KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is a lucky guy.
For starters, his seemingly shaky government has been accorded much-needed relief since his request for a nationwide emergency was declined by the King last weekend.
On Monday night, Umno reiterated its support for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government which Muhyiddin leads — a pledge that it had made last week when it announced a political ceasefire from squabbling with other parties.
Yesterday, PAS too did the same.
Muhyiddin’s latest lifeline is somewhat unique — it did not come from him being “rescued” via a movement control order as has happened before.
Since he rose to become prime minister on March 1, the control order that his administration imposed has, inadvertently or otherwise, somehow shielded him from political attacks.
The most recent example would be the conditional movement control order (CMCO) from October 14 to 27.
It coincidentally saw PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s bid to take over the government get foiled, as Istana Negara went on a semi-lockdown mode following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s audience with Anwar on October 13.
By virtue of the CMCO, the Agong’s already-scheduled meetings with party leaders to presumably gauge the gravity of Anwar’s claim over Muhyiddin’s lack of parliamentary support were postponed indefinitely.
And when Anwar cannot make a move, others move in – at least that’s what it looks like.
Especially for Umno, which has, following Anwar’s royal audience, stamped its feet at Muhyiddin’s Bersatu and demanded to redefine the terms of its political support for PN.
However, after the Agong decided that it is not necessary to have the emergency proposed by Muhyiddin, Umno opted for a mellower position.
At press time, Bersatu has yet to officially react to either Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s political ceasefire statement or his reiteration of support for the PN government.
But the talk among high-ranking leaders in Bersatu is that Muhyiddin had been strongly advised before he proposed the emergency declaration to the Agong not to cave in to Umno’s demands.
If Muhyiddin avoids the demands, he will be reneging the “green light” that he gave to Umno to state their new terms in a virtual meeting that he had with Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan two weeks ago.
“First, he said yes (to possible new Umno terms). Then, maybe. And after that he ran to the Agong to declare darurat (emergency) over the Covid-19 situation which the government had consistently assured us was in control. How can Umno trust him?” said an Umno Supreme Council member who wants anonymity.
Scheming for power going on relentlessly
For now, lady luck is still on Muhyiddin’s side as Umno is not likely to do anything that could be construed as going against the Agong’s decree to preserve the country’s political stability. Safeguarding the sanctity of the Malay sultanate is also the essence of the party.
While Monday’s Umno Supreme Council meeting was seen by critics as the party’s tacit defiance of the Agong’s wishes, it is not unusual for Umno leaders to huddle and deliberate on Muhyiddin’s failure to convince the Agong to declare emergency.
“Some supposedly claimed that their struggle was born in the palace, but are now ignoring the decree of the rulers. They talk of ceasefire but are relentlessly scheming here and there to save their lives by vying for power,” said Bersatu youth exco member Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim.
But those familiar with Malay politics would understand the gravity of the Agong’s decision to turn down the advice of a prime minister to him, in this case for an emergency. If this had happened in the olden days, the prime minister’s equivalent, the bendahara, would likely see it as a cue to “berundur” (withdraw).
For Umno to rethink its participation in a ruling coalition led by a person who has suffered such a snub is a given.
As it is, Muhyiddin still has time. Anwar’s takeover attempt has essentially been stalled.
Umno’s ceasefire is still intact and the Agong has decreed that MPs should support Budget 2021 for it to be implemented in these trying times of Covid-19.
However, the luxury of time can work both ways. It may give attackers the advantage to reload, call for reinforcement and launch sneak attacks when the ceasefire is eventually called off. – The Vibes, October 29, 2020
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