KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - Embattled Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim threw a challenge - one that he perhaps hoped would douse the flames from an embarrassing series of self-consuming propaganda and missteps that have backfired and made him look weak and at the mercy of his political rivals.
Unfortunately, his bold shot misfired, falling short as his rivals countered with a stunning challenge of their own.
Will the Speaker of Parliament Johari Abdul, a senior member of Anwar's PKR party and nominated to the powerful post by him, really allow a no-confidence motion to be tabled - when the Opposition is finally ready to make the crucial move?
"There is no guarantee a no-confidence motion will be accepted and voted upon,” Ahmad Shaari the MP for Pasir Mas was reported as saying by FMT.
Ahmad is also the information chief of Pas, the largest and most influential Malay political party in the country. He cited as examples how the ineffective Anwar regime had previously blocked motions that they deemed were detrimental to their own political position - including a motion seeking an explanation on why Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi was suddenly and controversially discharged from corruption charges.
The Pas leader was responding to Anwar’s statement made a day ago that the PN main opposition bloc - which includes the key parties of Pas and Bersatu - had yet to file a no-confidence motion against him despite multiple claims that his unity government was on the verge of collapse.
“We have been waiting every day, but there has been no development. I don’t think that the Opposition has the strength to bring such a motion to Parliament,” Anwar had told reporters.
'DUBAI MOVE' REEKS OF ANWAR'S OWN PLOT IN 2020
Anwar was alluding to the 'Dubai Move' - a stratagem revealed by his own propaganda unit J-Kom that accuses the Opposition of plotting to topple the government by enticing Members of Parliament to withdraw support for Anwar.
“Efforts such as the existence of statutory declarations or the ‘Dubai Move’ are just political manoeuvring played by one side. Such talk is nothing but propaganda to deceive their supporters," said Anwar.
Yet in 2020, it was Anwar himself who publicly announced a similar strategy claiming he had 'sufficient numbers' and 'formidable support' to topple the Muhyiddin administration with government MPs ready to switch allegiance to him. However nothing came of it and he was branded a "liar" by the then government.
BUT WHOSE PROPAGANDA IS CAUSING POLITICAL INSTABILITY?
As such, it is no surprise that many pundits and experts are now questioning where the Dubai Move "propaganda" really came from? From the Opposition or Anwar's own side? And if from Anwar's side, what was the motive - to create public sympathy for himself and political hatred against the Opposition?
Regardless of the numerous question marks and red flags, many analysts blame the fallout from 'Dubai Move' on Anwar's irresponsible J-Kom.
"When there is no evidence, J-Kom as an agency should have been more careful in making whatever statements," said political analyst Kartini Aboo Talib.
"This situation is not beneficial, as whatever move threatens stability. The people want stability to heal the economy, new jobs and well-managed societal wellbeing," she added.
ANWAR'S 'VINDICTIVE' POLITICS TO BLAME?
The tug-of-war over Dubai Move and the possibility that Malaysia was headed for another change in government, with Anwar the 5th PM to lose his job in six years, have triggered investor and public concern that he was too intent on playing power games and not focusing on the economy or the plethora of problems that have eroded the country's competitiveness regionally and globally.
Exacerbating the political turmoil and instability is Anwar's own brand of 'vindictive' politics - going after his predecessors including Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri - while sparing allies like his deputy Zahid. The high-profile way in which his regime has deliberately targeted former finance minister Daim Zainuddin has also unnerved Malaysia's already-shallow stocks, capital and currency markets.
Yet while the trails against Muhyiddin and Ismail may still be warm as they recently preceded him as PM, many in the financial circles believe that going after the "unexplained wealth" accumulated decades ago by Mahathir or his sons and Daim are exercises in futility due to a 'six-year limit' law on record keeping - and as such, are mere bids to humiliate them publicly as he has long blamed the duo for his downfall in 1997, when he was sacked as deputy premier and jailed for sodomy.
'SOLE DISCRETION' OF SPEAKER TO BE USED AS ANWAR'S EXCUSE?
On Dec 19, 2022, one month after the 15th general election, a motion of confidence was indeed tabled - but by Anwar's side and raised by Second Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof. At that time, it was passed through a voice vote when the Opposition did not call for a bloc vote.
In July 2023, the narcissistic Anwar - whose approval rating has plunged to less than 50% since sweeping into power in late 2022 - had said he would not block any no-confidence vote against himself and would even shorten the notice period if the Opposition wanted to table the motion.
What says Anwar now?
And how to ensure he keeps his promise and not put the blame on Johari on the grounds the Speaker has 'sole discretion' - the same excuse he gave when condemned by his countrymen over Zahid's corruption discharge - that it was the Attorney-General's 'sole discretion'.
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
Politics Now!
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