KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - "Not yet, not yet!" shrieked Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim when grilled by the media if he will unveil a Cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday (Oct 4).
"Nothing tomorrow," Anwar responded a day ago to the mounting media speculation that he would clear the air before flying off to Sabah, and then to the UAE for a 2-day official working visit before returning home on Friday, the eve of the crucial Pelangai by-election.
The embattled PM has been under pressure to name a new Domestic Trade and Cost of Living minister after the recent death of Amanah lawmaker Salahuddin Ayob.
But it is other parties that make up Anwar's unity government, including Umno led by DPM Zahid Hamidi, that are believed to be trying to squeeze more posts from the PM, who has been weakened by the increasing flight of Malay support to PAS, the cornerstone of the PN opposition coalition.
"They know when to attack. Anwar is like a sitting duck to them, and we are talking about his own partners in the unity government - not the PN-PAS opposition," a political pundit who declined to be named told Politics Now!
'SITTING DUCK' PM
Anwar had tried to downplay the reshuffle as just a 'minor' adjustment to fill the vacancy left by the late Salahuddin. Yet the numerous leaks and self-serving media statements made by several politicians and their supporters, either directly or anonymously, indicate the massive undercurrents swirling inside the ruling coalition.
Even DPM Zahid Hamidi, who is also the Umno president, has pointedly referred to rumors he might be asked to replace Anwar's most trusted lieutenant Saifuddin Nasution as Home Minister. Cynics point out it was not surprising that Zahid quickly added he would be only too happy to serve in any position if asked to by Anwar.
Others in the BN queue believed to be sniffing for a minister's post include Umno's Johari Ghani, MIC's M. Saravanan, MCA's Wee Ka Siong and Wee Jeck Seng.
Coincidentally or not, DAP's hugely popular Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh was rumored to be among those due to be removed or transferred out from existing posts. DAP is the 'traditional' rival to BN, which comprises Umno, MIC and MCA, and 'talking through the media' as well as 'surat layang' or flying anonymous poison-pen letters are seen to be the BN's favorite modus operandi!
"That's politics for you - whoever is weak gets stabbed and dumped and I'm talking about Anwar, not Hannah," said the pundit.
"Umno-BN will keep hounding Anwar for more and more power, position and money so long as they can sense his dependency on them. It's in their DNA and going from past record, it's also in Anwar's political genes to surrender quickly when his personal power is threatened. It's just a matter of time Zahid will be the Home Minister again."
BUDGET 2024, NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE, MALAY REFERENDUM ON ANWAR
The Pelangai by-election in Pahang state is due to be balloted on October 7. It is seen as a referendum on Anwar and his government over the shock discharge of Zahid from an unprecedented tally of corruption charges. In particular, the Malay ground is expected to shift even more towards PAS in protest at what is believed to be Anwar's U-turn on his anti-corruption promises.
Even if Umno manages to cling onto the seat, many analysts expect the erosion of Malay votes to be visible and significant. Some even fear the loss of Malay support might be sufficient enough to spark a revolt within Umno itself and trigger a flight of lawmakers to the PN-PAS opposition. Depending on how many Umno-BN MPs leave the government, this may determine how long more can Anwar stay on as PM.
Another red-flag event dogging the hapless Anwar is the Budget 2024 that is due to be presented and tabled this month. There is already talk of unhappy Umno-BN MPs either directly withdrawing support for the spending plan or staging an event such as abstaining from the vote so as to cause its failure, which would then trigger a no-confidence vote on the sweaty-palmed Anwar.
Politics Now!
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