Najib to also get DNAA on top of house arrest? Anwar pushes GE16 to "far away", stronger ties with Umno first
KUALA LUMPUR (politicsnowmy.blogspot.com) - It looks like Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is feeling good about himself - perhaps having sealed if not a deal, then some sort of assurance, that he will be able to stay on as prime minister for another term.
Over the weekend, the 77-year-old Anwar called himself 'Father of the Nation' - a narcissistic self-tribute and aggrandizement that usually only less secure humans or more dictatorial politicians make.
Yet coming right after a hail of criticisms for rushing to accept an 'apology' from disgraced and jailed ex-premier Najib Razak, it may expose Anwar to greater mockery and attacks that he was indeed about to green light 'house arrest' for Najib, whose faction in the Umno party wields the political sway Anwar needs to stay in power.
More shockingly, Anwar suggested there were others who stole more money than Najib, whose 'unreserved apology" was actually a non-apology as he stopped short of admitting guilt, only distancing himself from blame.
"I am the prime minister, I am the father of the nation," Anwar was reported as saying during a speech over the weekend, where he also confirmed that his PKR party would pursue greater ties with Najib's Umno and BN coalition.
"When (they) attack, they are only attacking one person. It's not fair to attack (only) one person. The ones who attack have robbed more than that," added Anwar, without naming who "the ones" could be.
HOUSE DETENTION A SURE THING? BUT NO 1MDB TRIAL AS WELL?
While Anwar may have just dug another hole to bury himself in, whatever the public reaction is won't stop him from releasing Najib from the spartan Kajang prison into house arrest or detention at one of the corrupt ex-leader's luxurious homes - if that's what it will take for Anwar to stay on as PM, say pundits.
Already many political watchers are concerned the whitewashing of Najib's many corruption crimes and political rehabilitation may come as early as this week. The High Court is due to announce on Wednesday its decision on a much bigger case related to the world-wide 1MDB corruption debacle, where Najib has been charged for money laundering and corruption. It may either acquit Najib or ask for his defense over 25 charges related to 1MDB’s stolen RM2.27 billion funds.
"Anwar's sharp loss in credibility since taking power in 2022 has been stunning. One of the key reasons is of course his government releasing Zahid Hamidi from all 47 corruption charges via a DNAA (dismissal or discharge without amounting to an acquittal). And now history may repeat itself with Najib," a pundit told PoliticsNow Malaysia.
"As it is, house arrest already looks a sure thing for Najib. But who knows, maybe Najib won't even be required to enter his defense for the 1MDB trial this week. And this will be the greatest joke and harm the country's reputation immensely. However those who are desperate will clutch at straws - even if their actions and decisions also make them corrupt in the process and turn their country into a laughing stock. But what do they care so long as they stay in power."
GE16 "FAR AWAY" AS ANWAR SEEKS TO "STRENGTHEN" TIES WITH UMNO
Should that happen, the backlash for Anwar will be crippling not only for his PKR party but also his Pakatan Harapan coalition. It is not surprising that Anwar is seeking further shelter behind Umno and not looking at any snap general elections before his term officially expires in 2027.
“This is the direction that the party has agreed on. We feel that our (PKR) relationship with Umno and BN in the peninsula should be strengthened,” the Star reported Anwar as saying.
"(As such) the PKR party elections must not be delayed because the general election is still far away.”
Zahid Hamidi, whom the pundit referred to is the Deputy Prime Minister and also the current Umno president. Both Zahid and Najib, who was the previous Umno president, are long-standing allies of Anwar, who was once the Umno deputy president before he was sacked by the legendary ex-premier Mahathir Mohamad and jailed for sodomy and abuse of power in the late 1990s.
Political support from both the Zahid and Najib factions are vital for Anwar, with Umno split down the line over Zahid's landmark decision to ally the party with Anwar and his Pakatan coalition in 2022 to form the current unity government under a deal brokered by the previous King, who hails from Najib's home state of Pahang.
The King has already already halved Najib's 12-year jail sentence for corruption in the 1MDB-linked SRC case to six years and reduced the RM210 million fine to RM50 million. Najib's supporters claim the King had also decreed Najib, who is due to be freed in 2028, be allowed to spend the remainder of his jail term under house detention.
Written by Wong Choon Mei, PoliticsNow Malaysia
https://politicsnowmy.blogspot.com/
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