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

[Hypocrite-The]

Anwar downplays cooperation snub at Umno assembly as rhetoric
Tuesday, 30 Mar 2021 12:59 PM MYT
BY JUSTIN ONG

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he remained open to discussing tie-ups notwithstanding current Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s closing speech a t last weekend’s assembly.― Picture by Hari Anggara

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KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he did not believe there was no longer any possibility of cooperating with Umno for the general election despite remarks in this direction at the Malay nationalist party’s recent assembly.



At the sidelines of the Democracy in Malaysia Forum here today, Anwar said he remained open to discussing tie-ups notwithstanding current Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s closing speech at last weekend’s assembly.
“I would like to say that this is still in discussions I have talks with all parties including (Datuk Seri) Anifah Aman earlier,” he was quoted as saying by the Malaysian Gazette and referring to the Parti Cinta Sabah president.
“In a democracy as well as a mature and inclusive process, it is very important to make evaluations based on values and principles

“Conversely, if there are doubts about this (cooperation) we must see where the limits are, even during the Pakatan Harapan administration. We must learn and must not compromise on this.”


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Previously, Anwar revealed that his PKR party and Umno were in preliminary talks about a potential collaboration for the next general election.
However, Zahid closed the Umno general assembly by stressing that the Barisan Nasional coalition would head into the contest alone, eschewing partnerships with either Anwar’s PH or the ruling Perikatan Nasional.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Anwar: No need for Emergency laws to allow extra govt spending, Budget 2021 enough for Covid-19 fight | Malay Mail

PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Budget 2021 would have already set aside sufficient government funds for the Covid-19 pandemic. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
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KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 — There is no need for the federal government to gazette a new law to enable the disbursement or paying out of public funds for additional spending beyond the government’s Budget without parliamentary oversight during the Emergency, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.
Anwar, who is also Opposition Leader, also said the Budget 2021 would have already set aside sufficient government funds for the Covid-19 pandemic.
“While PN states the emergency is necessary to battle Covid, in fact the laws which are being enacted under the emergency have little to do with Covid and mostly are about punishing civil society, suppressing free speech and pilfering the public coffers,” the Port Dickson MP said in a statement today, referring to the Perikatan Nasional administration and the Emergency ordinances gazetted by the government.
“There is absolutely no reason for the government to seek such extraordinary fiduciary powers at this time. The 2021 budget has been passed less than four months ago which allocated adequate spending for Covid-19 response,” he said.
In objecting against allowing additional government spending without Parliament’s scrutiny, Anwar went on to say that MPs in Parliament would have likely given their approval for any extra government expenditure if it was justified.
“Any valid additional spending would be approved in Parliament by a majority and would likely gain bi-partisan support if it was deemed appropriate.
“I strongly oppose this law. I believe it is unethical and irresponsible. I am concerned about the impact on the nation’s reputation and the further erosion of confidence in our economy,” he added.
He then concluded for Parliament to immediately resume to prevent Malaysia’s democracy from weakening further.
Malaysia has been put under a state of Emergency from January 11 until the expected end date of August 1 unless lifted earlier. During this period, Parliament and state legislative assemblies — which typically play the role of checks and balance on the executive branch of the government — have been suspended until further notice.
While the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has previously clarified on February 24 that Parliament can be convened during the Emergency on a date that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong thinks is appropriate on the advice of the prime minister, the Perikatan Nasional administration has not provided such advice that would enable Parliament sittings to resume.
The gazetted new law that Anwar referred to is the Emergency (Essential Powers) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, which was gazetted today and takes effect from today.
This new Emergency ordinance amends an earlier January 14 Emergency ordinance on powers given to the federal government.
Among other things, the new Emergency ordinance will also temporarily suspend procedures under the Government Funding Act 1983 and the Treasury Bills (Local) Act 1946 on funds raised by the federal government via the finance minister under Shariah-compliant instruments or borrowings through the issuance of Treasury bills.
In other words, the usual procedure — where the Dewan Rakyat’s prior approval is needed before funds borrowed by the federal government can be channelled into the federal government’s Development Fund — would be suspended during the Emergency.
The new Emergency ordinance will also temporarily allow the Finance Ministry to approve withdrawals from the government’s Federal Consolidated Fund, as well as to approve additional spending of the federal government’s funds beyond the initial Budget without going through the usual route of seeking Parliament’s approval, during the Emergency.
Typically, Parliament’s approval is needed for the federal government’s Budget spending through a Supply Bill that has to be passed in Parliament, while estimates of supplementary expenditure has to be presented before the Dewan Rakyat for approval.
Supplementary expenditure refers to situations when the amount allocated in the approved federal government’s Budget via the Supply Act is insufficient or when the money spent is more than allocated in the Budget or when there is a new need for spending which had not been allocated previously in the Budget.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Anwar bemoans loss of undersea cable project, warns this could also affect future FDI | Malay Mail
PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks at the Temu Anwar session at Flamingo hotel in Ampang, April 1, 2021. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon
PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks at the Temu Anwar session at Flamingo hotel in Ampang, April 1, 2021. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon
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KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has today criticised the Perikatan Nasional government for failing to build Malaysia’s 5G capability properly, claiming that it could also affect foreign direct investment (FDI).

Speaking of the recent Facebook and Google partnership to construct two underwater cables to increase Internet connectivity between Singapore, Indonesia and North America, he said Putrajaya’s actions have once again let to Malaysia being sidelined.

“Perhaps this is the objective by the leaders through ‘selective’ strategies, in order to attract foreign investment and increase our digital capabilities,” he said in a statement, referring to a recent remark by senior minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali on the FDI flight.

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Anwar said this showed that the strategy has failed as digital technology giants now just prefer to avoid Malaysia.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a drop in Malaysia’s Internet quality, whereas the rate of usage is on a constant rise in various sectors.

“This development is most worrying, and a major loss to the nation. It will also affect our ability in ensuring the rapid digitalisation of our economy,” he said.

The Port Dickson MP added that Malaysians will end up paying high prices for low Internet speed, and that this could have an adverse impact on the gross domestic product by as much as 6.9 per cent, citing several reports as evidence.

“The reason why Malaysia was not included in this mega-project, as Malaysia Internet Exchange has stated, is due to the wisdom of the PN government which forbade foreign vessels to conduct undersea cable repairs.

“In November last year the transport minister cancelled the decision made by the Pakatan Harapan government to provide cabotage exemption, which drew disagreement from several tech companies,” he said, referring to Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong.

Anwar claimed PN’s actions created a virtual monopoly in which the country does not have the ability to increase its telecommunications reach on a large scale, which is a necessity to develop a digital economy.

“The government’s decision regarding the cabotage issue has resulted in a very negative situation for the country, and makes us weak in many aspects, including in terms of national security,” he said.

The decision to revoke the cabotage exemption for foreign ships to conduct undersea cable repairs by transport minister Wee led to a heated debate in Parliament on November 25.

His predecessor Anthony Loke and former communications and multimedia minister Gobind Singh Deo both criticised Wee’s rationale that the revocation would aid in increasing Malaysia’s domestic shipping capacity and capabilities, among other reasons.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Anwar: Perikatan’s lopsided policies, deal-making to maintain status quo could come at the expense of Malaysia’s dignity | Malay Mail
PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks at the Temu Anwar session at Flamingo hotel in Ampang, April 1, 2021. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon
PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks at the Temu Anwar session at Flamingo hotel in Ampang, April 1, 2021. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon
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KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim again ripped into the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration this time warning them that introducing lopsided policies and cutting deals aimed at prolonging their status quo could come at the expense of the country’s sovereignty and diplomatic standing.

Anwar said the pace of mistakes and missteps being committed by those in the PN government was steadily increasing, a worrying situation only exacerbated by the absence of scrutiny and oversight by lawmakers in Parliament.

Again harping on Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s ‘big brother’ remark to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Anwar said Hishammuddin’s subsequent comments defending his statement only showed the PN Cabinet’s lackadaisical understanding of diplomacy, strategy, regional politics and China itself.

“The Foreign Minister’s ‘elder brother’ comment on Friday may have set Malaysia’s China foreign policy back 25 years and undermined decades of hard work of seasoned Malaysian officers in Wisma Putra.

“It signals to the international community that Malaysia’s orientation as a neutral nation is changing under the PN government,” Anwar wrote in a statement posted on his Facebook page this morning.

This after Hishammuddin was reported to have told Wang that China and Malaysia are brothers and that China would always be Malaysia’s elder brother.

The remark was apparently made during Hishammuddin’s recent visit to China as part of the republic’s efforts to reach out to the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) in resolving the ongoing political crisis in Myanmar.

In his defence, Hishammuddin had said he used the ‘big brother’ term as a sign of respect towards Wang as an older and more senior counterpart and stressed that it was not a sign of weakness and submission of Malaysia towards China.

The PKR President today then trained his guns at Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when he said the latter’s lack of Parliamentary majority has become a fact known globally, and that being in such a weak position only opened Muhyiddin’s administration up to opportunities of corruption.

“Much of the world is aware that the PN government lacks a parliamentary majority. Our allies and adversaries alike, be they officials of state or corporations and businesses, may attempt to use PN’s weakness as an opportunity to extract benefits in their engagements with Malaysia.

“This could be done to the detriment of Malaysia’s diplomatic standing, her economy and the well-being of her people,” he said.

The Port Dickson MP further admonished Muhyiddin by pointing out that under the Westminster system, a prime minister who has lost the majority confidence is duty-bound to step down and resign.

“Instead we have a prime minister hiding behind the Emergency declaration and cutting deals left and right to cling to power.

“Given PN’s shaky position we are concerned that policy decisions are being made that would be beneficial to prolonging PN’s grip on power, potentially at the expense of our national interests, national security and sovereignty,” he added.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

In ‘Port Dickson Resolution’, Pakatan chooses Anwar to lead GE15 campaign, names Opposition leader as PM candidate again | Malay Mail

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks to members of the media at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya March 22, 2021. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon
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KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) has again named Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as its next prime minister candidate, and the leader of its 15th general election campaign.
In a statement today, the coalition said that the decision has been finalised in what it calls the ‘Port Dickson Resolution’.
The coalition also urged Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to immediately advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to reconvene Parliament, and in that, end the current state of Emergency.
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“Recognising that Pakatan Harapan is a dynamic, democratic and pragmatic political alliance that is ready to shoulder the great responsibility of restoring the country, therefore the resolution of the Pakatan Harapan leaders in Port Dickson on April 8 and April 9, 2021 decided that the chairman of Pakatan Harapan, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would lead the campaign for the 15th general election and onwards, nominated as the prime minister candidate.
“We urge the prime minister to immediately advise His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, to reconvene the Parliament sitting, and thus end the Emergency,” the resolution read.
The retreat in Port Dickson was attended by Anwar, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, as well as PH presidential council members, the parties’ Women and Youth wing leaders, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
The coalition resolved to continue the engagement process with parties to formulate its GE15 manifesto.
“We recognise the potential and importance of Sabah and Sarawak as engines of economic growth new in driving national development, with the guarantee of a more equitable distribution of resources, in line with the synergy of the development of Indonesia’s new capital in Kalimantan,” it said.
PH said that it is also taking an “open stance to consult and work with any party” based on its principles and the reform agenda, for the people.
It said that the coalition’s members would also be embarking on a series of tours to the states, to brief voters on PH’s stance and offer its views to resolve the current economic and health crises, which it asserted was brought about by “political betrayal”.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Anwar: So what if leaked conversation with Zahid were real? | Malay Mail
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks during the ‘Bicara Tokoh’ programme in Kajang April 10, 2021. ― Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks during the ‘Bicara Tokoh’ programme in Kajang April 10, 2021. ― Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri
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KAJANG, April 10 ― PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said there was no issue even if a recorded conversation allegedly between him and Umno’s Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi were genuine.

After being grilled by moderators of a forum organised by the National Professors Council, Anwar also said the audio clip was not a “big issue” compared to problems faced by the people.

“If it (the audio) is true... if it's true, (then) what's the problem? Is there treachery there? Is there corruption there? Is there a criminal offence? There isn't. “

“What's the matter with him? Distributing, spying on a recording, that's a mistake. Who did it so what if it's genuine?

“Secondly, is it true that this government, the minister of home affairs, the minister of communications is noisy (because of the leak)? Did they ever hear of other audio and video? A lot!

“Apparently, now the political capital is to spread Anwar-Zahid,” he said to answer a number of questions by Prof Datuk Mohamad Agus Yusoff who co-moderated the event.

Anwar also reminded the audience that Perikatan Nasional government was also linked with “audio leaks” purportedly of Prime Minister and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“Who hasn't heard the audio of Tan Sri Muhyiddin linking the name of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, linking to giving ministerial posts and GLCs to Umno?

“(Which) Means, Umno can be bought. So, sometimes if we look at some of the ministers who jumped (to comment on the audio leak) now, not because they want to take care of the Malay Umno members or the people who they supposedly represented. It was a matter of principle,” he said.

An audio recording of a phone conversation between two people with voices resembling that of Anwar and Zahid emerged on the Web this week.

The four-minute clip was first posted on Facebook and started with Zahid’s speech during the recent Umno general assembly, in which he said the party would not accept Anwar, DAP or Bersatu as allies.

It was followed by the phone conversation, with the speaker who sounded like Anwar praising the other for the speech.

Zahid has since expressed his shock and disappointment at the recording, calling it fake and an attempt to weaken and destroy Umno, while Anwar has also rejected the audio recording, similarly calling it fake and slanderous and the latest ploy by “some elements in the government leadership” to damage inter-party ties within the Opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition ahead of GE15.

Several audio clips emerged in May last year purportedly about a Bersatu meeting that occurred before Malaysia's political turmoil in February 2020.

The voice of a man who sounded like Muhyiddin was heard proposing in the meeting that allegedly took place on February 23, for Bersatu to join forces with Umno to form the largest political party in the country.

Though several sources admitted the meeting happened, Muhyiddin has yet to comment on the audio clips.

After the forum today, Mohamad Agus, who is also a political science lecturer from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said he “personally” thought the voices recorded were of Anwar and Zahid.

Although he said there is nothing wrong with the content, he admitted that the leak would also touch on the issue of privacy and security because it involves private phone conversation between two individuals.

“However, I think he (Anwar) should just come clean and admit if the voices are his,” he told the press after the event.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Pakatan says will write to Agong for restoration of Parliament, bids to rally universal support | Malay Mail
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks during the ‘Bicara Tokoh’ programme in Kajang April 10, 2021. ― Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks during the ‘Bicara Tokoh’ programme in Kajang April 10, 2021. ― Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri
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KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) announced that it was taking a “grand tent” approach to unite all the country and will write to the Yang diPertuan Agong for the resumption of Malaysia’s parliamentary democracy.

In a joint statement, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu said they will send a memorandum signed by all lawmakers who wanted Parliament to be restored.

“At the just concluded Pakatan Harapan Retreat in Port Dickson, the leadership is emboldened by the spirit of unity and commitment to reform.

“We will aggressively continue to champion the rakyat’s aspirations by adopting the ‘grand tent’ approach to unify all Malaysians from all strata of society, regardless of political affiliations to restore parliamentary democracy by ending the unlawful suspension of Parliament.

“For this purpose, a memorandum signed by all members of parliament supporting the reopening of Parliament will be personally sent to His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara to uphold His Majesty’s royal opinion that the Emergency does not prevent Parliament from meeting.

“We reiterate the need to engage and to cooperate with any parties, based on the principles and the ‘agenda reformasi for the benefit of the rakyat, without including kleptocrats,” the trio said.

On February 24, the Agong issued a decree saying Parliament could convene during the current Emergency and should do so soon.

Last month, Lim said de facto law minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hasan should abide by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s wishes and push for Parliament’s reopening under the Emergency instead of delaying it, adding that failure to do is tantamount to lèse-majesté, though Malaysian laws do not make disobeying the King an offence.

Lim also questioned the purpose of vaccinating all MPs and promoting the RM5 billion National Immunisation Programme, when MPs are prohibited from exercising their duties to legislate new laws and government oversight.

On March 4, Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Anwar also issued separate statements demanding the restoration of Parliament.

Both insisted that this must be done given that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has unequivocally decreed that the federal legislature can convene notwithstanding the current Emergency.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

The Zahid-Anwar phone controversy: Betrayal of the highest order or democracy at work? Three analysts weigh in | Malay Mail
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at Parliament in Kuala Lumpur November 12, 2018. — Picture by Azneal Ishak
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at Parliament in Kuala Lumpur November 12, 2018. — Picture by Azneal Ishak
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KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 — Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his PKR counterpart Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should relinquish their party positions to younger leaders who can rejuvenate Malaysian politics, two pundits said.

Kartini Aboo Talib @ Khalid from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Prof Dr Azmi Hassan from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) shared the same observation of discontent swelling within the ranks of Umno and PKR after a leaked audio conversation that though disputed, suggests Zahid and Anwar to be in a political conspiracy at odds with their disparate party ideologies.

According to Kartini, who is the deputy director of UKM’s Institute of Ethnic Studies, Zahid is under pressure from Umno grassroots to resign after a series of political manoeuvres that failed to return the Malay party to its eminent position before Election 2018.

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She said that to the Umno grassroots, the 68-year-old Zahid had made many gaffes since taking over from Datuk Seri Najib Razak as president. Among them, a rumoured secret meeting with Anwar for a possible Umno-PKR alliance seen as a unilateral move even prior to the controversial phone call. But above all is his 87 money laundering and corruption charges, which have cast a shadow over the entire party by association.

“All these would make Umno members voice ‘enough is enough’,” she told Malay Mail when contacted.

Though not holding senior positions in the party, several high-profile Umno members have intimated as much.

“Many leaders believe Umno will lose if the president leads us to GE15. Isn't it easier if the president steps down to save the party?” the party’s Simpang Renggam deputy division chief Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi was quoted as saying by Straits Times in an article last Wednesday.

Onn Hafiz, who is also a Johor state executive councillor and the great-grandson to Umno founder Datuk Sir Onn Jaafar, told the Singapore newspaper that “it is crucial for Umno... not to project the image that we have not learnt from the GE14 defeat in 2018”, alluding to the 1MDB scandal that dogged the party under Najib’s leadership.

Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin told the same newspaper in the April 13 article: “Many people in the party are very uncomfortable with the phone conversation purportedly between our party president and Anwar. I think Zahid's position is increasingly untenable”.

Umno loyalist Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has even suggested Zahid’s successor -- the incumbent deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who at 64 is only four years younger than his president.

“Zahid needs to step down immediately. Mohamad Hasan as the No. 2 can take over the leadership. If there are warlords who disagree, that is their problem,” Nazri, the Padang Rengas MP, was quoted as saying in the same article.

Umno’s internal party elections are scheduled to be held in June.

Kartini said Anwar is in similar straits as Zahid.

“PKR members have to wake up and also allow Anwar to rest for good. One of the original missions of PKR is to free Anwar. That mission is achieved.

“Anwar should act as an adviser to PKR as the party has many more talented and potential young leaders to lead the nation,” she said, adding that the 73-year-old should encourage the younger members to contest the top party positions.

UTM geostrategist Prof Azmi Hassan said that what grassroots members of both Umno and PKR find puzzling is that their presidents would allow themselves to be caught in such a compromising situation.

The leaked audio recording uploaded on Facebook last week purported a more than friendly exchange between Anwar and Zahid following Umno’s 75th annual general meeting held last month. Both men were known to have been friends long ago in Umno but became estranged following Anwar’s sacking from the party and the government and his corruption and first sodomy trial in the late 1990s.

Zahid has rejected the recording as fake and an attempt to weaken and destroy Umno. Anwar has similarly called it slanderous and the latest ploy by “some elements in the government leadership” to damage inter-party ties within the Opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition ahead of GE15. However, the Opposition leader has since adopted an ambivalent attitude, asking if it mattered if the tapped phone conversation were genuine.

“It is going to be very difficult for Zahid even though he has denied it, but it will be difficult to explain to the Umno grassroots what are the circumstances that this [alleged phone call] had risen from,” Azmi told Malay Mail.

“On the other hand, PKR grassroots members are weary of the Umno leadership, particularly of the supposed ‘kleptocrats’,” he said, adding: “I think that is the reason why they do not want to work with Umno.”

The UTM academic explained that while Umno is a Malay-based party, PKR has styled itself multiracial and reform-based.

“I think that is the main reason why PKR members are quite wary of what is going on with their top leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.

To Azmi, Umno grassroots, at worst, can still accept working with Bersatu but likely cannot imagine working with PKR as that would also mean teaming up with DAP.

But he does not rule out the possibility of an Umno-PKR tie-up for the elections. In fact, he said that should it ever come to pass, it could be very good for Malaysia politically.

“If they work together, based on GE14 results they can form a very stable government in terms of the number of majorities they will possess post GE15,” Azmi said.

Unlike Kartini and Azmi, analyst Oh Ei Sun held that the Anwar-Zahid phone controversy has helped shift Malaysia’s democratic conversations one notch up.

The senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs explained that Anwar and Zahid’s actions are part of the democratic process of building and forming political alliances.

“Anwar's reaction to this is sufficient, and Zahid should also have a similar emission and this is a legitimate means of democracy politics of forming a different coalition in order to form a new government,” Oh said.

He also doesn’t view Zahid’s position within Umno as untenable now.

“I don’t think this would actually hurt Zahid as long as he can deliver Umno out of this first-hand painful experience of being in a coalition with Bersatu.

“His position is also quite safe despite opposition from within his own party,” he said.

To Oh, Umno members had a very general view that they were bullied by splinter Bersatu and simply wanted to stop being seen as “playing second fiddle”.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Commentary: If true, leaked conversation between Anwar and Zahid reveal backroom dealing
Anwar Ibrahim and Zahid Hamidi do have history and there is political convergence of two of the nation’s prominent politicians, say two ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Malaysia experts.
Composite photo of Anwar Ibrahim and Zahid Hamidi. (Photos: AFP and Bernama)Bookmark
SINGAPORE: Ears, phones, and WhatsApp accounts are a-buzzing in Malaysia’s political circles, as players and insiders indulge in a vicarious listen on a phone conversation that two of the country’s leading politicians had.
The conversation, which is of mysterious provenance, was purportedly between Anwar Ibrahim, the leader of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, and Zahid Hamidi, the president of Malaysia’s erstwhile dominant party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).
The two men are, or should be, sworn opponents, as PH is in the opposition and UMNO is currently in government. Yet, the phone conversation between the two was punctuated by a chorus of chuckles and camaraderie.
READ: Commentary: UMNO's break with Bersatu could come at a high price for Malaysia

During the call, Anwar praised Zahid for his speech at the recently-held UMNO Annual General Meeting, where the latter rejected any form of collaboration with major parties, stating “no Bersatu, no Anwar, and no DAP”.
In turn, the UMNO supremo reassured Anwar, saying “don’t worry, that is only tactical, okay”, before going on to praise the opposition leader as his teacher.
CONVERGENCE OF INTERESTS
Despite belonging to different parties, the two men go back a long way. Of special significance is the fact that Zahid was the leader of UMNO Youth and a close associate of Anwar, who was Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO Deputy President in the late 1990s.
READ: Commentary: UMNO’s fear that Bersatu could destroy it does have some basis
Following Anwar’s fallout with then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1998, Zahid criticised the sitting administration for pervasive cronyism and rent-seeking.
This resulted in counter-attacks against the youth leader and a brief period in the political wilderness, after which Zahid was re-admitted to the party.
Both Anwar and Zahid have since denied that they were involved in the conversations, claiming that the audio was faked by their opponents. Regardless of its veracity, the political interests of Zahid and Anwar have increasingly converged in the past year.
Malaysia Politics
At present, PH does not have the numbers in parliament to topple Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. From Anwar’s perspective, further discussions with Mahathir Mohamad are a non-starter, as the opposition veteran fears being denied the prime ministership by the senior politician for a third time.
This, then, leads to a quest for new and unexpected bedfellows. UMNO, with its 38 parliamentary seats would – in theory – help PH to cross the finish line.
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As for Zahid, he has his own problems – and political calculations. He is currently facing a raft of charges for corruption, money laundering, and criminal breach of trust. The prosecution for the first case has rested, and it is widely anticipated that he will need to enter a defence.
READ: Commentary: UMNO president Zahid Hamidi’s many headaches

While a substantive conviction would not necessarily result in immediate incarceration, it would mean the end of Zahid’s party presidency and parliamentary seat – as well as the influence that these positions provide.
Thus, the party leader has an interest in proceeding to elections post-haste, and then negotiating a dominant role for UMNO in the next governing coalition.
REACTIONS WERE RAPID AND REVEALING
The reality is that an alliance of some sort between UMNO and PKR is not out of the question. It is very likely that the next general election will not yield a clear winner, particularly if there are three-cornered contests between Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional, PH, and UMNO and its few remaining allies.
Thus, the eventual ruling coalition may consist of previously sworn enemies. However, it is one thing to broker a pact after the elections, and quite another to collude clandestinely while negotiations have been openly rejected.
READ: Commentary: Always almost there - will Anwar Ibrahim ever become Prime Minister of Malaysia?
The National Palace is seen in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 25, 2020. (Photo: AP/Vincent Thian)
The reactions to the recording were rapid and revealing. UMNO leaders such as Khairy Jamaluddin and Annuar Musa called for Zahid to step down should the audio file prove to be genuine.
READ: Commentary: Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link alignment is anything but settled
And, Hadi Awang, the President of Party Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), stated that his party would not work with UMNO if it seeks to ally with Anwar and PKR.
UMNO is slated to hold party elections by mid-year, and the calls for the internal polls to proceed as planned have increased in number and intensity. Beyond Khairy as a possible presidential contender, the profile of UMNO deputy president Mohamad Hasan has been boosted in the past days.
While it is theoretically possible for the elections to be postponed by up 18 months, Mohamad Hasan has stated that they will be held in August – unless national elections are called before then.
For their part, a coterie of Anwar’s former party members currently in government has stated that the phone call was a betrayal of his party, PKR, and Pakatan Harapan. PH has since declared that Anwar is the coalition’s candidate for prime minister.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Commentary: Even if PM Muhyiddin steps down, few good options for Malaysia’s top role
Malaysian political parties are each making secret moves behind the scene leading up to Aug 1 when the state of emergency ends, says James Chin.

Composite picture of Anwar Ibrahim, Muhyiddin Yassin and Zahid Hamidi. (Photo: Agencies)
Composite picture of Anwar Ibrahim, Muhyiddin Yassin and Zahid Hamidi. (Photo: Agencies)
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HOBART: After tremendous pressure was applied by the Agong and the general public, the two houses of the Malaysian Parliament will now sit before 1 Aug.

Initially, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s government had announced that Parliament will only sit in September, more than two months away, to give the government a chance to catch up on the vaccination programme and, perhaps more importantly, give Muhyiddin time to crunch the numbers to stay in power.

Other than Muhyiddin and his allies, everyone wants Parliament to sit as soon as possible and for the emergency to be lifted as planned on Aug 1.

Malaysians have been incredibly unhappy with the performance of the government towards mitigating COVID-19, the vaccination rollout and shutdown of the economy. Many are waving the white flag in a #BenderaPutih movement to seek help.

For Muhyiddin, there is the added pressure of UMNO, the most powerful party in the ruling coalition, wanting to pull out of the government to force a general election.

People are saying the political pressure became so overwhelming, it led Muhyiddin to check himself into a hospital on Jun 30.

READ: Commentary: Will Malaysian king take PM Muhyiddin’s government to task for huge COVID-19 mess?
THE AWKWARD RELATIONS BETWEEN UMNO AND BERSATU

So what is actually happening in Kuala Lumpur? Are we seeing the last legs of the Muhyiddin administration?

Like most things in Malaysian politics, opacity is the name of the game. All the key players are keeping their cards hidden but making secret moves to position themselves.

Let’s start with UMNO, the most important party in the current government. UMNO is now basically split into two blocs.

The first consists of Zahid Hamidi and Najib Razak, the current UMNO president and his predecessor. They want to pull out of the government and force a general election, unless Muhyiddin agrees to intervene in the corruption cases against UMNO leaders and give UMNO more powers in the government.

Malaysia's opposition leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (L) was a close ally of Najib Razak (R), who
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was a close ally of Najib Razak, who suffered a shock election defeat in 2018 over allegations he oversaw the plundering of billions of dollars from a state fund (Photo: AFP/MOHD RASFAN)
This will probably mean more UMNO ministers including an UMNO member appointed to the deputy prime minister’s position, a position scrapped by Muhyiddin in favour of four “senior ministers”.

The second bloc in UMNO consists of those who want to stay in government but replace Zahid with a new leader such as Hishammuddin Hussein, the current foreign minister. This group thinks a corruption trial against Najib, Zahid and others will force them into political oblivion and thus allow a new, stronger UMNO to emerge.

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They do not really want an early general election for fear that the voters will punish them for all the “monkey business” during the current emergency – including concerns over the high price of Malaysia’s vaccination programme and motivations behind the government’s agreement with China to produce Chinese-made vaccines locally.

One interesting thing about the second bloc is that they are not totally against working with the opposition, especially Anwar Ibrahim’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Amanah, in creating some form of “unity government” for the duration of the pandemic. But they have reservations working with the Democratic Action Party (DAP).

Muhyiddin’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, meanwhile, is caught in the middle. Bersatu’s primary interest is to hold on to the prime ministership - the source of all power in Malaysian politics.

READ: Commentary: Little wonder why Malaysians are angry over celebrity Neelofa’s repeated COVID-19 breaches
This requires cutting deals left and right, taking in defectors from other parties and making sure he can hold on UMNO’s second faction and ensure they will stop Zahid and Najib from destroying his government.

The big problem here is that both UMNO factions think, sooner or later, Bersatu will have to give up the prime ministership to UMNO, or the best-case scenario, Bersatu merges with UMNO before the next general election.

This may sound ludicrous but it is useful to remember that all of Bersatu’s top leaders were once UMNO leaders and UMNO and Bersatu have no ideological differences.

THE OPPOSITION DOES ITS CALCULATIONS

On the opposition side, the two big players are PKR and DAP, both part of Pakatan Harapan (PH). Anwar is still on his quest to be prime minister and in fact, late last year collected a dozen declarations from sitting UMNO MPs supporting him for the top role.

While Anwar is the official PH candidate to be prime minister, outside PKR, there is a growing sentiment among younger Malays he ought to simply retire and hand PKR over to a younger generation. Potential next generation leaders include Nurul Izzah, Rafizi Ramli and Shamsul Iskandar.

Many are angry Anwar’s highly publicised three previous attempts over the past four years to be PM turned out to be non-events and damaged the party’s political credibility.

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)
DAP, the largest bloc in parliament, is in an even more politically difficult position.

As the main Chinese-based party in the country, it desperately wants to be in government to represent minority races and more importantly, to promote multi-racialism. Its greatest fear is that Anwar will come to deal with UMNO and abandon or marginalised DAP in a “unity government”.

I wouldn’t be surprised if DAP opens a backdoor channel to UMNO.

DAP will be hoping to convince UMNO that DAP will be better “inside than outside” any new government given that Chinese voters are throwing their lot behind the DAP and leaving out the Chinese in any unity government can create instability for the ruling coalition.

READ: Commentary: Political infighting hampers Malaysia’s COVID-19 response
SMALL PLAYERS

The two minor players here are Mahathir and PAS, the Islamic party. Mahathir is still sulking after losing the prime ministership to Muhyiddin. His Pejuang party could be registered soon. Mahathir is hoping that if the key players cannot agree on anything other than kicking out Muhyiddin, they will turn to him again.

But this is very unlikely as the Malay ground has become cynical over his legacy. The consensus is if he had not resigned in February 2020, all the mess we are seeing in Malaysia today would not have happened. Mahathir is thus lying low for the present moment.

PAS is in a rut as well. Hadi Awang, PAS’s ultra conservative leader, is sick most of the time and most of its ministers in the government have come under criticism in the social media for “double speak”.

UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PAS President Hadi Awang hold hands during Ummah Unity Gather
United Malays National Organization (UMNO) President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party President Hadi Awang hold hands during Ummah Unity Gathering in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, September 14, 2019. (Photo: REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng)
Officially PAS has said it is behind Muhyiddin but in private, it is willing to work with UMNO as long as the next government does not include DAP.

FOUR SCENARIOS

There are four scenarios on which parties could form the government going forward.

First, Muhyiddin could be cast out while a new government comprising of UMNO and PKR (with or without DAP), Amanah as well as the Sabah and Sarawak parties is formed.

Second, Bersatu together with the second UMNO faction, PKR (without DAP), PAS, Amanah and the Sabah and Sarawak parties. Muhyiddin stays on temporarily as a face-saving measure until the general elections.

Third, Bersatu, the second UMNO faction, together with PAS, the Sabah and Sarawak parties along with defectors from other parties. Muhyiddin stays but the government is paralysed.

Fourth, UMNO’s Zahid/Najib faction gets what it wants and the Bersatu administration stays intact. UMNO then becomes the most powerful force in government.

 

[Loofydralb]

That is why Malaysians must never trust Anwar as PM.
His desire to be PM overshadows everything including throwing away any principles.
The Sultans and retired politicians know him very well that is why they rejected him and will reject him again.

 

[winners]

Muhyiddin already scared until laosai and had to be admitted to hospital. No need to say. whatever the outcome, UMNO will return to power. It will be helm by a new PM to dispel any fears of their corrupted image. Najib will then be given a light sentence, probably a heavy fine but no jail term and within 5 years when the dust would have settled down, he will then yearn to make a comeback.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Anwar says it’s okay if he never gets to become PM | Malay Mail
In an interview with Australia’s ABC Radio morning segment RN Breakfast with Fran Kelly broadcasted today, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he is only doing his job as an Opposition leader and had thanked God for it. — Bernama pic
In an interview with Australia’s ABC Radio morning segment RN Breakfast with Fran Kelly broadcasted today, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he is only doing his job as an Opposition leader and had thanked God for it. — Bernama pic
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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he had accepted the possibility of never becoming the country’s prime minister especially after he questioned in Parliament the Pandora Papers leak, which implicated several of Malaysia’s elites and leaders.

In an interview with Australia’s ABC Radio morning segment RN Breakfast with Fran Kelly broadcasted today, Anwar said he is only doing his job as an Opposition leader and had thanked God for it.

“Well, when you’re taking up the Pandora Papers issue would only make it more challenging to achieve that (PM position).

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“The whole power apparatus, political elites, conglomerates and apparatchiks in the media will gun for you. So I don’t worry about that.

“I just do my tasks, que será será. If I continue to be the opposition leader, so be it. If (I become) prime minister, I will say thank God Almighty,” he said in the interview.

Anwar raised the Pandora Papers lead in Parliament this week, calling for a motion to discuss the matter but was rejected by Dewan Rakyat speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun.

However, the PKR president said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob met him yesterday to discuss the matter of the expose which touched on former and current finance ministers such as Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Tun Daim Zainuddin and Datuk Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

He said Ismail had asked him what could be done on the matter for which he said an investigation must be carried out as it involved politicians who held public office.

“I said he (Ismail) must conduct a full investigation. The issue is not new. In 2012, I raised the global financial integrity report which also involved hundreds of billions of ringgit (offshore). Then, in 2015, when I was in prison there was the Panama Papers.

“The anti-corruption commission (MACC) can’t say it’s something new. They must conduct a full-scale investigation,” he said.

The host also asked Anwar’s opinion on the security partnership involving Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, known as AUKUS and Australia’s plan to build nuclear submarines and what it meant to South-east Asia.

The former deputy prime minister said Malaysia’s stand is always to stand neutral and encourage a free and neutral zone in South-east Asia as it did not want to be a battleground for superpowers such as America and China.

He also added that Australia should explain to South-east Asian countries why they feel they need to protect themselves with nuclear submarines.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Anwar will definitely loose as an MP....
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asi...war-ibrahim-perak-tambun-port-dickson-3017751

 

[red amoeba]

What a dumb move. He never see how Heng nearly had his underwear stripped when he walked away from tampines ? Is it the result of too much ass poking that cloud his intelligence ?

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Anwar keeps shooting himself in the foot....n if he really wants to get rid of traitors..get rid of Azmin...

https://www.malaymail.com/news/mala...eves-political-miracle-possible-in-ge15/35042

 

[syed putra]

Dr m did not choose anwar as deputy be cuse of his brilliance, that is for sure. More because he poses less threat to dr m than other choices.

 

[winners]

Don't waste time lah. UMNO will surely return to power at GE15. Period.

 

[syed putra]

Don't waste time lah. UMNO will surely return to power at GE15. Period.

Looks very much like it.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Don't waste time lah. UMNO will surely return to power at GE15. Period.

That is good news indeed...the kleptocrats....in charge will fuck up the country even more. The more fuck up mudland becomes the better it is for singkies land