Crafting a Dignified Exit for Pak lah

Flashback Mahathir: Mahathir cried when he made a shock announcement of his intention to retire from all government and political posts. He was eventually persuaded to stay on as UMNO President and Prime Minister until the conclusion of the OIC summit. The infamous cry-at-the-rostrum event marked the commencement of Mahathir long farewell party.

Fast forward Pak Lah: People are still waiting when to cry because Pak Lah has yet to make clear of his intention to quit. He has been persuaded to consider relinquishing both his posts as UMNO President and Prime Minister as soon as possible. But in reality, Pak Lah wanted a long farewell party for him too, just like Mahathir’s.

Really, Pak Lah wanted to quit with dignity. He thinks that he deserved a dignified exit. He loves UMNO, even when times were bad. He never quit UMNO (i.e. unlike Mahathir/Ku Li). He never joined Semangat 46 (i.e. unlike Ku Li). He never joined any other party, and never spoke at the same platform as the opposition to speak against UMNO (i.e. unlike Mahathir). He has no record of going against the party at any point of time.

However, being a loyal UMNO member is not a good enough criterion to be a good leader of UMNO. You need to be able to command respect, and unite the members. You need to also command respect from the other members of the component parties, and unite them. You need to command respect from the people, and unite all Malaysians.

Unfortunately, under Pak Lah, UMNO has become disunited, the component parties have become disunited, and Malaysians has become disunited. Pak Lah tried, but is still unable to command respect from people at all levels: in UMNO, in Barisan, and other Malaysians.

Pak Lah’s latest move to persuade UMNO Supreme Council to agree on the postponement of UMNO elections will add further discontent among the UMNO grassroots.

If Pak Lah decides not to contest the UMNO Presidency post, then why should there be further delay until March to decide on the successor? What further wonders can Pak Lah do during the short transition period, other than going from a farewell party to another?

On the other hand, what good can Pak Lah do if he decides to contest the UMNO Presidency post? If another contender managed to secure enough nominations to go against him, it is already a sign of gross protests from the ground. It will be even more humiliating if Pak Lah is unable or barely secure enough nominations for the UMNO President post. This will of course be an undignified exit for Pak Lah.

So, Jurublog reckons that Pak Lah will use the Hari Raya festivities to greet people and make him feel good and dignified. The papers will portray Pak Lah as a much loved PM, and people want him to continue serving as PM and undertake the necessary reforms. But despite the “overwhelming” show of support, Pak Lah will then make a tearful announcement not to contest in the UMNO elections to enable UMNO move on and select his successor through the party democratic process. Again, Pak Lah will be praise for his courage and dignity.

Even Khairy has been crafting a possible exit. Khairy has complained that he was being sabotaged and barred from meeting some of his supporters, the same allegations that Mukhriz has earlier made. Khairy has also lambasted the UMNO Supreme Council decision to delay the party elections as complicating matters. In any case, should Khairy eventually lost the UMNO Youth Chief contest, he already has a few reasons to explain for the lost. Of course, Khairy can still win the post, as he should be contestant with the deepest pocket of them all.

Let us wait for Pak Lah’s announcement during the Hari Raya festivities on his future undertakings.

But beware, there is Brother Anwar Bin Ibrahim, who always wants to be in the limelight and steal the show. I am sure that Anwar will announce the submission of notice to the Speaker for a vote of no confidence against the PM on the very day Pak Lah makes his announcement.

916 came and went - But Anwar's still at it

My Ustadz told me that in the holy month of Ramadhan, the Satans are curtailed and would not have as much influence in the activities of mankind. Pious people will be at ease in performing religious rituals. That is one of the reasons why it is relatively easier to fast and perform good deeds during the month of Ramadhan as compared to other months of the year.

However, it does not mean that everything will be all good for everybody. Habitual sinners will continue to commit sin. Compulsive liars will continue to lie. Politicians will remain politicians.

I am not at all surprised when Anwar kept to his script of taking over the federal government yesterday, 16 September 2008. When I posted a comment on anwaribrahimblog.com, I was promptly scoffed by other commentators that 916 is “just” a vision/target, and not the actual date of Pakatan taking over the federal government. Now, they are saying that it is not a matter of IF but rather a matter of WHEN.

Anwar likes to be in the limelight. In any event that he went to, he will ensure that there was a sizeable crowd before he made his entrance. On 15 September night, he publicised that apart from Lim Kit Siang (DAP), Hadi Awang (PAS) will also be present at the Malaysia Day celebration, just to attract more crowd (especially the PAS supporters). Hadi Awang was not present. Anwar was also supposed to line up the BN defectors and proudly announce his elevation to Prime-Ministership on that very night. That too did not happen.

Yesterday, Anwar had the cheek to ask Pak Lah for a smooth transition of power to Pakatan. We were lucky that Pak Lah (at least yesterday) had been properly briefed by his troop of advisers on how to react to such nonsense.

What will Anwar do now, assuming he actually has the number? What good can he do if he starts marching to Istana Negara? Can the Agong accept his assertion of parliamentary majority based merely on letters signed by the alleged defectors? Even statutory declarations are of no value now, thanks to Petra and other Pakatan goons.

I admire HRH Sultan of Selangor for his wisdom to initially reject the appointment of Khalid Ibrahim as Selangor Menteri Besar when Khalid came to seek audience alone. The esteemed Sultan actually wanted all heads of the respective coalition parties in Pakatan to have an audience with him together, in order to ensure proper majority support is present before Royal consent is given. I trust the Agong has been properly briefed on the same subject matter.

Anwar honourable option would be to get Parliament to convene and face all the MPs heads on. But initially, he would have to file a motion of no confidence against Pak Lah. Should that succeed, I am sure that Barisan will appoint Najib as a nominee PM. What then? Another few rounds of no confidence vote, until Anwar is elected?

But one thing for sure is that Anwar has managed to ensure that Malaysia remains under great political uncertainty. And the political uncertainty has adversely affected the Malaysian economy and the FDIs. The blame for worsening economic conditions should not only be shouldered by the present federal government. Worse than usual relationships between the Pakatan-led state governments and the federal government is a negative factor, affecting business activities. Anwar’s continuing politic of deceptions will remain a major factor leading to economic uncertainty in Malaysia.

Remember, compulsive liars will continue to lie. And politicians will remain acting like typical politicians.

If Anwar really have the number, why did SAPP opted to be independent, and not joining Pakatan right away?

Pak Lah surprised by Muhyiddin's call to quit earlier

Sigh.

Pak Lah still cannot properly answer impromptu questions. Yesterday, in response to another impromptu question, Pak Lah said that he was surprised with Muhyiddin’s call to hasten the power transition.

I was not surprised.

May be Pak Lah can never cleverly interpret the subtle hints given by his fellow party members since the dismal election results. (Note: Pak Lah may maintain that it was not a DISMAL result, as he was quoted as saying that, in other countries, such results would be termed as a landslide victory).

Firstly, Pak Lah ignored the calls for a thorough post-mortem on the election results. Should not he be surprised that a lot of people were unhappy with the election results?

Pak Lah’s supporters have also been vocal in criticising those people who asked the PM to take responsibility in respect the dismal results. Mahathir, Ku Li and Mukhriz were vocal in asking Pak Lah to take responsibility. Pak Lah again ignored these calls. Instead, he engineered a pact with Najib for power transition in 2010. Should not he be surprised that his fellow party members were taken aback with the rather long transition plan?

Ghafur and Anifah were among those who declined to be appointed as Pak Lah’s cabinet members. Should not he be surprised that these people were unhappy with his leadership?

Anwar made a successful comeback with a convincing win in Permatang Pauh, just nearby Pak Lah’s constituency of Kepala Batas in Penang. Should not he be surprised that even his fellow state brethrens rejected his leadership?

Ahmad Ismail made a well publicised remark on the Chinese during the by-election. As a result, MCA severed their ties with Bukit Bendera’s UMNO. Gerakan, on the other hand, severed their ties with Penang UMNO. Penang UMNO is headed by Pak Lah. Should he be surprised that even other BN component parties reject his leadership?

One thing that I noticed is that Pak Lah will not react immediately on critical matters unless it has something to do with him. You can criticise UMNO. You can criticise BN. You can criticise other leaders in UMNO or BN. You can criticise and undermine the Malays. You can talk big and create rumours of new government. You can threaten to quit BN. You can do all these things, but never mention Pak Lah or PM as part of your statement. If you do, then you will get immediate reaction from him. If not, Pak Lah will take a while (and wait for input from his troop of advisers) to comment on the matter.

I bet that Pak Lah will say that he is surprised when some BN parliamentarians start to defect before the end of this month. But I will not be surprised if Pak Lah insisted on clinging to power, even with the defections.

Now, to avoid any more surprises on him, Pak Lah wants all talks in respect of the power transition be stopped. Expect his clowns to support the call and start demonising Muhyiddin.

What a solution. Neither clever nor wise.

Sigh.