A split in the ‘unity government’ is possible over Najib Pardon
Anwar seen to have violated the principles of justice and will of the
Anwar appears to have the support of the current Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar. At least publicly. However, the YDPA also believes that Najib should not be in prison on his own. There should be other convicted kleptocrats joining him. In addition, within some of the back rooms of the ruling families there is a growing doubt over the competence of Anwar as prime minister.
Thus, there is a possibility that Sultan Ibrahim may grant a full pardon to Najib, not out of sympathy to Najib, but to make things more difficult for Anwar, and his tenure as prime minister.
However, from within PKR, DAP, and Amanah, there is no one who would dare challenge Anwar. To build up any momentum to challenge Anwar on an open floor of the party, would just be too difficult. PKR members would just be unwilling to show such support openly.
Rafizi Ramli also knows, this is not his time. He must wait until the Anwar period comes to a close by crashing and burning first. Anwar has made it clear to all that he will not go quietly. He is not grooming any successor.
The real problem is inside UMNO. However, this would not be enough to make the ‘unity government’ fall. If Najib does get a full pardon, up to 15 UMNO MPs may just leave the government and remain as neutral UMNO MPs. This would not be enough for Anwar to lose his majority in the Dewan Rakyat, but could start the process towards a total realignment of parties.
However, such a move by UMNO MPs may spell the death knell of UMNO in the next general election. This would most probably be enough to end the career of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and UMNO as we know it after the next election.
This would also be an opportunity for a pardoned Najib to become a defacto opposition leader and start campaigning for GE16.
This is what’s in Anwar’s mind. He needs to avoid the above scenario. A pardon for Najib is his worse nightmare. That’s why he is in the position he is today. Anwar is dammed if he supports Najib’s pardon, and dammed if he doesn’t.
We are all observing the personal strain this is putting Anwar under lately. His public statements on the Najib addendum have just been bizarre. Going overseas this week was very convenient.
The biggest problem is when politics is unstable in Anwar’s own head, Madani politics become unstable. What’s certain is Anwar has very few people he can trust now.
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Anwar is, of course, responsible for most of the mess he is currently in. He could have delayed Najib's pardon consideration, but he didn't. He could have dismissed any talk of an addendum regarding house arrest by pointing to the fact that there is no provision in law (yet) for such a process, but he didn't. If there ever was (or is) an addendum he should have let the courts deal with it immediately so that he is not viewed as being involved in the internecine nonsense going on now.
At this point the only hope for Malaysia rests with the court. Is there an addendum or not? If there is then it must be produced in court and not just some letter from the Agong's office conjuring it out of thin air. Let's see it.
There's much underhanded maneuvering going on in Malaysia now that the rakyat will never hear about. The country is ruled by various personalities. The laws of the land are no longer important. Malaysia is proving on a daily basis now that it is incapable of governing itself.
The agong as he is known is being advised by Regime Change activists inside and outside of Malaysia. The man is not known for his intellect, his statesmanship, diplomacy or just qualities. He is the son of long line of syphilitics and homicidal maniacs. No exaggeration there.
He has long held a grudge against Dr. Mahathir Mohammad fo having clipped the wings of the Royal families, their indemnities and protections inspite of their near divine status as protectors of the faith and the Malay culture. There is little Malay about the Sultan of Johor the current Agong. He is more of Heinz (37 varieties including baked beans).
There should have been a constitutional amndment after his father as convicted of assault but let off on the capital crime of murder.
If UMNO is further toyed with, without dout a new breed of Malays will rise out of the ashes of UMNO with less tolerance for the pendatangs the Chinese and Indians and the continued destablization of Malaysia.