The Malaysian Insight

POLITICAL survival could be bringing together Umno’s Hishammuddin Hussein and PKR’s Mohamed Azmin Ali as the two men try to ensure their futures after Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said analysts.

The two may expect to gain little favour from Anwar Ibrahim when he takes over the prime minister’s office as agreed under a succession plan endorsed by the parties in Pakatan Harapan.

PKR deputy president Azmin has problems with party chief while Hishammuddin has been without a position in Umno since Barisan Nasional lost the general election last year.

A meeting on Monday night hosted by Azmin and attended by Hishammuddin has revived speculation there are plans to make sure Anwar does not become the country’s eighth prime minister.

But such sneaky attempts to thwart Anwar is a dangerous game, said political analyst Azizuddin Mohd Sani, a professor at Universiti Utara Malaysia.

“This may be Azmin and Hishammuddin’s chance to stop Anwar –  by riding on the back of the Tg Piai by-election results which show voters’ rejection of PH,” Azizuddin told The Malaysian Insight.

“But while such moves are common in politics, if they result in chaos and instability, it is the people who will suffer.”

Twenty-two BN MPs and six PKR MPs met for two hours at Azmin’s residence. It is believed they were working out how to keep Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the head of government.

The PH chairman is facing calls for his resignation following the ruling coalition’s defeat in Tanjung Piai on Saturday. PH’s loss to BN by more than 15,000 votes is viewed to be a rejection of the government after 18 months.

Hishammuddin’s presence in the meeting appears to corroborate with talk that he is seeking a political career outside BN. The Sembrong MP was previously reported to have tried to get his Umno colleagues in parliament to defect to PH.

Azmin, however, has said the gathering was just an “ordinary meeting”.  PKR central leadership committee member Kamaruddin Jaafar has denied the attendees met to discuss how to counter calls for Dr Mahathir to step down.

Azizuddin believes Azmin and Hishammuddin are planning ahead.  

“There is fear that when Anwar becomes prime minister, there won’t be a place for them in government. But given their stature on the political scene, they can still play a role and have a chance,” he said.

“But to go through the backdoor is to reject the people’s mandate. If you want to change government, the way to do it is through elections.”

It could also come down to sheer numbers. But it would only be possible to know how many MPs were in favour of Dr Mahathir staying if each MP gave a sworn statement, Azizuddin said.

“Will any of them dare to do so? Will they dare to sign a sworn statement that would lead to a change of government?”

Another analyst, Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub concurred it made sense for Azmin and Hishammuddin to work together to stop Anwar for gaining power.

“Hishammuddin and Azmin have enjoyed the benefits of being in politics, as a former minister and minister, respectively.

“Their political strategy now is not just for their survival, but to have a place within a larger picture that involves the Malays, Anwar and certain powers within PH,” said the Universiti Malaya senior lecturer in administrative studies and politics.

The question is how Azmin and Hishammuddin will fare against a succession plan that has the backing of all PH parties and which was promised the voters in the campaign campaign.

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said Azmin and Hishammuddin would bring about their own downfall if they were truly seeking to sabotage the plan.

He also wondered why BN MPs had need to meet with a PH leader after the opposition had won the Tg Piai by-election by a landslide.

Former BN secretary-general Nazri Aziz believed that whatever strategy that was being cooked up would not succeed as Hishammuddin lacked sway in Umno.

“(Hishammuddin) is no longer an Umno leader, on what authority can he get BN MPs to meet with Azmin?” Nazri said. – November 20, 2019.