Written by Wong Choon Mei, Politics Now!
KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - Amid talk of a change in federal government, Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor has added spice to the soup with a broad hint he may call for snap state polls - a move seen to consolidate his GRS coalition's grip on power as backdoor defections become rampant across the seas in Peninsular Malaysia.
"This is what happens when you don't do the right thing. Nobody trusts you anymore and this applies to Anwar and Zahid. People are now questioning if the government they lead will become the most 'dirty' one of all," a political analyst to Politics Now!
He was referring to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his DPM Zahid Hamidi, who is also the president of the graft-tainted Umno.
Anwar himself had in 1994 also played a major role in the backdoor ouster of the then PBS-led Sabah state government. A crisis had gripped the state after several assemblymen were persuaded to dump Joseph Pairin Kitingan, the chief minister and leader of the PBS.
FROG CULTURE IS BACK WITH A BANG!
It cannot have escaped Hajiji's notice that 'frog culture' is back in a big way under the Anwar administration.
'Frog culture' is a euphemism for the unethical practice by elected representatives to jump from their parties, switching allegiance in exchange for monetary gains once they win their seats, disrespecting their constituents and making a mockery of elections.
Of late, four opposition MPs from the Bersatu party led by ex-premier Muhyiddin Yassin had 'defected' to Anwar's side, pledging support for him in exchange for federal funds, but staying on as Bersatu members.
Their defiance was seen as exploitation of a loophole in the Anti-Hopping Law and the embattled Anwar has been slammed for accepting their pledges of support, which makes a mockery of the Anti-Hopping Law.
“Sabah needs political commitment for immediate development. The key is stability, and only with stability can Sabah be developed," Hajiji said at the GRS' annual meeting.
“Developing the state requires a reasonable timeframe, along with the commitment and dedication of the government to achieve the goal of making the state more advanced and prosperous," Hajiji was reported as saying by Bernama news.
A WARNING TO ANWAR?
According to Hajiji, GRS had only agreed to join Anwar's regime "for the sake of political stability and in the interests of the people".
Ominously for Anwar, Hajiji also said that while the term for the GRS alliance with his Pakatan Harapan Plus administration would end only in October 2025, snap state polls may be called.
"Even though we still have two more years, we may consider having the state election earlier," said Hajiji. He declined to give any clues as to how much 'earlier' that could be.
Hajiji also pointed to a failed 'coup' attempt that took place earlier this year, and which had been led by Umno and Warisan assembymen.
Ironically, Umno was already a part of the Anwar administration alongside the GRS, while Warisan too had pledged support for Anwar's unity government after it was formed late in 2022.
Warisan is led by former chief minister Shafie Apdal, seen by many as a rival to Anwar and a potential prime minister candidate.
Written by Wong Choon Mei, Politics Now!
Politics Now!
Comments