AS the Melaka state election looms over the horizon, we have Perikatan Nasional (Perikatan), Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan attempting their best to entice voters into casting the ballot for them.
If we disregard Pakatan for the time being, one can see a strange situation where we have allies from the ruling coalition clawing at one another to exert dominance.
In general terms, UMNO, the head honcho party of BN, has made it clear that it’s support for Perikatan is temporary and they will go solo in the next general election.
Despite numerous attempts by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to get UMNO to back the Perikatan coalition, UMNO had rejected it outright.
Even the Islamist party, PAS, had failed to entice UMNO to work with Bersatu, under the guise of Malay-Muslim solidarity.
But if one really looks at the clash between Bersatu and UMNO closely, it seems that Melaka has become a battleground between two former prime ministers, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
It is not a secret that Muhyiddin has carried much animosity against Najib for years now. For those who may have forgotten history, Najib booted Muhyiddin out as both deputy prime minister and UMNO deputy president in 2015 for raising questions about the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
Although some have alleged that Muhyiddin was conspiring with another former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to topple Najib back then, in any case, the Pagoh MP was definitely bitter about it.
So miffed Muhyiddin was with Najib that he conspired against his own ally, Pakatan and dislodged the latter’s administration last year to secure the premiership, and weirdly enough, by cooperating with UMNO!
And one can only imagine Muhyiddin’s fury after getting toppled by UMNO again, by the Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi-Najib combo middle of this year.
In a nutshell, to say Muhyiddin has an axe to grind against Najib and Zahid is an understatement!
As for Najib, the Melaka polls is a litmus test on whether his new avatar as Bossku could revive not only BN’s fortunes but also of his own.
And if Najib’s image is proven to carry a sway among the electorate, he may become emboldened to exert his influence over UMNO in days to come, somewhat similar to his mentor-turned nemesis, Mahathir.
As for the polls, If BN wins handsomely in Melaka, this will definitely strengthen the influence of the Zahid-Najib combo in UMNO and revive the old guards’ fortunes within the nationalist party.
PAS beware!
With that, the duo may make it their life mission to dismantle Perikatan from limb to limb, starting with Bersatu which they view as a treacherous party as most of their members were from UMNO.
And UMNO cannot be faulted if they exert punishment on PAS too, their partner under the Muafakat Nasional charter, for backing Bersatu since Perikatan’s inception.
On the other hand, if Perikatan wins big in Melaka, this will embolden Muhyiddin and his supporters within UMNO to dislodge the Zahid-Najib combo from the party, in a move to make the grand old party subservient to Bersatu.
And it does not help that Zahid is seen as a weak president, given that much of his instructions were frequently dismissed by his subordinates, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who is perceived to be sympathetic to Bersatu.
Given the scenario above, is it a surprise on why Najib and Muhyiddin are personally down there in Melaka to lead their respective coalitions’ campaigns? Look at most of the campaign paraphernalia in the state; it features the duo not the candidates.
In summary, each one of them wants to send the other into retirement!
As for Pakatan, it will be wise for them not to take anything for granted. While many voters are definitely livid with both Perikatan and BN, there are people out there who still remember the Opposition coalition’s abysmal performance during their 22-months stint in Putrajaya.
They also remember how Pakatan leaders dragged their feet in implementing their electoral manifesto, with some of their top leaders openly brown-nosing the nonagenarian maverick despite the latter’s repeated insults against the people.
And if Pakatan does win the Melaka polls, do consider a possibility that UMNO may review its no-cooperation stance with Perikatan, which may strengthen the latter’s possibility in winning the 15th General Election. – Nov 16, 2021.
