BOMBSHELL - FIRST MEASURE OF MALAY GROUND SINCE ZAHID'S DNAA - BUT ANWAR TELLS THE OPPOSITION 'YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS!' - OBLIVIOUS OF SHIFTING MALAY SENTIMENT OR ON THE DEFENSIVE BECAUSE OF IT, ANWAR RESORTS TO TEARJERKER, PETTY POLITICS - PERHAPS TO DEFECT QUESTIONS

KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - Embattled Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pulled a 'tearjerker' while on the stump in the Pelangai by-election. Whether out of ideas or talking points or political capital, Anwar raised eyebrows by accusing his rivals of "jealousy".

"Why must they break us up, it is because they are jealous, and how long has it been, (in this country) we haven't had that kind of strength, so there are efforts to break this coalition," Anwar was reported as saying in the NST.

BUT WHO SHOULD BE JEALOUS OF WHO - ANWAR ENVIOUS OF PAS' UNQUESTIONED SWAY OVER MALAYS?

However, it is the unity government that he leads that has just lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament - while it is the opposition that is now holding unprecedented sway over Malay voters, the largest bloc of voters in the multiracial country.

Accusations of power abuse, using enforcement agencies to hound political rivals and critics, clamping down of free speech, the media and blogs that dare to question his ability and U-turning on election promises, ring out daily against Anwar and his regime. Indeed, they have earned themselves the reputation of being the latest ham-fisted regime to control Malaysia.

With such a negative groundswell springing up so fast, it is no wonder the Pelangai by-election is seen as a crucial test for Anwar personally - even though the seat was held by Umno before it fell vacant and is due to be contested by an Umno candidate on October 7.

FIRST MEASURE OF MALAY GROUND SINCE ZAHID'S DNAA

According to some pundits, the Pelangai polls is the first measure of the sentiment on the all-powerful Malay ground since Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi's shock discharge from an unprecedented string of corruption charges. 

Anwar has denied involvement in the decision, pointing the finger directly at outgoing Attorney General Idrus Harun - but few people in the country believe him.

"The denial was so ridiculous it has lost Anwar even more credibility than before. Who can believe such a thing?' a political observer told Politics Now!

"Whatever it is, Malay fence-sitters are now likely to think twice about Anwar and his unity government - what do they stand for, what can they do for the country? There are now more bets that Malays will favour PAS in Pelangai. Whenever there is crisis or doubt, the tendency is to run to religion for protection and wisdom and to Malays, PAS fits that bill - even though it has so many flaws and skeletons in its cupboard too."

PN-BN TIE-UP NOW LESS LIKELY?

Nonetheless, there are others who disagree and see Pelangai as just another poll.

"Pelangai is an Umno battle. Its impact will be on Zahid and Umno, not so much on Anwar and Pakatan Harapan," Tian Chua, the former MP for Batu told Politics Now!

"Even if PAS won the seat, it might boost PAS' morale but it won't affect the federal power formula. It will also make the PN-BN cooperation more unlikely."

He was referring to the opposition coalition PN, which is made up of PAS and Bersatu parties. Anwar's unity government comprises 4 main coalitions - Pakatan Harapan, Umno-BN, GPS and GRS.

Of late, there have been exchanges between PAS and Umno with each side mocking and challenging the other to tie up for the sake of unifying the Muslims in the country. But few expect any concrete results, with vociferous leaders from each side rushing to take pot-shots at each other for the sake of 'glamour' - or publicity for themselves!

OBLIVIOUS OR DEFENSIVE?

Meanwhile, Anwar continued the 'self-praise' - either oblivious to the shifting sentiment of the Malay ground or on the defensive because of it.

"Looking at the large turnout today, I am confident that BN can win easily, the state and federal governments are together, the Pahang government has also taken good care of the state, so we should one vote to the BN candidate which is a vote of confidence in Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy's leadership in Pahang," Anwar said.

"But the important thing is that this Unity Government is stable, for what? for us to raise the economy, for what? to bring foreign investment in, for what? for us to defend the fate of the people, even investors have confidence in the Unity Government, so don't destroy or damage it. If you want to create trouble, wait four more year."

But will the voters of Pelangai heed Anwar!

 

Politics Now!