IN SHOCK TURN OF EVENTS - NAJIB'S SUPPORTERS IN & OUTSIDE OF UMNO CALL FOR 'ALLIANCE' WITH MUHYIDDIN & PN - ALL EYES ON ZAHID, WHAT IS HIS LAST CARD AS ANWAR'S UNDERPERFORMANCE BECOMES TOO GLARING - AND UMNO TIDE STARTS TURNING TOWARDS PN-PAS

Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!

KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin's extending an olive branch to his disgraced ex-boss Najib Razak has added fire to the ongoing speculation of a new super unity government and the replacement of the ineffective Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.

"Of course, the ground is moving. A new kingmaker is coming onto the scene and his son has already fired the warning salvos," a political watcher told Politics Now! 

"But there has always been talk because this is one of the ways to depose Anwar and his regime. There are actually many Plan Bs. That's part and parcel of politics. But at the end of the day, it always depends on Anwar's own performance. If he was up to mark, how could anyone challenge him when he already has two-thirds majority in Parliament."

"It's only when his performance is so below par and his allies in the ruling coalition start to get alarmed, they decide to dump him first incase they lose their own supporters in the next general election. It's the classic case of take out the cancer before the cancer takes you!"

SWIFT & BOLD CALLS FOR ALLIANCE WITH MUHYIDDIN & PN

Najib, who has since been sentenced to a 12-year jail sentence for corruption and abuse of power, had sacked Muhyiddin in 2015 as his then deputy prime minister as well as deputy Umno president, for pushing for investigations into the infamous 1MDB money laundering and grand larceny debacle.

Hence, tongues were immediately set wagging when Muhyiddin, who has been cold towards Najib since his sacking, suddenly extended 'get well wishes' on Friday after Najib was hospitalized for Covid-19 earlier in the week.

All the more so, when followers of Najib from an NGO loyal to him and within Umno itself swiftly welcomed Muhyiddin's gesture and boldly called for an alliance with Muhyiddin, who heads the PN opposition coalition.

SPOTLIGHT ON ZAHID - WILL HE REALIGN UMNO WITH PN

Zahid Hamidi the Umno president

This has cast the spotlight on Umno president Zahid Hamidi, who is one of Anwar's strongest backers. Is he too mulling the possibility of realigning with Muhyiddin and PN, which includes the powerful Pas party? 

What about Najib's children, three of whom hold influential posts in Umno and obviously  will support political moves that can free their father. 

But the key figure in Umno is Zahid. If he too is open to an alliance with Muhyiddin, then the future is even more ominous than Anwar and his much-criticized PKR party have let on.

Already allies like Sarawak's GPS have shown their distaste for Anwar's leadership which appears to focus on his own importance, with cultism and sycophancy marking his administration. 

In particular, GPS is upset over several key issues undertaken by Anwar, apparently without consulting them, that appear aimed to play to Malay sentiment rather than to take the nation forward. 

Anwar's underwhelming performance as Finance Minister, a portfolio he gave himself, is another sore point - with local currency crashing to historic rows as investors fled, unconvinced by a lacklustre spending and development blueprint unveiled in the Budget for 2024.

WEAK & UNDERWHELMING PERFORMANCE FROM ANWAR

Hishammuddin Hussein Onn new PM?

Amidst such tangible weaknesses, the 'war drums' have been sounding for quite a while now, albeit very quietly so as to avoid more clampdowns from Anwar's increasingly ham-fisted aides, 

"The country’s strength hinges on their collaboration (Najib and Muhyiddin)," said Syed Muhammad Imran, who heads the Malaysia National Unity Organisation and Umno Kampung Melayu Batu Caves South Branch.

Syed Imran also warned of a "steeper climb in essentials’ prices with diesel subsidy rollbacks and an eight per cent hike in the service tax (SST)."

"We wait the upcoming general election, but we must seize the momentum.To the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), I believe that we will unite with the PN. Let's move forward; don't wait any longer," 

"Remember, hold fast to the rope of Allah, don't be divided. InshaAllah, Muhyiddin and Najib will unite this time." he was reported as saying by Sinar Daily.

NEW KING THE NEW KING MAKER?

Anwar, incoming new King Sultan Ibrahim, Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail

A new 'super unity government' plan has been making the rounds in Malaysia's hyperactive political scene. 

It envisages a realignment of parties - with Umno reuniting with PN, PAS, GPS and Sabah's GRS to form a federal government, much the same as before Anwar got the nod from the King after the 2022 general election to form the current government with Umno, his own Pakatan Rakyat coalition, GPS and GRS.

The key differences in the new plan is that a new PM - most likely Umno's Hishammuddin Hussein - will take charge while the DAP, which is Anwar's staunchest ally in their Pakatan coalition, might also join the super unity government - which is also rumored will have the endorsement of the incoming new King, the Sultan of Johor.

According to the crown prince of Johor Tunku Ismail, his father wants to "restore order" and predicts "interesting times" ahead. Sultan Ibrahim is set to replace the Pahang's Sultan Abdullah as the country's 'Agong" on Jan 31, 2024.

Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!

Politics Now!