Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - It looks like it does take someone like Mahathir Mohamad to hammer the final nail into the political coffin of Malaysia's chameleon - Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Already savvy observers and long-time watchers of Malaysia's hyperactive political scene are saying the battle is lost - Anwar is set to be unceremoniously thrown out of from his exalted PM's office and the only question is when and not if or even how.
Aided by a bunch of clumsy and heavv-handed Little Napoleons, the ineffective Anwar has been flitting from left to right and then from right to left depending on what situation can prolong his hold on power. However, it looks like he has exhausted his capability - after opening a can of royal worms that will surely punish him, leaving Mahathir or his proxies only too happy to sink the winning putt.
"In the end, Anwar will be like the lizard on the wall. He will lose his tail," a veteran watcher told Politics Now!
"These guys are toying with him because they know his ego - he will self-destruct. They will give him rope to hang himself and conserve their own resources."
WHO IS ACCUSING THE KING OF TAKING BRIBES?
Indeed, the 76-year-old Anwar raised eyebrows by revealing he had told the King that if "anyone wants to donate RM500 million or RM750 million, it should be channeled directly to the poor and needy" - which was instantly taken as an insinuation that some quarter or other was trying to bribe His Majesty.
But as Mahathir pointed out on Facebook "in bribery, both the giver and the receiver would be guilty".
The two-time former prime minister had taken umbrage at an anonymous social media post that "carried a statement that I bribed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong with RM500 million to RM1 billion.”
“Please prove that I did this. Making such a statement and hiding your identity is cowardly.
"Is the writer suggesting the Agong should be arrested for taking the bribe? Does he have evidence that the Agong took RM1 billion from me?” Mahathir asked.
HIGH-DRAMA HAS CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF MALAY VOTERS
He also lashed out at Anwar for stifling criticism and dissent - suggesting selective prosecution - and indeed Anwar's communications czars have been accused and blamed by many for trying manipulate the media as well as the national narrative by making use of their authority over law enforcers and regulators to freeze blogs and social media and even charge critics who dared to question or mock his policies.
Worse still, the Anwar administration has been accused of cooking up dicey propaganda aimed to create public sympathy for him, such as the 'Dubai Move' which his own J-Kom agency 'confirmed' without evidence as a complot to topple him with the help of the King - leading to a wave of investor panic.
Unfortunately for Anwar, the tactics backfired and the political high-drama as well as his corruption dragnet against very powerful figures including former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, Pas' popular Kedah chief minister Sanusi Nor, another former premier Ismail Sabri and Mahathir himself, has captured the imagination of the Malays, the country's largest electorate - and they now appear to be eager for the next piece of action, culminating in the unpopular Anwar's ouster.
“We cannot talk about 3R (race, religion, and royalty). We cannot politicise the budget. Now we cannot talk about the overthrow of the prime minister.
“So nobody can talk about anything. And this is the government led by a man who before talked about reform, about freedom,” said Mahathir.
WHEN THE GOVT OF THE DAY SPINS MANIPULATIVE PROPAGANDA ...
Mahathir, whose sons were publicly identified as potential targets for corruption investigation by Anwar's senior political secretary, clearly blamed Anwar's mishandling or poor leadership for the latest fiasco.
“As everyone knows Anwar had said I have billions of ringgit. I asked him to show proof that I had the money, but until now he has not been able to prove I had the money.
“Now the statement that I bribed the Agong with RM1 billion means I have the money. If Anwar cannot prove it until now perhaps the originator of the statement should show Anwar that I had the money to bribe,” said Mahathir.
Just days ago, the political secretary of Opposition Leader and former home minister Hamzah Zainuddin had lodged a police report against a blog that claimed Hamzah had tried to bribe the King with RM1 billion to change the government. He also questioned why the Anwar regime was so quick to jump on 'fake news' that went against the government line but was slow to react on the accusation that not only hit against the opposition but also tarnished the Palace.
Anwar's aide too has urged police to investigate the allegations that some parties were willing to provide funds of up to RM1 billion to topple the government as part of the Dubai Move, although it is not clear whether this is linked to the report filed by Hamzah's aide.
'DEAD' PM WALKING & DRAGGING IN THE RULERS
During his controversial meeting with the King, Anwar had also said His Majesty had given the assurance that the Palace would not get involved in any political manoeuvres,
"His Majesty decreed that I, as prime minister, and the Madani government continue our work administering the country," Anwar had said in a statement.
So far, the Palace has not given any confirmation or comments on the issue.
Earlier this month, incoming King, Sultan Ibrahim of Johor had said he would not grant anu audiences until Jan 31, which is when he officially takes over as Malaysia's constitutional monarch for the next 5 years from current outgoing King, Sultan Abdullah of Pahang.
Pro-Anwar quarters had immediately jumped on the royal comment that Sultan Ibrahim would not back any attempt by the Opposition to replace Anwar as PM even if they could show they had the majority support in Malaysia's 222-seat Parliament.
Latest red-hot rumors on the ground are that the Opposition has already snared the backing of 123 Members of Parliament, which means Anwar is already a 'dead' PM walking.
And with Anwar's latest royal blunder that has triggered bribery rumors dragging in the Rulers, some are wondering if Sultan Ibrahim was merely signaling that he would not interfere in what is his brother ruler's hemisphere until the throne is officially his.
Sultan Ibrahim is known for his anti-corruption stance and multiracial policies while Sultan Abdullah has been lauded for fair play, his wisdom in denying the previous Muhyiddin administration the option to prolong Emergency rule during the Covid-19 crisis as well as for brokering a peace deal that enabled Anwar's Pakatan Harapan coalition to form the current albeit fragile unity government after the 2022 general election failed to produce a clear winner.
Both monarchs are extremely popular and rated as being among the best in their states. Neither would be happy to be dragged into any shady deals hatched by dubious propagandists, whether from the Opposition or Anwar's side.
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
Politics Now!
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