is an UMNO-sponsored candidate for the Pandan seat," political analyst Gavin Khoo wrote in his blog.
"Meanwhile, what is the status of Ong's membership in MCA? Technically, Ong has committed a grave disciplinary offense by refusing to heed his party's instruction to vacate his seat for another candidate, Gary Lim. Is Chua going to call for a disciplinary action against Ong."
MORE TO COME
Malaysia Chronicle
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