(breaking!!!) anwar going to be jiuhu pm

[Hypocrite-The]

Najib’s support for Anwar: No permanent foes in politics, it's all strategy for survival, say analysts | Malay Mail

On Monday, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he had proposed to Umno's Supreme Council members that they work with the PKR president in the event the party withdraws from the Perikatan Nasional coalition. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s recent comment about his willingness to work with Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is just “strategy for survival”, analysts said.
On Monday, Najib said he had proposed to Umno's Supreme Council members that they work with the PKR president in the event the party withdraws from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Associate Prof Kartini Aboo Talib Khalid said she is not surprised by Najib's overtures to Anwar and PKR, something which she described as “moving and hilarious.”
The political analyst said this seemingly unusual move by Najib is part of the Malay culture, where opponents are not necessarily enemies.
“If we look back at the history of Najib in politics, Anwar was the one responsible in boosting Najib to become Umno Youth chief when he was still a deputy minister under former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“The saying 'budi yang baik dikenang juga' (good deeds are remembered forever) binds Najib and Anwar in a strange way. Thus to me, it is not surprising for Najib to be good with Anwar as long as his strategic plan is working,” Kartini said.
She said another reason behind Najib's move is the need for someone to clear him of the many charges he currently faces in court, mainly money laundering and corruption.
“Still, Umno made it clear that any co-operation with PKR is dependent on the absence of DAP, whose presence as part of the government they will not tolerate.
“Having said that I do not think PKR will proceed in co-operating with Umno, knowing that it has to abandon the 'kingmaker' in most urban or mixed urban seats, which will be a great loss,” Kartini said, referring to DAP.
In the event that PKR does choose to co-operate with Umno, Kartini believes that those Malays who are anti-Anwar would not support the move. This includes the non-Malays.
“In doing so, PKR is sowing the seeds of destruction and creating its own demise,” Kartini added.
Universiti Sains Malaysia's Prof Sivamurugan Pandian said Najib’s proposal has already somehow affected Anwar’s relationship with his DAP allies.
He said the Port Dickson MP is a strategist who has made unlikely parties into allies in the past.
He recalled how Anwar who was leading the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat, got DAP to work alongside Islamist party PAS.
“This is because they have been consistent about not working with Umno. In fact, some leaders questioned why Anwar wants to work with Umno.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks during a press conference at Le Meredian Kuala Lumpur October 13, 2020. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
“But Anwar himself is a strategist who managed to bring DAP and PKR to work with PAS and later with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. Although Najib knows many will not accept his suggestion which was rejected by Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein and Khairy Jamaluddin earlier, he still brought it to the drawing board,” he said.
Anwar had on September 23 claimed that he had enough support from MPs in the Dewan Rakyat to form a new government, although he did not disclose who these MPs were at the time.
Anwar subsequently had an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on October 13 to discuss the matter, details of which he has also declined to reveal to the public.
Universiti Putra Malaysia's Prof Jayum A. Jawan also concurred that the move by Najib is a strategy, adding that it is a mere matter of offers and counteroffers between individuals and political parties.
“This is to strike out a coalition, due to the political instability resulting from a lack of an absolute majority or dominance by any single party.
“This possible changing in the coalition will dominate Malaysian politics till the next general election,” he told Malay Mail.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia's Prof Mazlan Ali said co-operation between PKR and Umno can possibly work out.
“I see Anwar as someone who is pragmatic, who can adapt to any situation that arises. So when Najib makes this offer, it is something to be deeply considered by Umno's leadership.
“This is especially when they are reviewing whether to still be a part of PN and its attendant benefits as part of the government. However, the long-term survival of Umno is under threat, so long as they remain a part of PN,” he said.
The recent Sabah state election is a good indicator of this, Mazlan said. He explained that it clearly demonstrated that Umno and Bersatu are rivals for the same constituents and segments of the population.
“Umno lost power in Sabah to Bersatu, so it is not altogether impossible that they could end up losing power in the peninsula as well someday. So now, they are considering other alternatives.
“PKR's primary appeal is due to it being a predominantly urban-based party, which is safe since there is no conflict or as little as possible for Umno, whose main base of support is the Malay heartland,” he said.
As for DAP, Mazlan said the party has once claimed it is willing to work with anyone for the sake of the country. In the event of a PKR-Umno co-operation, he believes they will support Anwar in forming the new government but take no part in it themselves.
“In my view, DAP tends to stick to their guns and be firm in their principles, so they will not co-operate with Umno but continue to support PKR.
“This is not the first time DAP has displayed political flexibility. In 1987, at the height of the spat between Dr Mahathir and Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, DAP gave some measure of support to Razaleigh's Parti Melayu Semangat 46,” he said.
Similarly, Mazlan does not believe that Anwar will simply abandon DAP, and vice-versa, due to old ties.
“Admittedly, if PKR chooses to co-operate with Umno, there will be a backlash. But it is likely that should Anwar become prime minister, he will implement reforms which over time will bring more support than what was lost, in addition to further support from other parties,” he said.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Commentary: Malaysia’s political chess games are not over
With Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s government having a thin majority, it is bound to be challenged ceaselessly, says Dr Ooi Kee Beng.

Malaysia Politics
File photo of Malaysia's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. (Photo: AP)
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PENANG: Using legalist or technical language to explain Malaysian politics in the significant and tumultuous year of 2020 is not really going to capture the essence of what has been unfolding over the last eight months.

A longer historical vantage point, coupled with the immediate recognition that political opportunism is most rampant when a power structure is at the point of collapse, may be more illuminating.

Viewing Putrajaya intrigues as moves in a chess game may be more helpful; with the caveat that what we have been observing may look like end games but are really ones not meant so much to decide the winner as to keep the game going.

The question that begs to be asked then is, “What is that game?”

READ: Commentary: UMNO’s in no shape to play kingmaker in Malaysia
The ease with which the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government was brought down in February did not only showcase the heightened risk-taking propensity of Malaysian politicians whose future is in great doubt. It also acts as a stinging reminder that PH came into power 22 months earlier via a critical and compromising shift in its self-image.

Having gone from strength to strength since its surprising success in the 2008 elections, the reformist coalition did not however appear to have the energy or conviction to go all the way and actually topple Barisan Nasional (BN) on the strength of its credibility and its reform agenda.

At that point, the return of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed and his newly founded party, Bersatu, seemed to be the missing ingredient it needed.

And so, PH decided to work with - and to trust - Mahathir Mohamed. Especially for Anwar Ibrahim’s family, that move was a hard one to make, particularly when it also meant that Mahathir would again become Prime Minister.

Malaysia France Mahathir
Malaysian former Prime Minister Mahathir.
As it turned out, the collaboration between these two adversaries proved effective enough to bring down BN, ending Malaysia’s dubious structural status as a one-party state. It did not prove solid enough however to stay the course, not even for one electoral term.

TWO TANGLED PATHS

Two complexities unfolded on May 9, 2018, when the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and BN finally fell.

Mahathir’s obsessive goal had been to bring down Najib Razak and to make him pay for the 1MDB scandal. This he managed to do, using PH as his vehicle. But how committed he was to championing the original Reformasi agenda of the old PH was always in doubt.

READ: Commentary: Why Anwar Ibrahim’s longheld dream of becoming Malaysia PM keeps getting thwarted
The first complexity stemmed from the internal distrust and compromise that plagued the PH government, weakening its reformist ambitions.

Also, the painful truth was that PH had not captured the Malay ground. It had won the election partly thanks to the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and UMNO electioneering separately, as they were prone to do, and not together.

Looking back, PH’s goals had been overplayed and strategically telescoped for electoral gain, and therefore, once in government, it grew cautious and became overly sensitive to public criticism, especially when that came from opposing camps.

Malaysia Politics
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim speaks to media after leaving the police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
The PH that came into power was in fact a newly constructed coalition, formed for winning the 2018 general elections rather than for running a post-BN government.

That shift, most clearly symbolised by Mahathir’s refusal to hand over power to Anwar, and by the insuperable split within Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), which was furthermore consciously aggravated by Mahathir, was always going to be its Achilles’ heel.

DRUMMING UP MALAY SUPPORT

Second, non-Malay support was now concentrated around the Democratic Action Party (DAP) as one of the largest parties in parliament - paradoxically, it became the largest after the dust settled following Muhyiddin Yassin’s successful Sheraton Move.

READ: Commentary: Malaysia’s political carousel brings a hit to its economy
Toppling the PH government then became a simple game of getting enough Malay leaders from any Malay-based party to come together, and then to convince the Agung that PH no longer had a parliamentary majority.

The fall of BN in 2018 had in truth upset the career paths and the political future of many leaders in the BN, not least of all Najib Razak, and the Sheraton Move was strongly motivated by personal desperation to save themselves.

READ: Commentary: Sabah state election ignites fresh Game of Thrones jostling in Malaysian politics
The game had to keep going, and it must have them as key players. The Reformasi agenda and what it had precipitated in Malaysian governance had to be stopped.

Within the PH leadership itself, the in-built tensions and power struggles involving Mahathir, Anwar, Muhyiddin and Azmin Ali overflowed to connect easily with BN’s and PAS’ ambitions, and to complete the dynamics needed to topple the PH government.

The rest is history.

In short, the chess game was most ably and energetically played by leaders of Malay parties who either faced — and still face — legal charges or political irrelevance, and who had the ubiquitous and powerful racialist discourses and sentiments on their side.

Malaysia's Minister of International Trade and Industry Azmin Ali reacts during a news confere
Malaysia's Minister of International Trade and Industry Azmin Ali reacts during a news conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Mar 11, 2020. (File photo: REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng)
Dissatisfaction and disgust on the Malay ground over a Chinese-based party, the DAP, holding important positions and displaying a coterie of competent and reform-minded young leaders, had been heavily whipped up by UMNO and other cybertroopers.

This definitely emboldened the masterminds behind the Sheraton Move to act when they did, and to take the big risks that they took.

One could argue that COVID-19 worked to the new regime’s advantage in that the health crisis dampened the public’s wish or PH’s eagerness to oppose Muhyiddin’s right to govern, especially after the King’s granting of that right to him.

In any case, the internal splits, the shock and the blaming within PH went too deep for it to mount a concerted effort in that direction.

BOUND TO BE CHALLENGED

The coup jointly orchestrated by Mahathir’s second-in-command, Muhyiddin, and Anwar’s second-in-command, Azmin, which put them in power with a supposed majority – one that would in any case be paper-thin and, so, not to be relished in peace. Their government was bound to be challenged ceaselessly.

Postponing votes of no-confidence in parliament could not go on forever.

Sure enough, what the coup-makers did to PH back in February, Anwar decided to do to them in October.

Granted an audience with the King, Anwar claimed he had a “strong majority” to become the new Prime Minister. This could only mean that there were many members of parliament from UMNO willing to join Anwar to topple Muhyiddin.

READ: Malaysia king urges MPs to give 'solid support' to budget 2021 for people's well-being and economic recovery
For some of them, the best way to avoid the court room was to be in power; and for others, playing second fiddle to Muhyiddin and Azmin — two former UMNO members who had left the party for their own ends — was not something they could live with once the PH government was gone.

With his back against the wall now, Muhyiddin, decided to seek from the King the right to declare a national emergency and to prorogue parliament. He had COVID-19 as a good excuse after all.

The move failed, and the King, after discussions with the Council of Rulers, wisely denied the Prime Minister that right.

Anwar Ibrahim and Malaysia's King
Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim and Malaysia's King, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, pose for pictures before their meeting at National Palace in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 13, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Malaysia National Palace/Handout)
This royal slap on the wrist is meant to be felt by everyone involved, be they seated in the front room or hidden in the back room of intrigues.

And so, subsequent to the royal position, a public show of solidarity has been attempted by all concerned, and with the poignant point being made that collaboration between politicians was the order of the day, as long as the DAP - the easily identified “Other” - was kept out of the corridors of power.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Commentary: Always almost there - will Anwar Ibrahim ever become Prime Minister of Malaysia?
Anwar Ibrahim’s political career has been filled with many challenges for the top job. He will have to demonstrate he can be a prime minister for all if he wants to assume the role, says Oh Ei Sun.

Malaysia opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim attends a news conference in Kuala Lumpur
FILE PHOTO: Malaysia opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim attends a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia October 13, 2020. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng
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SINGAPORE: I have seen it before.

On Sep 16, 2008, an upbeat Anwar Ibrahim announced he had commanded the support of the majority of Malaysian Members of Parliament (MPs), six months after he led the opposition to historically smash the two-thirds parliamentary supermajority of the then ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).

It was Malaysia Day. Anwar appeared to be ready to take over the Malaysian government.

That afternoon, I was moderating a political forum in Kota Kinabalu, attended by a few major opposition politicians. I also witnessed a BN component party in action at the seminar, boldly withdrawing from the ruling coalition in support of Anwar’s move.

The atmosphere was extremely charged, with boisterous exhortations aplenty for a new dawn in Malaysian politics.

By nightfall, however, it became obvious this supposed switch of allegiance by many BN MPs did not materialise. A somber mood descended upon the gradually less crowded event.

Malaysians would have to make do with more of the same political setup - with a longstanding, though bruised, government sitting across an enlarged but frustrated opposition.

READ: Commentary: Why Anwar Ibrahim’s longheld dream of becoming Malaysia PM keeps getting thwarted
ALMOST, BUT NOT QUITE THERE

Alas, this and many other similarly somewhat elusive and quixotic quests of “almost, but not quite there” have dotted Anwar’s long political career.

Anwar had been Mahathir Mohamad’s protégé during the latter’s first term as Malaysia’s Prime Minister. Anwar was even promoted to be Deputy Prime Minister in an accelerated trajectory to take over the premiership.

But that did not happen, as the relationship between the two soured with Mahathir increasingly alarmed by Anwar’s brimming ambition.

The stormy relationship the two men dates back to the 1990s when Mahathir Mohamad (R) sacked Anwar
The stormy relationship the two men dates back to the 1990s when Mahathir Mohamad (right) sacked Anwar Ibrahim as his deputy, and he was jailed on sodomy charges. (Photo:AFP/Mohd Rasfan)
As allegations of improprieties surfaced against Anwar in September 1998, he was unceremoniously fired from the Cabinet and expelled from the party. He was subsequently jailed for charges of corruption and sodomy.

After the verdict was overturned in 2004 and Anwar was released before the end of his nine-year sentence, he went on to propel the opposition coalition to consecutively deny BN the much vaunted two-thirds parliamentary majority in the 2008 and 2013 general elections, but still fell short of clinching the majority to become Prime Minister.

As he was jailed again in 2015 on another charge of sodomy, he could not lead the opposition in the 2018 general election.

He made up for his absence by reconciling with his erstwhile political rival Mahathir, who by then had also fallen out with BN and helmed the recomposed Pakatan Harapan (PH) opposition coalition.

READ: Commentary: UMNO’s in no shape to play kingmaker in Malaysia
After PH surprisingly defeated BN in the 2018 elections and formed the government, Anwar was pardoned. He quickly won himself a parliamentary seat in a by-election, putting himself in good stead once again be a successor to Mahathir, by then Malaysian Prime Minister for a second time.

At least that was Anwar’s understanding, citing a pre-election agreement among the PH parties to that effect.

THE LATEST DISRUPTION IN 2020

In hindsight, Mahathir did not intend to pass the baton of premiership to Anwar. He often avoided the topic when asked in public or offered delayed timelines.

When Mahathir’s hand was forced in late February, both saw their political fortunes overturned in a matter of days.

A series of moves by Azmin Ali and Muhyiddin Yassin, respectively Anwar’s and Mahathir’s party deputies, effected the change of political allegiance of a number of PH MPs.

Malaysia's Minister of International Trade and Industry Azmin Ali reacts during a news confere
Malaysia's Minister of International Trade and Industry Azmin Ali reacts during a news conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Mar 11, 2020. (File photo: REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng)
After a tense week of brewing suspicions, Muhyiddin was sworn in as Prime Minister.

After being relegated to the opposition again, Mahathir did not let up on his dislike of Anwar. He initially criticised Anwar more vehemently than he did Muhyiddin, whom he felt had betrayed him.

Even as Mahathir tried to no avail to bring parliamentary motions of no confidence against Muhyiddin, Mahathir did not seem keen for Muhyiddin to be replaced by Anwar.

Mahathir had put forth Shafie Apdal, the former Sabah chief minister, as the opposition’s potential prime ministerial candidate in an attempt to sideline Anwar.

READ: Commentary: Sabah state election ignites fresh Game of Thrones jostling in Malaysian politics
A BOMBSHELL

Late last month, Anwar dropped yet another political bombshell mere days before the Sabah state elections which saw his PKR party teaming up with Shafie, by again announcing his supposed support by more MPs and command of the parliamentary majority.

By now, the popular expectation of Anwar realising his “takeover” claim has largely dissipated. But that did not dissuade Anwar, as he pressed on with his majority bid, banking to a large extent on the mounting discord between Muhyiddin’s Bersatu party and UMNO - the largest component party in the ruling coalition.

Yet, even at this juncture, where the political aspirations of both Anwar and Mahathir to bring down the Muhyiddin government found common ground, Mahathir still refused to support Anwar.

Instead, he appeared to have endorsed Tengku Razaleigh, an UMNO veteran and an even earlier rival, to assume the Prime Minister position.

Malaysian politician Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah speaks to media members after a meeting at United Mala
Malaysian politician Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah speaks to media members after a meeting at United Malays National Organization (UMNO) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia October 26, 2020. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng
NEVER GIVING UP

Anwar has amply demonstrated his political tenacity throughout the years, moving on from one failure, albeit almost an earshot away from ultimate success, to another with renewed vitality.

He also exhibited other leadership traits, which should be viewed positively in a modern, healthy democracy.

For one, Anwar practises inclusive politics. His PH coalition, for example, consists of his own Malay-based but multiracial PKR, the Chinese-based but equally multiracial DAP, and also the moderately religious Amanah party, which splintered from the avowedly Islamist PAS party.

READ: Commentary: Malaysian politics is going through a midlife crisis
Even PAS, during its previously more moderate phase, was a component party of PH’s predecessor coalition.

Anwar recognises the primacy of Malays in Malaysian politics, but is open to working toward a more needs-based social economic distribution model that would usher in greater communal harmony.

Anwar has also espoused a progressive streak over his long years in politics. For example, the background of his momentous clash with Mahathir was the 1998 Asian Financial Crisis, which saw the Malaysian economy go into a tailspin.

Anwar, who then chaired the development committee of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was leaning toward accepting the IMF loan package, which would have called for drastic structural reforms with deep budget cuts and strict measures against corruption and cronyism, all in an effort to make the Malaysian economy more market-friendly.

Malaysia's politician Anwar Ibrahim arrives for a meeting in Petaling Jaya
Malaysia's politician Anwar Ibrahim arrives for a meeting in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, February 29, 2020. (File photo: REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng)
Mahathir thought otherwise, rejecting the IMF package but prioritising corporate bailouts and currency controls.

A MAN FOR ALL VOTERS

If Anwar is to ever assume the leadership role, he cannot bank on his opposition credentials but must show himself to be someone who can represent all voters.

This will not come easy. These are not ordinary times in Malaysia. The country is sharply divided between a conservative, racially and religiously centric majority on the one hand, and a more liberal, progressive minority on the other.

The conservatives, amply represented in the present ruling coalition, see Anwar’s inclusiveness and progressive streak as affronts to their monolithic political outlook for the country, and are reluctant to support him.

The liberals, who vouch for a more open and tolerant society, shudder at Anwar’s staunchly religious past. So their support for him, though sizable, is reluctant and even contingent upon their inability to find an equally charismatic leader for their progressive cause.

Both conservatives and liberals worry he might embrace their respective side for short-term political expediency, only to boot them out when the dust has settled.

 

[mudhatter]

what a mess

expel the kafir chinks

political paralysis can be resolved in a jiffy

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Mahathir planned PH coup since day one he took power, says Husam Musa

Husam is now the second politician who has directly accused Mahathir of plotting the fall of the PH

AUTHOR

Kazi Mahmood
DATE
November 3, 2020
CATEGORY
AsiaFeatured NewsSouth East AsiaMalaysia



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A former vice president of the Amanah party accused Dr Mahathir Mohamad of planning the fall of the PH government since the first day he took power.
Senator Datuk Husam Musa says there were various indicators of Mahathir’s plan to bring down the Pakatan Harapan.
He adds that he told his party leadership of Mahathir’s plan last year, before the fall of the PH government.
“For me, the fall of PH was planned from the beginning with a strategy that ran on its own until the time the government fell. Only the date when the government was to fall was the only uncertain element. It was not fixed,” he says during a debate on Political Relaxation Chat: The fall of PH.
The video show was on the DHM Channel on Sunday.
He says Mahathir appointed some people at strategic posts including the nomination of those who betrayed the ex-PM in the Dewan Negara (Senate).
One of the tactics used by Mahathir when he was the Prime Minister was to delay the appointment of senators from the PH parties.
Husam was appointed Senator after the fall of the PH. There were 16 vacancies in the senate during the PH rule, but Mahathir apparently only appointed people who were close to him.
This included Mahathir’s ex-aide Zahid Mat Arip and Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (current Minister of Finance) and others.
Zahid Mat Arip is the Senator who accused Mahathir of plotting the demise of the PH, adding that Mahathir was having a big laugh after he resigned as PM.
The Senator says Mahathir’s attitude in delaying the appointment of the senator’s from the PH parties was considered deliberate.
Because on all other issues, the Langkawi Member of Parliament (Mahathir) always took immediate decisions.
He also chastised those in the opposition who are thinking of using the same Mahathir to regain power, saying it is a complete waste of time.
He says PH is stuck behind because it does not want to move forward from the Mahathir era.
“There are many more ways apart from Tun M becoming PM (again). There are hundreds of ways available, ”he says.
He also considers Mahathir’s plans to form a unity government with Umno’s Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah a waste of time.
Husam has resigned as the VP of Amanah and chairman of Amanah Kelantan recently, causing a ruckus in the PH.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

No hard feelings, Maszlee tells Dr Mahathir upon Pejuang exit
Tuesday, 03 Nov 2020 08:03 PM MYT
BY SHAHRIN AIZAT NOORSHAHRIZAM

Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik is pictured at Parliament in Kuala Lumpur July 16, 2020. — Picture by Hari Anggara
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik said he hoped to retain his relationship with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad despite quitting the latter’s Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) yesterday.
He also said he would always owe Dr Mahathir a debt of gratitude.


“I thank Tun for appointing me as the minister of education even for just 20 months, before you asked me to return it on January 3,” he said in a statement today.
Maszlee said his stint in Dr Mahathir’s Cabinet had been enlightening and strengthened his resolve to be an advocate for education.

“My prayers for Tun will continue and the good relationship between me and him will also continue to be preserved.”

“There is never a hint of hostility or resentment,” he added.
Maszlee announced his exit from Pejuang after his name was excluded from the party’s statement on Budget 2021.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

BN says will support Perikatan’s Budget 2021, rejects Opposition’s olive branch
Tuesday, 03 Nov 2020 06:16 PM MYT
BY RADZI RAZAK

Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman is pictured at Menara Dato’ Onn for an Umno Supreme Council meeting October 26, 2020. — Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 ― Barisan Nasional (BN) said today it will support the Budget 2021 to be tabled by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government this week.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said all 43 BN lawmakers have agreed to support the budget, which will indirectly gauge the support for under-fire Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.



“We (BN) made a decision to support the budget. We want to tell [PN] there is no doubt that the budget will be supported by us.
“So to the government and prime minister need not to doubt the support budget,” he told reporters at the lobby of Menara Dato’ Onn after a meeting wuth BN MPs here.

Tajuddin, however, said that BN will not succumb to the confidence-and-supply agreement (CSA) allegedly offered by the Opposition, claiming that the decision would “kill” BN.


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“We don’t agree [with the CSA], why must we give it to them? It will kill us.
“When they were in power they don’t give it to us, why should we give them now?” said the Pasir Salak MP.
A CSA is an arrangement in a hung Parliament, in which an Opposition party agrees not to vote against a minority government in votes of confidence or budgetary matters, but reserves the right to oppose other legislation.
Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda)’s Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, PKR’s Maria Chin Abdullah and DAP’s Liew Chin Tong were among those who have mooted the idea of pushing for the CSA to be signed ahead of the Budget 2021 voting this session.
Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 even stated earlier that minority governments in the United Kingdom, Denmark to Canada ― the latest just on October 21 ― had passed their budgets with support from Opposition on a CSA basis.
The Agong had earlier last week advised all politicians to support Budget 2021 in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the funds crucial for medical supplies and frontliners.
On Saturday, Muhyiddin also urged all political parties to put aside their differences and come together to vote for the budget to fight the pandemic.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Despite 'backdoor govt' label, survey shows 53pc Malaysians see Perikatan as country's saviour, says Emir Research
Tuesday, 03 Nov 2020 08:51 AM MYT
BY SOO WERN JUN

Emir Research said that a study conducted recently showed slightly more than half of Malaysians (53 per cent) have faith that the PN government has the ability to solve national problems. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — A research found that despite the label of a “backdoor government”, 55 per cent of Malaysians think the formation of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government has been the country's saviour.
Emir Research said that a study conducted recently showed only 9 per cent of those polled doubted the saviour role of PN.


“Slightly more than half of Malaysians (53 per cent) have faith that the PN government has the ability to solve national problems.
“Only 7 per cent does not have faith,” Emir Research said in its findings released yesterday.

Emir Research is led by Datuk Rais Hussin who was recently appointed as Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation chairman.

The research titled “Pulse From the Ground: Emir Research Quarterly Poll for Third Quarter 2020 (Part 1)” found that Bumiputera of Sabah and Sarawak are the biggest supporters of the PN government.
“They (74 per cent) have an unshakeable faith in the current government’s ability to solve national issues.
“In terms of strengthening the dominance of Malays in politics, the majority of Malays are of the opinion that the coalition between Umno and PAS, Muafakat Nasional is able to ensure Islam rights are taken care of (59 per cent),” the research revealed.
The research was done among others to assess the perceived direction of the country and living conditions among the people.
However Emir Research noted that the focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in July, and the survey was done in August, therefore the poll does not take into account the latest developments in the country which include the surge in Covid-19 cases, the call for a state of emergency to be declared which was denied by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Under the category of rural dwellers, the research found that this community appears to be on the current government’s side as 67 per cent supported the formation of the PN government, while a lower share of 51 per cent among the urbanites felt otherwise.
In terms of solving national problems, 66 per cent of rural folks think the PN government has that ability, while 48 per cent urbanites have the same opinion.
“Majority of rural dwellers feel the coalition between Umno and PAS would strengthen the rights of the Malays and Islam (64 per cent) whereas only 46 per cent of urbanites share the same view.
The research also found that more rural dwellers than urbanites agree that the GE14 has led to a fall in Malay political power.
In terms of age perspective, Emir Research found that those in the older age groups show stronger support for the formation of the PN government with 31 to 40-years-old accounting for 60 per cent, 41 to 50 at 62 per cent, as well as those aged 51 and above at 62 per cent.
“The older aged Malaysians think the coalition between Umno and PAS would ensure the rights of the Malays and Islam are maintained with those aged between 41 and 50 registering the highest share of 57 per cent.
“The unity between Malay political parties also seems to play a big part in strengthening rakyat’s confidence among those aged 51 and above, showing 53 per cent who agreed to this sentiment,” said Emir Research.
In late February, then PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali led 10 MPs to leave the party to support PN, triggering one of the country’s worst political crises and shortening the rule of PH, the coalition he helped put in power.
In March, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, after Istana Negara said he had the majority support compared to other candidates, was sworn in as prime minister, following the fall of the Pakatan Harapan administration.
He now leads the PN government, together with former political enemies Umno and PAS.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Dr Mahathir: Anwar may not have what it takes to steer economy through financial storms | Malay Mail
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Anwar may not have what it takes to save Malaysia from economic woes. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Anwar may not have what it takes to save Malaysia from economic woes. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has suggested that Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim might not be the best person to steer Malaysia’s economy through troubled waters.

Dr Mahathir’s comments come as Anwar attempts to form a new government and take over from Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.


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In an interview with The Malaysian Insight (TMI) published today, the two-time prime minister said this was based on his observations of Anwar’s handling of the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997.

During this time, Dr Mahathir took a two-month sabbatical and left Anwar, who was then deputy prime minister and finance minister, in charge of the country.

“I have tested his capabilities when I was prime minister. I took a holiday for two months and Anwar took over the reins. We had an economic crisis at the time, and his suggestions did not help the country recover its financial standings.

“That is why I had to take over from the finance minister and come up with plans to save the country from economic woes,” Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying.

It was widely reported that a rift developed between Dr Mahathir and Anwar over how the government should respond to the financial crisis.

The Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) founder was quoted as saying by TMI that Anwar had recklessly followed IMF and World Bank advice at the possible expense of Malaysia's economy.

“He always followed the World Bank and IMF. I told him before if we followed their suggestions, our country would not have enough funds to even pay salaries. But he continued supporting them,” he said.

In the same interview, Dr Mahathir confirmed that neither he nor Pejuang are part of Anwar’s plans to form a new government.

“Even though Bersatu has left Pakatan Harapan (PH), a few others and I are still willing to work with PH to return the mandate to the people.”

“We can get a majority but Anwar has refused to work together with us — me especially,” Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying.

Dr Mahathir went on to reiterate earlier doubts that Anwar had the numbers in Parliament to form a new government.

“I suspect if I promise he becomes the prime minister, a lot of my very own supporters will reject the idea. Maybe that would lead to not having any majority at all,” he said.

In September, Anwar claimed that he has a “strong, convincing and formidable” majority to form a new government.

But he is still waiting for the Agong to have an audience with other political party leaders to support his claim.

Dr Mahathir told TMI that he remains unconvinced by Anwar’s claims.

“He is still not prime minister today even though he claimed several times he is going to be.

“There have been preparations made for him to be sworn in but alas that did not happen,” he added.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Emir Research survey: Muhyiddin still Malaysians’ preferred PM, ahead of Dr Mahathir and Anwar | Malay Mail
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is seen during a virtual meeting with the National Security Council November 2, 2020. — Picture via Facebook/Muhyiddin Yassin
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is seen during a virtual meeting with the National Security Council November 2, 2020. — Picture via Facebook/Muhyiddin Yassin
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 — Two in three respondents in Emir Research’s quarterly survey spanning issues from public wellbeing to politics said they prefer Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister, an overwhelming rating far surpassing the Pagoh MP’s immediate rivals.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was a distant second with 10 per cent while Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was only rated by eight per cent of respondents, according to the third quarter poll that sought to assess public satisfaction with the government.

Muhyiddin’s popularity was found to be much higher among urban and female respondents, at 68 and 73 per cent, respectively,

By ethnicity, Malays as well as the Bumiputras of Sabah and Sarawak were said to have formed the bulk of his supporters.

The think tank also suggested strong minority support for the prime minister.

Up to half of ethnic Chinese respondents had picked the Pagoh MP as their preferred prime minister while ethnic Indian respondents followed closely at 49 per cent, although researchers noted that satisfaction with government’s performance was not a key driver for their choice.

Anwar was the second choice for respondents from these two ethnic groups.

Emir Research said one possible explanation for strong minority support for Muhyiddin is “unanimous yearning for government stability.”

“The discussants across all the FGDs (focus groups discussions) reiterated on numerous occasions that government stability is the most crucial at these trying times,” the report said.

“As one of the discussants sums it up: “Many people said that this current government is the government that we need, not the government that you want, not the government that we have chosen”.”

The findings were part of data collected for the research house’s government satisfaction index (GSI), aimed at assessing public “satisfaction towards the incumbent government” as a predictor of their intention to support the incumbent government.

The GSI for the third quarterly poll stands at 0.67. Emir Research said its GSI saw a marked increase from 0.45 in the first quarter of 2020 to 0.67 in the third quarter, up by 49 per cent.

This compares very favourably against the decrease in GSI when Pakatan Harapan was still in power, from 0.53 in fourth quarter of 2019 to 0.45 in the first quarter of 2020, a 15 per cent decline, the report added.

“This brings the satisfaction level of rakyat towards the government, which GSI measures, from being at the average band to the above average band,” the think tank remarked.

The data suggested a high sense of confidence and optimism for the future, which translated to higher satisfaction towards the government.

Researchers said the favourable view of Muhyiddin could be due to endorsement of the government’s Covid-19 response, which was perceived to balance the priority between lives and livelihoods by reopening the economy and announcing stimulus packages.

However, Muhyiddin’s obvious popularity did not extend to his Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia as only a few respondents approved of the party. Just 8 per cent gave Bersatu the thumbs up compared to 42.8 per cent for Umno and over 15 per cent for PAS.

Pejuang, the smaller splinter group from Bersatu, surprisingly received a 6 per cent rating among respondents, much higher than established opposition parties like PKR and DAP, who received a 4.5 and 4.1 per cent rating each.

Worryingly for Pakatan Harapan parties, more respondents in the survey trusted independents more than all component members of the Opposition coalition, with a 5 per cent rating.

The state-wide survey was conducted in August involving 2,096 respondents from all the states in Malaysia including Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory.

 

[CPTMiller]

Don't believe those survey numbers.
Even election may not be real

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Madhatter must really b upset about no longer being PM

Dr Mahathir says ‘92’ the reason he and Anwar lost the prime ministership to Muhyiddin | Malay Mail
Dr Mahathir claimed he would have had 158 federal lawmakers behind him had Anwar not directed all 92 parliamentarians from PKR, DAP, and Amanah to nominate him instead. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
Dr Mahathir claimed he would have had 158 federal lawmakers behind him had Anwar not directed all 92 parliamentarians from PKR, DAP, and Amanah to nominate him instead. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 ― Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad shot back today at critics who accused him of blocking Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from becoming prime minister, blaming instead 92 MPs who chose the PKR president, thereby causing a division in the ranks and the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.

In a lengthy blog post, the former prime minister gave his account of the political crisis that led to the “Sheraton Move” that ended PH’s hold on Putrajaya after just 22 months.

Dr Mahathir claimed he would have had 158 federal lawmakers behind him had Anwar not directed all 92 parliamentarians from PKR, DAP, and Amanah to nominate him instead, which would have given the coalition a comfortable majority to return to power.

“If all three PH parties had nominated me as their candidate I would have had 158 votes in addition to the 66 MPs that supported me.

“But because the 92 voted for Anwar, I lost and so did Anwar,” he wrote.

Staying in power meant the coalition could have been able to proceed with the succession plan that would see Anwar take over, Dr Mahathir asserted, instead of having Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition take over as government.

Now in a new party called Pejuang, the Langkawi MP reiterated that he is still willing to set aside his personal differences with Anwar if it would lead to an amicable solution for the nation’s sake.

The 95-year-old Dr Mahathir said he could still muster the support to regain Putrajaya with the backing of all PH lawmakers, including PKR.

He said he had laid out a plan to make way for Anwar after six months should the party agree.

Anwar, however, has rejected the offer.

“It was proposed that I hold the prime minister post for six months before handing it over to Anwar. Members of Amanah and the DAP had agreed,” Dr Mahthir wrote.

“But Anwar rejected it. Anwar did not want to be involved with me at all. But if I am given space, my supporters will not back the idea of supporting PH.”

It is understood that Amanah and the DAP had agreed to nominate Anwar on the promise that he could secure the parliamentary majority to form a new government, which the Opposition leader recently claimed to have.

Some of the supporting MPs are rumoured to be from Umno although that is now uncertain after its president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his party would continue to back PN for the time being.

Dr Mahathir said he doubted Anwar’s insistence on having majority support since he has yet to become prime minister.

“We all know that Anwar is still not the prime minister. His statement that he has the numbers is untrue. I have no place in his calculations,” he said.

“Even as I have been sidelined by him clearly he hasn’t won.”

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Anwar confirms he told Opposition to let Budget 2021 pass first hurdle
Thursday, 26 Nov 2020 07:24 PM MYT
BY RADZI RAZAK

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim promised that the Opposition would come back stronger to scrutinise Budget 2021 during the committee level debate from Monday. — Bernama pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 ― Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he instructed his side’s lawmakers to allow Budget 2021 through the policy stage as he did not want to be seen as blocking aid and concessions announced by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
He said that while the decision was very difficult as Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz allegedly “evaded substantive fundamental issues” including the projection and revenue of the budget.










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“What he (Tengku Zafrul) did was to announce additional grants, allowance to frontline workers, farmers, fishermen etc, and that complicates issues.
“I don’t want to be seen to be ignoring the fact that the minister has taken some measures, although he rejected the fundamental issues, he announced some measures which are more acceptable for the rakyat,” he told the press today.

Anwar then promised that the Opposition would come back stronger to scrutinise Budget 2021 during the committee level debate from Monday, saying the PN government should not consider this a victory yet.


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“There is no guarantee we will approve on Monday when the committee level starts.
“We will certainly choose to reject and call for revision (of the budget),” he said.
Earlier, however, PKR vice president Chang Lih Kang wrote on Facebook that rejected Budget 2021 and would continue to do so at the committee stage.
“Today, the Opposition does not support this Budget, we have voted through a vote to reject it. It's just that we don't ask for a bloc-voting,” he said.
Budget 2021 was approved in the policy stage today after Parliament approved it via a voice vote when fewer than the 15 lawmakers needed to force bloc-voting rose to make their rejection known.
Just 13 Opposition MPs including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu stood up to try and force a bloc vote.
Prior to the vote, Tengku Zafrul announced several concessions to demands from both sides of the divide including extending the loan moratorium for all B40 income earners and small businesses as well as allowing eight million EPF contributors to withdraw up to RM10,000 from their Account 1 in one lump sum instead of RM6,000 over 12 months.
This allowed Budget 2021 to be approved via a voice vote despite shouts from lawmakers ostensibly rejecting the federal spending plan.
Voting on Budget 2021 had come under extreme scrutiny as there was expectation that it could be rejected.
By convention, a rejection of the federal Budget is considered a successful vote of no-confidence against the ruling party and should be met by the resignation of the entire Cabinet.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Dr Mahathir: Opposition MPs have no shame, betraying voters’ trust by not standing up to oppose Budget 2021
Thursday, 26 Nov 2020 07:43 PM MYT
BY R. LOHESWAR

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad blamed those who are in the government for being corrupt after allegedly receiving benefits from Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration, and said that Opposition MPs who did not oppose the Bill are supporting this government with their actions. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 ― Langkawi MP Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed his dismay at MPs, including most of the Opposition, in Parliament today who did not stand to oppose the approval of Budget 2021.
He blamed those who are in the government for being corrupt after allegedly receiving benefits from Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration, and said that Opposition MPs who did not oppose the Bill are supporting this government with their actions.



“A government that is built from bribes and kickbacks to MPs and a government that is corrupt is being supported by these MPs and the Opposition MPs without any sense of guilt that they have now betrayed their promise to the people.
“This is what happened in Parliament today,” the former prime minister from Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) said in a statement.

“As far as Pejuang and I are concerned, including several other MPs, we are firm in our stance to not support the passing of the Budget,” he added.


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Dr Mahathir said besides him, three other Pejuang MPs had stood up to support the failed bloc vote: Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun), Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu), and Datuk Shahruddin Salleh (Sri Gading).
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he instructed his side’s lawmakers to allow Budget 2021 through the policy stage as he did not want to be seen as blocking aid and concessions announced by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
Dr Mahathir also said that the public should not give in to corruption and that eradicating it is the only way to save the country.
He added that bribers and criminals are using money to buy votes and pick their MPs to form the government of the day.
“When those who have no principles and quality are willing to sacrifice the people’s mandate for their own personal gain to form the government then the country will be sold to fulfill their greed,” he said.
Only 13 MPs stood up demanding bloc voting to pass the Bill to approve the Budget today, leading to a voice voting that saw it passed.
The Budget will now go to the committee stage, for its specific allocations to be debated and voted on.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Amid Budget 2021 vote backlash, DAP sources say MPs toeing line set by Anwar but some upset with decision
Thursday, 26 Nov 2020 07:35 PM MYT
BY RADZI RAZAK

People watch Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz speaking during the winding-up debate on the Supply Bill 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat today, November 26, 2020. ― Bernama pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 ― Sources from DAP have explained that all its MPs received instruction from Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim against bloc voting for the Budget 2021 that was subsequently approved in the first stage earlier.
According to them, the instruction was relayed to them via DAP secretary-general and Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng after conferring with Anwar prior to that.










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“The decision was made earlier today and DAP agrees with Anwar to not allow the bloc voting to go through,” said a source from the party that wished to remain anonymous.
Another anonymous source said that the decision was made after Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz has announced several “goodies” for the public in his winding out speech before vote takes place in the second reading for Budget 2021 today.

“PN government relented to some pressures from the Opposition. We don’t want to be seen as not trying to stop the allocation for the people,” said another source.


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Meanwhile another source confirms that some quarters in the parties are visibly upset with what is happening today and said the party will confer to get an explanation from the top echelon of Pakatan Harapan.
“Several of the MPs are upset with the decision. Right now we are still opposing the budget 2021.
“But it was a decision by the leadership,” said another anonymous source who declined to explain more.
Several MPs from PKR and DAP took to the social media talking about their decision saying they still reject the Budget but doing so via voice vote instead of bloc voting where every MP votes are counted.
PKR’s Tanjung Malim MP Chang Lih Kang wrote on Facebook that they will continue to oppose the Budget 2021 in the committee level
“Today, the Opposition does not support this Budget, we have voted through a vote to reject it. It's just that we don't ask for a bloc-voting,” he said.
Meanwhile DAP’s Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii even denies that he stood up after a list featuring his name was circulated in the social media that he was among the 13 MPs who wanted to force bloc voting
“I have to apologise as I was not one of the one that stood. I made the stand on socials before the vote, after hearing the speech. It was done under a voice vote,” he tweeted.
Anwar in a press conference at Parliament today said he instructed the Opposition to give way to approve the Budget 2021 policy stage as he said he does not want to be seen as stopping the goodies and concessions as announced by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
He said that although the decision is very difficult as he claimed Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz had “evaded substantive fundamental issues” including the projection and revenue of the Budget.
Lim and DAP’s deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo were seen at the press conference with Anwar.
Budget 2021 was approved in the policy stage today after Parliament approved it via a voice vote when fewer than the 15 lawmakers needed to force bloc-voting rose to make their rejection known.
Prior to the vote, Tengku Zafrul announced several concessions to demands from both sides of the divide including extending the loan moratorium for all B40 income earners and small businesses as well as allowing eight million EPF contributors to withdraw up to RM10,000 from their Account 1 in one lump sum instead of RM6,000 over 12 months.
A total of 13 Opposition lawmakers former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu stood up to force the bloc vote.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Anwar’s Budget ‘strategy’ puts Pakatan between a rock and a hard place, say analysts | Malay Mail
Last Thursday, Anwar directed all Opposition lawmakers to allow the Budget passage in a meeting convened at the very last minute, ditching the initial plan to make the Budget vote a referendum on Muhyiddin’s government. — Bernama pic
Last Thursday, Anwar directed all Opposition lawmakers to allow the Budget passage in a meeting convened at the very last minute, ditching the initial plan to make the Budget vote a referendum on Muhyiddin’s government. — Bernama pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 — Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s credibility took a big hit after last Thursday’s Budget 2021 debacle in Parliament, analysts said.

This could potentially have an adverse effect on Anwar’s standing as Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) prime minister of choice, they suggested, pointing to the flak directed at the opposition coalition on social media.

Many PH supporters and sympathisers who wanted Opposition lawmakers to test Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s majority in Parliament said they were peeved by the coalition’s action, and accused them of pandering or cowardice.

But Anwar may have had no choice, argued Datuk Mohamad Abu Bakar, political scientist at Universiti Malaya.

With several recent opinion polls tilting favourably towards Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Mohamad suggested that blocking the Budget would have been akin to political suicide, as Anwar and the Opposition risked alienating voters already distrustful of his coalition.

“Anwar and PH were able to salvage their position in the face of this challenge because they were up against great odds in view of the popular support for the Budget,” he said.

“I say salvage because they stood to lose more. So in some ways it’s a great tactical move on their (Muhyiddin and the Perikatan Nasional government) part. But whether or not intentional I’m not sure.”

With several recent opinion polls tilting favourably towards Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Mohamad suggested that blocking the Budget would have been akin to political suicide. ― Bernama pic
With several recent opinion polls tilting favourably towards Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Mohamad suggested that blocking the Budget would have been akin to political suicide. ― Bernama pic
Last Thursday, Anwar directed all Opposition lawmakers to allow the Budget passage in a meeting convened at the very last minute, ditching the initial plan to make the Budget vote a referendum on Muhyiddin’s government.

In a statement explaining the decision, the Opposition leader conceded that the move was sudden and unpopular among PH’s allies but stressed that it was politically crucial.

Voting against it, Anwar argued, would have put PH in a bad light.

He said the call had to be made after Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz announced several surprise allocations, mostly for poor households and those most vulnerable during the pandemic, and rejecting them would have been politically costly.

But the PKR president vowed to make the committee stage harder for the government, in a seeming attempt to appease supporters.

Anwar suggested the Opposition may force a vote on each allocation if the government fails to heed their demand, and is not discounting voting against the Budget at the final stage.

Still, analysts believe there is a limit to how far the Opposition can go without risking backlash from the rakyat.

“Anwar and PH will have to ensure their priorities are aligned in the weeks to come to deliver what they purportedly promised — line-by-line scrutiny of each ministry’s allocation,” said Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, senior associate at Vriens & Partners, a public policy and political risk consultancy.

Analysts believe there is a limit to how far the Opposition can go without risking backlash from the rakyat. — Bernama pic
Analysts believe there is a limit to how far the Opposition can go without risking backlash from the rakyat. — Bernama pic
“In the coming weeks, the proof in the pudding will be for Anwar and company not to try and engineer a Budget defeat, but to function as His Majesty’s loyal Opposition.”

But it is unclear if all PH component parties are in agreement about defeating the Budget. Anwar is said to be facing internal pressure to deliver on the defections he promised in October, a condition set by the DAP and Amanah in return for their support.

The two parties had initially backed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as their prime minister of choice, on the assumption that he can still draw support even from across the political divide.

Some observers read this as a sign of dipping confidence in Anwar. The incident last Thursday in Parliament where several Amanah MPs stood up to force a vote despite the directive not to do so, to one analyst, was the latest sign that suggested growing disenchantment in Anwar’s ability.

“Whether Thursday was a tactical move or a communications error, only Anwar and the PH leadership will truly know,” Shazwan said.

“What is clear is that while the Perikatan Nasional government’s advantage in Parliament hangs by a thread, the Opposition is in disarray and disunited. Anwar has to consolidate his support base and plan his next move carefully.”

Malay Mail was made to understand that Anwar has pleaded with allies to give him “one more week” to prove he has the numbers after failing to challenge Budget 2021 this week.

Sources said the PKR president conveyed this to his allies in Parliament after the voting on Thursday. He was said to have offered his resignation as PH chief should he fail.

Sources told Malay Mail that Anwar has pleaded with allies to give him 'one more week' to prove he has the numbers after failing to challenge Budget 2021 this week. — Bernama pic
Sources told Malay Mail that Anwar has pleaded with allies to give him 'one more week' to prove he has the numbers after failing to challenge Budget 2021 this week. — Bernama pic
In mid-October, Anwar claimed that he had secured “a formidable and convincing” majority, and in that same month had an audience with the Agong ostensibly to seek permission to form a new government.

But the takeover failed to materialise. The Palace later issued a statement revealing that the PKR president had only presented the number of MPs said to be with him but not their names.

Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said the Budget 2021 vote bungle would likely reinforce the growing sense of doubt about Anwar’s political strength.

“Anwar’s claim of a majority hinges on Umno backbenchers led by Zahid and Najib and at some point it became clear to Anwar, and actually, to everybody that Zahid decided to vote in favour of the Budget,” Oh said, referring to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his predecessor Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The committee stage debate of Budget 2021 will end today and voting will take place on Wednesday.

Oh suggests there is still a chance that the Umno-Anwar pact could proceed, with the new government likely able to reverse negative public opinion that may arise from PN’s collapse.

“If the Umno backbenchers could eventually be flipped and the Budget defeated, then they are a new government, and could switch on the government propaganda machinery in full swing in the opposite direction,” he said.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Malaysia budget 2021: Allocation for PM's Department passes after opposition defeated in bloc vote
The voting took place after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim questioned the need for additional funding set aside for the Prime Minister's Department.

Anwar Ibrahim
This handout photo from Malaysia's Department of Information taken and released on November 6, 2020 shows Malaysia’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim at the parliament for the tabling of the 2021 budget. (Photo: Malaysia Department of Information)
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KUALA LUMPUR: The allocation for Malaysia's Prime Minister's Department (PMD) in the 2021 budget was passed in parliament on Monday (Nov 30), after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim questioned the need for additional funding.

In a bloc vote, 105 MPs supported the budget allocation while 95 MPs voted against it. Twenty lawmakers were absent during the voting.

Parliament currently has 220 MPs as two MPs recently died and their seats remain vacant.

Bloc voting was conducted after Mr Anwar, in a hard hitting speech, questioned why RM11.7 billion (US$2.87 billion) was allocated for PMD under budget 2021. This is 10.2 per cent more than the amount set aside in 2020.

He also asked why the PMD had many ministers under its payroll - five full ministers, and five deputy ministers. He questioned why the department had opened offices for various special envoys, including for Middle East, China and Japan.

“I would like to ask what's the role of the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Because we have appointed (these special envoys) and burden the people and the country with high managing expenditure."

WAGES FOR SPECIAL ENVOYS ARE WASTED, SAYS ANWAR

He added that the wages for these envoys would be wasted because they would be unable to play their roles given border restrictions due to COVID-19.

"Where are these special envoys going to go? They are all now (forced to remain) in Kuala Lumpur,’’ said Mr Anwar.

He further argued that the work of the special envoys would overlap with the duties of Malaysian ambassadors under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Anwar also questioned why there was an increase of RM181 million in the PMD budget set aside for political contract appointees as compared to 2020, arguing that the funds should instead be channeled to frontline workers battling COVID-19 or Malaysians who are unemployed.

"We have publicised that this is a government keen on helping the people overcoming COVID-19. I would like to ask, what's the link between this RM181 million (for political appointees) and people who are unemployed and suffering to earn a living with COVID-19?" said the opposition leader.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Anwar calls for confidence vote against Perikatan in Parliament after Malaysia’s credit downgrade | Malay Mail
Anwar said the confidence vote should be held immediately after debates on Budget 2021 end. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
Anwar said the confidence vote should be held immediately after debates on Budget 2021 end. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today proposed a confidence vote to be tabled in Parliament against the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, questioning its ability to lead Malaysia competitively in a post-Covid economy.

The PKR president said the confidence motion was necessary after international credit rating agency Fitch lowered Malaysia’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating from A- to BBB+ last week.

While Malaysia was accorded a stable outlook, the ratings agency commented that the PN government’s thin two-seat parliamentary majority implies persistent uncertainty about the country’s future policies.

Anwar said Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz had failed to address these matters and accused the ex-banker of being “dismissive” of Fitch’s views instead.

“This is, of course, a concern and we have a statement to say the focus of the criticism and the valuation we face is on the issue of stability and governance and this was not addressed by the minister of finance.

“He was very dismissive. It is very unfortunate, very political in his remarks, lack of focus and professionalism on his part.

“So we think that this must be addressed because it affects the economy adversely and this calls for a vote of confidence on the government,” Anwar told reporters in Parliament today after the Dewan Rakyat sitting ended for the day.

The Port Dickson MP said the confidence vote should be held immediately after debates on Budget 2021 end.

“The government must seriously allow this and the Speaker must have the courage to respect Parliamentary procedures and demands,’’ he said.

He said that if the matter was not resolved, Malaysia’s credit ratings could decline further, impacting its economic prospects.

In its downgrade, Fitch said the revision was primarily driven by the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Malaysia’s fiscal position and the ongoing domestic political situation.

 

[syed putra]

You van forget about anwar.
Umno grassroot members are taking over tne party thats being hindered by their leaders who were charged for corruption refusing to resign.
And these same grassroots are not in the mood to be allies to PAS( parti islam) nor muhyiddin's bersatu as it will only erode their sphere of influence plus conflict in selecting candidates 8n malay areas.
Chances are umno may end up working with DAP once their leadership problems are resolve.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

You van forget about anwar.
Umno grassroot members are taking over tne party thats being hindered by their leaders who were charged for corruption refusing to resign.
And these same grassroots are not in the mood to be allies to PAS( parti islam) nor muhyiddin's bersatu as it will only erode their sphere of influence plus conflict in selecting candidates 8n malay areas.
Chances are umno may end up working with DAP once their leadership problems are resolve.

Well said..


Reset or recalibrate? What’s next for Anwar and Pakatan after Budget 2021 shambles
Sunday, 20 Dec 2020 05:20 AM MYT
BY EMMANUEL SANTA MARIA CHIN

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks to reporters after giving his statement to the police at Bukit Aman in Kuala Lumpur October 16, 2020. — Picture by Firdaus Latif
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — After failing to stop Budget 2021 at all three stages in the Dewan Rakyat, the Opposition now find itself in a position scarce of playable manoeuvres to try and shift the winds in its favour, political analysts have said.
For these observers, the best option now for the Opposition and its leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would be to buckle down, concede defeat after failing to vote out the Budget and allow Perikatan Nasional (PN) to govern in the meantime.


















The experts were also united in suggesting the Opposition begin strategising on how it will approach an impending general election (GE) to win the voters’ mandate.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia geostrategist Prof Azmi Hassan told Malay Mail the Opposition yielding and shifting its attention towards GE15 preparations after the Budget failure would be a better option not only for Anwar and Pakatan Harapan (PH) but also for the entire country.

“Let the PN government govern the nation without the constraint of having to thwart attempts to dismantle the government.


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“Just get ready for GE15 as I feel [Prime Minister] Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would really like to call for one as soon as possible to legitimise his government once and for all,” Azmi said when contacted.
Political analyst and University of Malaya’s professor Awang Azman Pawi also agreed that yielding may be the best and healthiest option for Anwar and his bloc, but was rather pessimistic of a lull in political manoeuvrings for the time being.
For him, the Opposition’s best options would be to strengthen its grassroots support, ensure good service in constituencies, and prepare a solid and credible lineup, one that can offer the best formula in developing the country, to face PN in the polls when Parliament is dissolved.
“Despite the best move for the Anwar and the Opposition is to prepare for GE15, they might still attempt to overthrow PN,” he suggested.
On the other hand, senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs Oh Ei Sun also affirmed the idea of politicians multitasking between GE15 preparations and power-grabs, but said such manoeuvrings were not confined to only Opposition politicians.
He said this is due to the currently fragmented political landscape, saying the rocky situation would most likely continue even after an election is held.
“All parties and politicians have been simultaneously preparing the grounds for the next GE and are still opportunistically engaging in either intramural fights both within parties and among coalition partners, or consolidating or wrestling powers from one another.
“This will continue to the next GE and beyond, as the fragmented political landscape is likely to persist,” said Oh.
With 220 MPs making up the entire Dewan Rakyat, following the deaths of two Sabah lawmakers, the Opposition managed 108 votes in Budget 2021’s third reading bloc vote, losing out by three votes to the Perikatan Nasional coalition who received 111.
Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan @ Harun when reading out the voting results on Tuesday, noted one absentee and despite not naming the lawmaker, it is likely the missing MP was Umno’s chief advisor and Gua Musang MP Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah after indicating his desire to sit out the proceedings.
The victory to some was a sign of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Muhyiddin’s majority in Parliament, albeit a slim one, with at least 27 motions of no-confidence that were filed in Dewan Negara against the prime minister yet be tabled.
Muhyiddin’s purported majority in Parliament has been a constant point of debate ever since he took over as in March following a coup now dubbed the Sheraton Move.
Before the Budget votes, the last attempt to seriously overthrow PN came in September when Anwar tried to topple the government by claiming to have “strong and formidable” numbers of MPs, a claim that failed to convince the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to confer him as the next prime minister.
Realistically, what can we expect?
UM’s Awang Azman said he expects to see continued efforts to dethrone PN, despite outlining what’s best for the Opposition.
He said one likely way could see PH and Anwar submitting Statutory Declarations (SD) to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong claiming to have the bigger support.
“This would be on the basis their vote for the budget was focused on the plight of the people and to avoid a government shutdown, one not similar to a vote of no-confidence towards Muhyiddin as the prime minister,” he suggested.
He added how recent actions by Tun Dr Mahathir Mahamad and Tengku Razaleigh to team up and offer themselves as alternatives to PN was a clear indicator of the disillusionment within Muhyiddin’s coalition.
Awang Azman was referring to the joint press conference held by Dr Mahathir and his long time foe Tengku Razaleigh, where they pledged to cooperate despite being in different parties and opposites sides of the political blocs.
Oh also agreed with the prediction the Opposition would opt for the route using SDs sent to the King, but warned it would be an uphill battle for Anwar, going on the allegiances that make up the current political landscape.
This includes public defiance towards Anwar coming from both Dr Mahathir, who now heads Parti Pejuang Tanah Air, and leaders from Parti Warisan Sabah led by former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
“As Dr Mahathir and Shafie are not likely to support [Anwar], he would need at least the whole of Zahid and Najib’s faction in Umno to definitively declare such support,” he said referring to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former chief Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
When asked what might be put on offer, Oh suggested one possible strategy could see Anwar take the psychological approach towards MPs still on the fence to persuade them and support him.
“The most important aspect is to create some sort of ‘impression of inevitability’ of Anwar clinching the premiership, such as engineering a working relationship with Shafie such that they partner as potential PM-deputy PM, then all and sundry would throw themselves at him.
“Anwar would also have to realistically offer them both material rewards and moral persuasion, ranging from immunities and positions, to them ‘being on the right side of history’,” Oh added.
For UTM’s Azmi, the internal turmoil within PH could prove to be their downfall, with many unresolved matters, like the absence of a clear prime ministerial candidate.
He said despite the option of nonagenarian Dr Mahathir, who Azmi said “thrives” in situations where an alpha male is needed, evident through PH’s historic victory in 2018’s GE14, the senior politician might be losing his sharpness.
“Looking how Dr Mahathir failed miserably through his Budget bloc vote request, maybe he has lost his magic touch,” Azmi suggested.
This on top of a recent concession by Anwar’s PH colleagues in DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu, when the duo said PH needs a reset and for the coalition to stop wasting time with opportunistic PN backbenchers teasing support for Anwar.
Warisan’s Shafie has also recently come out saying the Opposition needs ‘fresh faces’ in leadership positions, pointing out this must not discount East Malaysians as possible leaders.