Checkmated by the grandmaster of politics

The gloves, it would appear, are off now that Nurul Izzah Anwar of PKR has said what she chose to say in Singapore about Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

She could not have picked a worse place to express her thoughts, knowing very well that Singapore isn’t exactly the best of friends with Malaysia. The media there could well go into overdrive mode with her statement.

One of the things she reportedly said was that it was not easy to “work with a former dictator who wrecked so much damage not just on our lives but the system”. Very strong words. Very harsh words indeed.

I am no political analyst and neither will I pretend to be one. But I will tell you this: it wasn’t so long ago that Nurul Izzah, like so many others, was clamouring around Mahathir. If there was any man who could save the nation and bring an end to the old regime, it was him from day one.

True to form, Mahathir delivered, with some manoeuvres that left Barisan Nasional gasping for breath amid a wave of “out with the old, in with the new”. That was a dream come true.

Nurul Izzah and a host of other legislators held on to that dream when Pakatan Harapan (PH) came to power. This was after the New Malaysia dream. They were caught in a web, believing they could push their exuberance and ideals through.

But alas, they had not bargained for a seasoned and renowned political master who would dance to their initial tune, but only just. As if by a grandmaster in a game of chess, Nurul Izzah and PKR have been checkmated. Like it or not, the dream has gone up in smoke and PKR is in a catch-22 situation.

For one thing, the party is no longer a united force. The battle was drawn long before the close fight between Mohamed Azmin Ali and Rafizi Ramli for the post of deputy president. Azmin has his camp. So does the other side. If push comes to shove, a sizeable number of legislators could leave with Azmin, thus reducing the numbers in PKR.

Historically, PKR was formed on the battle cry of “Reformasi”. Decades later, the effectiveness of that battle cry is very much in doubt as the Malay agenda gains momentum and, in all probability, is the core of today’s political power play.

Umno and PAS recognise this. They are singing this tune with conviction and in one voice. It could not have come at a better time as voters struggle to understand the flip-flops of the PH government and its policies. One day it is this, the next day it is that. Combine this with the present cost of living and it becomes a lethal combination.

Is it, therefore, worth the while for the likes of Nurul Izzah and PKR to take on the grandmaster of politics? Maybe yes. Maybe no. For now, the money is on PKR to say that the views expressed by Nurul Izzah are her own and not that of the party.

Patience is a virtue. Your time will come. If it does.

Clement Stanley is an FMT reader.