ALL HELL ABOUT TO BREAK LOOSE AHEAD OF CHANGE OF KING ON JAN 31? - MACC SUMMONS SON OF FORMER PM FOR THE SECOND TIME
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - Malaysia's hyperactive political scene is abuzz with speculation that the eldest son of former two-time prime minister Mahathir Mohamad may soon be arrested following news the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission had summoned him once again to give a statement over business ventures undertaken in the late 1990s.
According to the NST daily, MACC sources revealed that the individual - believed to be Mirzan Mahathir - was called to be served with a notice of asset declaration.
"The investigation requires the individual to declare all their assets, whether within or outside the country in writing," the source said.
If confirmed, this would be the second time that Mirzan has been grilled by the MACC. According to media reports, he was also summoned last month in connection with claims of corruption and misappropriation of funds.
It is understood that the investigation is focused on a company owned by the individual which had allegedly acquired a subsidiary of a government-linked company (GLC).
POLITICAL CRISIS LOOMS
Many analysts are bracing for a protracted bout of political and market instability as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim escalates an anti-corruption campaign targeting bigwig political rivals including former finance minister Daim Zainuddin and the two prime ministers who preceded him - Ismail Sabri and Muhyiddin Yassin.
"All hell may be about to break loose as those who are rich and powerful will surely fight back with all they have," an analyst told Politics Now!
The ringgit, which has been sliding for months, crashed to 4.7145/4.7200 to the U.S. dollar at the close of market yesterday - revisiting historic lows touched recently despite assurances from Anwar, who is also finance minister, that it would strengthen by the end of 2023.
The ineffective Anwar is seen as trying to pre-empt an imminent bid by his rivals to oust him from power once the Sultan of Johor takes over as the new King on Jan 31.
His administration has rushed to roll out a Fixed-Term Parliament Act, which would allow him and his government to cling onto power until the next general election in 2027. However, the public response to the proposed FTPA has been unwelcoming, with critics openly calling it an act of "desperation".
Rumors have also swirled that 120 out of the 222 MPs who form Parliament had agreed to support four PM candidates - Hishammuddin Hussein, Ismail Sabri, Muhyiddin Yassin and Samsuri Mokhtar - any one of whom could replace Anwar and had signed sworn declarations to this effect for presentation to the King for his decision.
Social media has also been abuzz with talk that government backbenchers are being “detained” in Cyberjaya, where Anwar and his Cabinet are attending a retreat, so as to prevent them from joining the bandwagon ousting Anwar.
A loss of support from the majority of MPs would require Anwar's immediate resignation, a caretaker government to be formed until the King decides on the successor.
It is more conventional for a no-confidence vote to be tabled in Parliament but there are concerns that such a motion will be blocked for various reasons by the Speaker, who is from Anwar's PKR party.
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
Politics Now!
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