GE15 campaign lacking depth that Zahid be made into an issue

PKR have been campaigning that it is Anwar’s turn to be Prime Minister (PM). They have been peddling his once dubbed the best Finance Minister.  Yet creating the fear that a vote for BN is vote for Zahid as PM.  

  

So shallow is the narrative of the campaign that it imply Barisan Nasional (BN) Vice President, Dato Seri Ismail Sabri’s leadership has put the nation in the right track in addressing the post-pandemic economic crisis worsened by the war in Europe. 

BN should be given a new mandate to continue the effort with a full-fledge team of more experienced and competent Ministers from BN and their former coalition members. The Perikatan Nasional (PN) misfits have proven to be inadequate, incompetent, and just filling up the number, thus rightfuly replaced. 

Surely Tan Sri Muhyiddin would disagree as he uttered the word “gagal” (fail) towards Ismail. The political animal Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim would naturally concur. And, so would Tun Dr Mahathir despite his party or coalition is brushed off by all as insignificant. 

Why then is the obsession by all parties in their GE15 campaign to deviate from the real concern besieging this nation for a concerted effort to slander UMNO President, Dato Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi?   

Misplaced narrative

BN’s intention to call for snap election is to address the political instability by returning the mandate to the people. It is hoped a new stable government, BN-led or PH-led, would emerge and subsequently prepare the nation for the challenges of an impending global economic recession. 

There is the added challenge of Malaysia’s constrained financial fiscal position due to PH’s Guan Eng incompetent financial management and mysterious elements in Muhyiddin’s expansionary policies in his failed crisis management. 

Prior to election campaign, the main concern of voters are cost of living, inflation, unemployment, low wages, political instability, healthcare, weakening currency, national debt, and education. 

The campaign narrative should then focus on those issues and each political party offer solutions. Wong Chun Wai raised the same concern.

Thus far the manifesto by the unspoken coalition of coalitions to deny BN is far from giving any eye opening thought provoking strategic direction or policies offerings. Their manifesto is blatantly non-committal that Anwar directed PH to not repeat the GE14 “kencing” (broken promises) 100 days manifesto. 

But, old habits die hard. Lim Guan Eng repeated their GE14 promise to abolish toll. He was drenched with cyber saliva of curses on social media.  

GE15’s anti-Najib wave 

Muhyiddin started his campaign to aim his gun at Ismail to extricate himself from the widely accepted perception as PM of a #kerajaangagal (failed government). 

He failed as a crisis manager but labeled Ismail as “Perdana Menteri gagal” (failed PM) for ignoring his request for more fund to his SME proposals and succumb to pressure from Zahid to call for election. 

It was Zahid,  who defended Ismail, to counter attack at Muhyiddin’s failure. 

Zahid has since been under a barrage of critics, slanders, and unfair labeling. The most mild treatment he had gotten was being misquoted and words taken out of context. 

He reminded BN leaders at the MIC assembly of selective prosecution and political persecution he endured will recur again should BN lose again at GE15. 

The casual manner it was delivered was intentionally spinned as Zahid seeking a win to save himself from his cases. The same line of attack by the Annuar Musa-led Putrajaya faction of UMNO and PN against Zahid. 

Maybe Mahathir would, but not UMNO. It is not their to do improper action in a blatantly obvious manner. 

As PM, Ismail has proven so. Zahid’s case is still on-going without interference. Federal Court went against natural justice to deny Najib his day in court and him imprisoned for SRC case. A far cry from the interference by PH to withdrew an on-going case against Guan Eng. 

The list of withdrawn cases on PH leaders by then Attorney General, Tommy Thomas is long. The judicial interference, new appointments and cancellation of police report on himself by Mahathir is proof “PH did” what they merely “speculated Zahid would do”.

The same false accusation was subsequently repeated against Zahid by circulating a fake “AkuJanji”  (declaration) explicitly mentioning to demand the withdrawal of cases against UMNO and BN leaders. It is too forward to be believable. Khairy denied signing any such declaration. 

Its a cheap trick to be believable and indicated the source of distraction came from the same source. The signature or style has the touch of individuals dropped from candidacy. 

Prior to Muhyiddin being overthrown as PM, the same group accused Zahid in a plot with Anwar for UMNO to support him as PM. The same campaign line resurfaced during campaign recently. 

It is obviously a reaction to Zahid repeating the same successful formula from Johor and Melaka state election to introduce 70% new and young candidates. Those dubbed as dinosaurs and MPs defient against party leadership direction were upset for being dropped. 

Hadi immediately accused Zahid of intentionally making UMNO lose more seats. An odd statement to come from a party leader whose coalition candidate will be taking on BN in all the seats. It is to his interest to see UMNO lose instead of being concerned. 

  

Rewinding the accusation of collusion between Anwar and Zahid actually does not make tactical sense. Anwar is serious in his campaign to be PM and any arrangement with PKR or PH will be insistent on Anwar being the PM. It is a hard sell to BN’s component party members. 

BN and friends is the coalition to beat, thus there is no logical reason for Zahid pass the premiership to Anwar.  

All parties are looking at the post-GE horse trading to form the government should there be no clear majority. The manner Zahid has positioned BN it means UMNO could restart the MN coalition, revert to the BN-PN arrangement or other options with PH or component of PH or factions within PH components. 

It is just self-interest attempt to limit his options.   

 

Zahid PM?

Anwar and more so Rafizi has denied such intended cooperation. Rafizi brushed aside such ridiculous notion as something conjured up by Muhyiddin and Hadi. He preferred to promote the propaganda line that voting BN implies voting Zahid as PM. 

Zahid denied the allegation and reiterated BN’s stance that Ismail is a candidate for PM should BN win. 

Mahathir instigated to claim it is lip service and Ismail will come out disappointed. Thus far Ismail is saying he holds no animosity against Zahid and are in good term.         

For Zahid to be made PM, it will mean UMNO doing the unthinkable similar to DAP getting Tommy to withdrew the on-going corruption case against Guan Eng and him appointed as Minister of Finance. UMNO will not be as blatant, inconsistent and hypocritical as PH.  

For Zahid, the Yayasan Akal Budi case has taken for a turn since judge Collin Pereira visit the two bungalows and convinced it was genuinely for charity and religious purpose. 

It is in contrary to DPP Raja Rozela’s claim in her opening statement that not a single sen of donation received by Zahid was for a good cause. It is proven the use of Yayasan money to pay for his credit card was a mistake admittedly made by his assistant. 

Is there concern that Zahid could come out clear as the charges for money laundering could not establish a predicate offense (primary offense)? 

Mohammad Hasan said the choice of PM will be decided by Agong. 

Zahid said many months ago, that UMNO will submit several names. A possible post-election debate will be whether UMNO should submit more than one name.  

Tun Daim’s survey is making heads turn with the view BN will win more than half of the seats in Semenanjong. Is that the reason a “penyu”-face is giving direction to leaders and agencies to reiterate Ismail’s PM candidacy. Khairy has been the loudest among the many. 

The fear factor created from the cooked up idea of Zahid will be PM has caused concern within UMNO circle. There were rumours he will not run for GE15 but it turned out untrue. There are those fearing a backfire should he campaign in their area. 

And there is the rumour he will not win Bagan Datok. On nomination day, that feel was not present and the local support for him is esctatic. While campaigning last night in front of Sekolah Kebangsaan  Kg Sungai Buloh, Hutan Melintang Bagan Datok, Zahid seemed unperturbed by the commotion. 

Its an open race but by the second week, all the hype will be over, self perpetuating surveys and polls will be irrelevant, and campaign will pick up gear. 

All coalition claimed they will get the majority, but UMNO is the boldest to claim their target is 112 seats.