BOMBSHELL - 'KING' ZAHID NOW WANTS TO BE HOME MINISTER AGAIN - BUT WILL 'QUEEN' ANWAR GIVE HIM THE PRIZED PORTFOLIO? - ZAHID & ANWAR SEEN STRIKING WHILE NON-MALAYS' FEAR OF PAS STILL STRONG - BUT MODERATE & URBAN MALAYS MIGHT TEACH DUO A LESSON THEY WON'T FORGET
Not only did Zahid, who is also the Umno president, confirm a Cabinet reshuffle was likely to happen soon to appoint a new domestic trade minister, he pointedly revealed that he too had come across 'rumors' that he might be appointed the new Home Minister.
“I also saw such a poster, but the Prime Minister has not told me yet. Actually, I am prepared to serve any ministry, the important thing is that the Cabinet reaches a consensus," Zahid was reported as saying by government mouthpiece Bernama.
“Even though I am holding the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, I am at the same time heading several Cabinet level committees and task forces which involved various ministry and I am bearing such responsibilities in the interest of the existing unity government.”
'KING' ZAHID - BUT WILL ANWAR PLAY HIS 'QUEEN'?
The Home Minister post is currently held by Saifuddin Nasution from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's PKR party, who has been accused of political naivete and incompetence on the job.
Zahid, the Bagan Datuk MP, is now DPM as well Rural minister. He was both DPM and Home Minister during the kleptocracy run by ex-prime minister Najib Razak.
A polished politician, Zahid must know that if Anwar agreed to let him be both DPM and Home Minister, the public outrage and scandal might be massive enough to sink their already unpopular unity government.
Yet there are pundits who think Zahid is bold enough to 'shoot first' and clean up the mess later.
"Maybe in his calculations, Zahid thinks building a war chest is far more important anything else now," a long-time political commentator told Politics Now!
"The voters who will punish the unity government if Anwar surrenders again to Zahid's demand will be the ones who support Pakatan Harapan especially DAP. I don't think Anwar himself or PKR or Amanah will really bother much. Putrajaya has gone back to the days where ethics is hijacked by the craze to stay in power, while Umno will only be too happy for Zahid to regain his golden goose and distribute some largesse to them."
GAMBLING ON NON-MALAYS' FEAR OF PAS
Another factor that might embolden Anwar to pass to Zahid the powerful Home Ministry post might be the gamble that non-Malay voters don't dare to withdraw their support yet.
"If it happens, it shows how arrogant team Anwar has become. They no longer bother about their own support base because they think the Chinese and Indians still fear PAS much more than they fear the country going bankrupt because of corruption," another pundit told Politics Now!
He was referring to the Islamic-based PAS party that powers the PN opposition coalition.
Indeed, PAS' perceived extremist and Malay racial supremacy stances have actually been boons to Anwar and Zahid, assuring the duo and their parties of continuous non-Malay support.
TAKING MALAY FENCE-SITTERS FOR GRANTED
But as the pundit said, the duo's miscalculation may lie in taking moderate and urban Malays for granted.
"Don't be surprised Malay fence-sitters might be the ones to revolt, even if the non-Malays are still too frightened of PAS," he elaborated.
"Many Malays are also not happy with Zahid's discharge and the prospect of a return to a corruption-riddled government might be the last straw. So why not give the PAS green wave a try, Actually, all it takes is another small swing of Malay votes and Anwar and Zahid are finished!"
Meanwhile, Zahid also revealed he will soon visit all 191 Umno divisions nationwide. Calls have rung out within the party for his resignation but he is unfazed. As such, the tour might be to an attempt to improve his popularity with the Umno grassroots, who are angry at his decision to ally their party with the weak Anwar and the non-Malays-dominated DAP.
“It is important that they (Umno members) themselves come and listen to explanations from me and the team who explain the political aspects, legal aspects and some other issues, because we know that communication through a non-verbal approach is very, very important, more importantly if there is a personal touch through oral communication by the top leaders of the organisation,” said Zahid,
Politics Now!
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