Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - Pas president Hadi Awang has fired a 'killer shot' at embattled Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's 'strong-on-paper but weak-in-reality' unity government - with a warning that the PN opposition bloc was still wooing Umno leaders to switch allegiance.
If Hadi succeeds, it could spell another regime change in Malaysia as Anwar and his 'Madani' government's popularity sinks after failing to address serious economic and cost of living problems.
The unpopular Madani regime has also angered citizens with strong-arm tactics to muzzle criticism and making the people feel they have no choice but to lavish praises on the narcissistic Anwar - or face action from either his office, the Communications ministry and other enforcement authorities including the police and corruption watchdog MACC.
“We are still trying to persuade them as not all of them back PH (Pakatan Harapan),” Hadi said at a talk in Kemaman, where a by-election for a seat in the federal Parliament is due to be balloted on Dec 2.
There has long been talk of between 10 to 15 Umno MPs keen to switch sides. They are believed to be led by Hishammuddin Hussein Onn, a rival of Umno president Zahid Hamidi and who has been suspended for six years over 'discipline' issues that includes preferring to align Umno with PN rather than with Anwar's unity government.
Other coalitions in the Madani government including the powerful GPS and GRS are believed to be willing to follow this group, triggering an almost immediate collapse of Anwar's regime.
KEMAMAN SPRINGBOARD INTO PUTRAJAYA
Hadi also hailed the Kemaman by-election as an event of great significance to the country.
Indeed, many political observers believe Kemaman will be the springboard for Pas to launch its fast-rising star Samsuri Mokhtar into national prominence and the corridors of federal power, perhaps even into the PM's seat.
This strategy was confirmed by Hadi at last night's talk.
“This is an opportunity to add to and defend the Malay seats that PN has,” he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today, adding that Samsuri would be able to strengthen PN’s standing at the federal level.
Samsuri, the Terengganu chief minister, will face Umno's Raja Affandi in an unequal fight that pundits believe is bound to end in yet another massive landslide win for Pas.
PAS NOW THE PREFERRED CHOICE OF MALAY YOUTHS?
Hadi also warned that the 'Green Wave' was far from, claiming that Pas and its PN ally Bersatu were now the preferred choice of Malay youths.
"God willing, in GE15 and the state elections, a wave of young voters support (happened), and youngsters aged 21, 40 (sic) supported us," Malaysiakini reported Hadi as saying.
"The majority (of youths) supported us; only the old, ignorant and 'rusty' ones aged 60 and 70, did not support us, and it doesn't matter."
The 'Green Wave' refers to the massive wave of Malay voter support for Pas during last year's general election, propelling the once-mosquito party with just 18 seats in Parliament into a political powerhouse with 49 seats, the most for any single party in the country.
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