When it comes to being popular and winning votes, no holds are barred. No, not the many empty promises that politicians make and will continue to make, but admissions of treachery, skullduggery, and callousness.
To some of them, it does not matter how they seek and gain power, even if it means literally sticking a dagger in the backs of their friends or foes.
When occupying the seat of power is the ultimate gain, principles, ideologies, morality, and even simple values elude and delude them.
Last week, like a gladiator who had slain his enemies, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said he was the prime mover behind the Sheraton Move political coup in 2020, which brought down the Pakatan Harapan government.
Shamelessly, he said he initiated the move to stop Harapan and discussed how to oust the coalition with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and later with Umno leaders.
“After three of us came to a consensus, Muhyiddin announced that Bersatu was leaving Harapan. That’s when I proposed that he be made the next prime minister,” HarakahDaily reported Hadi as saying at an ummah unity event in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
But this is not the complete picture. There were sweeteners to the deal which only surfaced two months after those tumultuous days.
In May 2020, in an audio recording that went viral, a man whose voice resembles that of Muhyiddin was heard saying that Umno MPs can be enticed to join Bersatu if they are offered ministerships or posts in government-linked companies (GLCs).
“If they know a new government is being formed, with Umno in, ‘Why don’t you (Umno MPs) join in now, why don’t you join us now, rather than you join later?’”
That perhaps explains the ministerial appointments and some barely competent people sitting on the boards of companies.
Justifying treachery
Why would these leaders do such a thing? When they have no legitimate reason, there’s always something in Malaysia called “untuk agama dan bangsa” (for race and religion).
They want their heroics, or whatever they call it, to be viewed by the rural heartland that they stood up in the name of race and religion. There is a toss-up between Hadi and Muhyiddin as to who gets the gold medal for treachery, but now that they are in the same camp, honours can be shared.
When a leader declares he is Malay first and Malaysian next, there’s little explanation needed and the perpetrators brazenly declare there is no shame in being labeled as a traitor.
Muhyiddin does not seem to mind the accusations, and he can claim the decisions he made were for the sake of the same over-used cliché - religion and race.
To explain why he colluded with Umno, which previously expelled him from the party, Muhyiddin can say he did so as the situation in the Harapan government did not align with his political beliefs.
But what about the beliefs of the majority who voted for the Harapan government? Do one man’s beliefs supersede those of the majority?
It could not be done above board so Muhyiddin “bribed” MPs in the form of ministerial posts and GLC appointments to bolster his move.
For race, religion, or personal benefit – monetary and otherwise? You, the discerning reader, will have to decide.
All the talk about “race and religion” is now down to personal liberty and materialistic gains.
These days, it is no longer a benefit of being united. It is a matter of personal survival. Some want to stay out of prison and some are on the list, according to Umno chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Others want to continue to enjoy the perks and opulence that come with the office, others want to increase their bank balance.
Friends to enemies to friends again?
Muhyiddin says Umno-led BN is now his party’s “main enemy”. Umno president Zahid has warned MPs to be wary of Muhyiddin’s treachery.
Elsewhere, Zahid branded PAS as “pak lebai”, accusing the party’s leaders of being hypocrites - saying different things at different times of the day.
PAS vice-president Amar Nik Abdullah’s retort had some semblance of truth - that there are harsher labels than “pak lebai”.
“For us, being referred to as ‘Parti Pak Lebai’ is not insulting,” adding that at least PAS was not a party of “political bandits”, in an apparent reference to Umno leaders facing corruption cases in court.
The shouting matches - name-calling, affixing of labels, and character assassination will continue despite the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong who wanted all parties to remain civil.
What is not surprising is that two infamous words – kafir (unbeliever) and pendatang (immigrant) – have yet to surface. It is election time and “we are family”, they would say. This is for now, but on Nov 20, one day after polling day, it will be back to the same game.
But then, when there is a need to consolidate power, everything is forgotten and for Zahid, the support from the chief of parti pak lebai is worth its weight in gold.
Would we see them embrace in front of TV cameras and declare “untuk perpaduan ummah” (for the unity of the Muslim comminity)? They could be strange bedfellows but when it comes to power and the money that comes with it, nothing is sacrosanct. - Mkini
R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who writes on bread-and-butter issues. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT
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