Snap election is a long planned Mahathir option
Another Brick in the Wall
It was Wednesday, May 15 2018.
Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim was pardonend by Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V and released from prison.
After an audience with Agong in the day time, he attended a political rally at Padang Timor Petaling Jaya at night. An estimated 10,000 attended but it is not his usual number of audience.
It was a rush job and furthermore, the next day Muslims was to begin fasting for Ramadhan. Malays tend to refrain from politics during the holy month.
There was nothing significant in the speech. The usual pleasantaries and complimentaries, including an odd one for Tun Dr Mahathir.
Almost all the winning Pakatan Harapan leaders were there, except Mahathir. In place is Tan Sri Muhyiddin as token representation from PPBM. More so, they have been friends since student days at University of Malaya.
At that same moment, Mahathir was elsewhere …
Hurdled at his home, he was in discussion with Tun Daim and five other worried faces, including one of his loyal media officer. Over the years since the late 90s reformasi movement, all had prominent roles.
As Mahathir listened, each vented out their their thoughts and view on the prospect of a freed Anwar. They anticipated he will soon get one PKR MP to vacate an easy seat for him to run for and win as MP seat.
Two years is not a long time and it will pass off quickly. Before long, it is his turn to takeover as Prime Minister.
Though Dato Saifuddin Abdullah acknowledged no specific schedule was mentioned for the transition as it will be agreed between Mahathir and Anwar, two years was the period agreed by Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council for him to carryout the promises to “Selamatkan Malaysia” so the claim.
Anwar had never been modest of his lifelong ambition to be Prime Minister. To any mortals, one prison sentence would have end their career.
But not Anwar.
The bigger worry for Mahathir and those present at the discussion at his hime is that his premiership this time is not backed by two third majority, but only 13 seats in Parliament.
His position is dependent on the substantially more seats held by DAP and PKR.
If he get all BN MPs to jump to PPBM, he could get more than each of them, but the numbers is not enough and it is not politically feasible. Mahathir’s list of those he do not want to be associated with is a hindrance itself.
More so, former BN Sarawak formed their own coalition GBS and are not with him.
So do some of the former BN Sabah MPs that formed part of Gabungan Sabah with Jeffrey Kitingan and seemed more as a platform for Christian political interest in Sabah.
Count them out.
If Mahathir could get people to jump over to PPBM side, Anwar could do the same.
He seemed unstoppable and destined for PM#8. Already holding the world’s longest PM-in-waiting, Anwar have no intention to get by-passed at the finishing line again.
Not only he is trying hard to be patience, so do his foreign backer.
After going around the room to allow each to express their opinion, except perhaps the media officer, only will Mahathir speak. What he heard were worried voices and frustration expressed from the decades of fighting Anwar than suggestion or strategy.
However, no mention of any blame towards Mahathir for being in bed with the devil. It would have been expressed had he still remain an ex-PM, but he is not back as PM.
One of those present had once openly acknowledged himself as an UMNO man and has no issue with Najib flicking few millions here and there to finance politics.
In the days of reformasi, he had a prominent role. So he stood by Mahathir out of his feudal blind loyalty to the son of a Kerala born immigrant. In his heart, there could be a sense of regret to what has happened, but not expressed.
Mahathir listen attentively to their grouses and when all had their say, he acknowledged their concern, rambled few comments, and at the end, he murmered, “Susah-susah bubaq saja …(If it gets difficult, call for a snap election).
The possibility of a snap election was the buzz for quite a while.
