IGP trip, PH quarrel erupt, and GLC purge to come

The Istanbul trip by IGP, Tan Sri Fuzi Harun was exposed by Sarawak Report to be an office holiday trip, but it was a working visit arranged by National Totalisator Board (NTB) on matters regarding online illegal gambling.

As soon as the story broke out, unqualified Accountant and failed Economist Lim Guan Eng sprang into defensive mode. Whether he is telling the truth or usually lying, he told MMO that Treasury did not pay for it and claimed Ananda Krishnan's number forecasting Da Ma Cai operation paid the trip.

What he is saying is Treasury refused to pay for the trip and he requested NTB to arrange Da Ma Cai to sponsor. Sabahkini2 has similar view. As one owner of a gambling license said, a Minister's request is as good as an order and they will have to secede.

Dato Dr Asyraff Wajidi was angered by Guan Eng's insensitivity. However, there is political implication behind the facade of a typical Guan Eng's lack of familiarity with proper administrative practise.

Blogger Flying Kick see it as DAP's first salvo against Tun Dr Mahathir for turning on his word and accept 7 UMNO MPs into PPBM.

Putting Ananda's company in the spotlight is symbolic.

It is an open secret that illegal gambling operators in Selangor are protected by DAP. Police raids are ineffective without cooperation from DAP state exco-in-charge of local council to withdraw business operating license.

More so, DAP also has more than a half century of history with the police and Special Branch Officers such as Fuzi Harun.

Rumour within police force is the next IGP could still be from Special Branch. Something Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang will not be pleased!

Anwar had enough

As far as the jump of 7 UMNO MPs, it is "old game" and known players within expected move, commented Dato Dr Jamil Khir. According to the original plan, the 2nd phase is 16 to be led by Dato Seri Shahidan dan last phase for the balance led by Dato Hishamuddin.

Only difference is this time DAP and PKR has lost their level of tolerance. Ronnie Liew statement usually reflect the sentiment of Lim Kit Siang.

For Anwar, he had enough and made his move. In reaction to exclusion of himself or his wife from the NEAC 2.0, Anwar has finally made his move!

He said he expect to takeover within 2 years. Rumour have long been floating and this blog have mentioned several times that Anwar wants it as soon as March next month.

Otherwise, expect a vote of no confidence by the next Parliament seating on March 11th. The Speaker of the House is allied with DAP.

Azmin have been given the ultimatum to bring back all his MPs back to PKR. A source claimed he may have wavered when told to ponder that Mahathir's days on earth is numbered.

Many sources have been talking about Mahathir needing frequent hormone injections to keep going.

The presence of Azmin staunch supporter, Deputy Minister Shamsul Iskandar during Anwar and Wan Azizah's visit of Azmin at his Ampang home has its significance.

Azmin need to be in PPBM to aspire to be next PM.

For DAP, they have practically got everything their way, but still not satisfied with appointments at GLCs and voices are still calling for GLC reform. All targeting at Tun Daim..

The announcements on NEAC 2.0 and Debt Rationalisation Comittee by PMO may not be accepted well. The hands of Daim orchestrating through his fourth wife's brother is obvious.

The economist have been demanding mainstream coverage for his not quite newsworthy views. For a one research sensation, he get positioned into important and strategic committees. Rumour has it he demanded membership on the Board of Directors of strategic GLCs.

For a macroeconomist, he seemed unexpectedly capable with the task to dismantle few institutions for another round of privatisation. That should put the political and economic situation in perspective.

Mahathir is increasingly seen by PKR and DAP to have no interest to pursue the path of reform and remained in his old ways.

War erupted!

It may be just turf war on illegal online gambling but the political implication of an attack on Fuzi and police is deeper.

If war erupts within PH, the purgerors in GLCs can only expect a reversal of roles and possibly face retribution for showing their true colours.

The position of AMANAH is a toss-up. The Mahathir watcher see them siding with his Mahathir-Azmin tagteam.

Mat Sabu's diplomatic words on the acceptance of the 7 UMNO MPs support their view. More so, Mahathir have given their elected MPs Ministerial position at the expense of PKR.

In private, Mat Sabu have been expressing personal reservation of Azmin for many years. He has shunned Mat Sabu in his later years as Selangor MB. Azmin's refusal to remove PAS from Selangor's Pakatan Rakyat government remained a sore point.

Mat Sabu knows PAN may get wiped out by Malay voters streaming to UMNO-PAS cooperation. They need the Chinese votes. And there is talk PAN would be absorbed into PPBM.

Meanwhile, Mahathir openly said he will ignore Warisan to take side with Tan Sri Musa Aman in his long feud with Dato Shafee Apdal.

He explicitly said PPBM do not need the permission of a Shafee Apdal or Shafee Abdullah to enter Sabah. He is ready to pee on Shafee.

PPBM: Alam Flora dumpsite? 

Muhyiddin said on December 28th that there have been no discussion in PPBM meeting in accepting the 7 UMNO MPs.

Suddenly, the announced acceptance and a ceremony to provide their membership cards. It was PPBM leaders that called UMNO sampah!

Guan Eng's expose of Da Ma Cai paying for Fuzis trip could be seen from the outside as an attack on Mahathir, While, the expose by Sarawak Report of Fuzi's trip could be seen as an attack on Muhyiddin. He approved Fuzi's trip!

However, it is believed that Clare Rewcastle is on Mahathir's payroll and confirmed to be close with Dato Khairuddin Abu Hassan, a confidante of Mahathir and sworn enemy of Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin could suspect there is a high level manouvre to ouster him. He has been sore for being treated as a tree stump (tunggul) again. And, he will not take well a disrespectful exit for his sacrifices.

Talk within PPBM is that his Presidency could be challenged in reaction to rumoured challenge on Mukhriz by a cabinet member.

The expose on Marzuki's non-Cambridge degree is claimed to have come from the Mukhriz camp for swinging to Muhyiddin side following appointment as Secretary General. Marzuki maybe eyeing a position in which Mukhriz has interest too.

Though Marzuki left his fate for Mahathir to decide, it was Muhyiddin who announced no action to be taken.

The move to take in UMNO MPs is really necessary for PPBM. They have no depth and need outsiders to fill up various positions.

Apparently, the recently joined Mas Ermieyati would be tasked the head of Srikandi of PPBM.

Dissolve Parliament

Anwar believes he has the numbers and insisted the meeting of the Council of Presidents to be called immediately. A heated meeting is expected.

If there is no solution, it will lead to a motion of no confidence against Mahathir in Parliament and it could go either way.

UMNO votes matters and few that gave Anwar way could endanger Mahathir.

However, the old man is relying on Dato Hishamuddin to deliver his 30 MPs. He was seen having dinner with Najib and Zahid at Pavilion.

On the ground, Hishamuddin man, Dato Zulkifli Alwi is hard at work signing up UMNO members into PPBM. Rumour has it there was a meeting last night.

Update: Desperation of highest order! 

PAS may just stay out of the fray.

Lim Kit Siang has said before that DAP will leave, if PH astrayed from the reform agenda.

Mahathir could foresee a vote of no confidence to come when he said, "If DAP, PKR, AMANAH, betrayed him ... he will leave."

There have been talk and even viral messages creating the perception that Mahathir is talking of UMNO 3.0 and some blogger were writing about back channel discussion between Najib's men and Mahathir's men.

UMNO 3.0?

It is unlikely to happen. Too soon for Mahathir to patch up with Najib. Muhyiddin will not be keen to. Not when the court process is facing to many hitches as it is not him to negotiate from an uncertain position. 

Mahathir will not go back on his words to go into a coalition with UMNO after asking Zahid Hamidi to close up the party. More so, UMNO is now in cooperation with PAS. He has a lifelong allergy with PAS since the lost at Kota Setar in 1969.

There is one possibility to make it happen but there is an impossible term attached. Najib is to divorce Rosmah. 

Rather than give power to Anwar Ibrahim or return power to UMNO, he would rather dissolve Parliament and que sera sera. UMNO and PAS could turn many seats around but the hold on government is uncertain.

This time there will be a jet ready for Buenos Aires at the tarmac during the announcement of GE15 results. All parties may just unite to say enough with Mahathir.

The GLCs will be in limbo and continue to be uncertain again.

After all the purging at the GLCs to appease Mahathir and Daim, including CEOs being seen on stage singing, the position of the new management and members of the Board of Directors will be precarious.

In organisations such as Tabung Haji, Felda and Khazanah where the removal have been swift, vengeful and bordering on illogical, anything could happen.

The victims could even return to prey. That is another side to the politics.

Update: 15/5/2019 6:00 PM