Silver linings for a prime minister under siege – Terence Fernandez

WHEN Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was made prime minister on August 16, 2021, the warlords in Umno – including its president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi – were probably of the belief that they had put in place someone who would toe the party line and adhere to the wishes of the raucous voices in Umno.

In short, they expected a puppet PM who would follow the party members’ wishes (read: president’s orders) no matter how unreasonable or perverse they may seem – for instance, saving their behinds from landing in jail.

Unfortunately for them, Ismail Sabri seems to be choosing his own path.

His “selamba” demeanour when faced with demands to interfere in the judicial process that ultimately sent former prime minister and ex-Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak to jail last week gave these Umno warlords a jolt of reality – that Ismail Sabri is not the errand boy they had hoped for.

For the first time, the country is seeing a prime minister who is not the leader of his party. Ismail Sabri is only a vice-president. Hence, the hierarchy in a conservative party like Umno would dictate blind adherence and loyalty.

But the Bera MP has frustrated them by sticking to his script: I will not interfere in the judicial process; I will respect the doctrine of separation of powers.

The prime minister’s refusal to interfere, where some of his predecessors have, resulted in the mob which congregated at Dewan Merdeka at the World Trade Centre over the weekend demanding – among others – the removal of the chief justice and the attorney-general, as well as pressuring the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to grant Najib a premature royal pardon.

Also, on Ismail Sabri’s to-do list is to call for the general election immediately. While the dissolution of Parliament is at the discretion of the prime minister, he is allowed to consider the requests of his party in this matter.

However, the other demands to abuse his power and go after the attorney-general and the chief justice – basically to release Najib and by subtle extension assist in a favourable outcome for Zahid’s own corruption trial – are something unprecedented.

Never has the nation seen an open attack on the judiciary, undue pressure on the king and “kurang ajar” behaviour by Umno – uncharacteristic of a party that is supposed to represent the interests of the Malays.

Never has a prime minister been given a mandate and ultimatum from his own party to attack the judicial process.

If only this crowd of 3,000 people were as passionate about opposing corruption and inequalities that still see a majority of the Malay community marginalised.

If anything, this group of Umno members is creating the narrative desired by political rivals as to why Umno cannot come back to power.

That our ringgit and stock market improved after Najib lost his final appeal is a testament that businesses and investors weigh integrity and the rule of law heavily. 

Umno – or at least those who represented it in the hall last weekend – has shown that it will resort to a scorched-earth approach if it does not get its way.

That it is willing to dethrone a prime minister from within its own ranks demonstrates the insane levels it will resort to.

However, we can draw comfort from the fact that the 3,000 people in Dewan Merdeka are only a fraction of the 3.3 million Umno members.

That only 73 division heads of the 191 divisions had convened at a special meeting on August 22 to demand Ismail Sabri’s interference indicates that a majority of the members are fed up with the party and its leaders who obviously did not learn anything from its first election loss in 2018.

But Umno members are known to notoriously keep their views to themselves.

They only make their stand known through their ballots, either at the branch or divisional level elections; or even in general or by-elections, where they demonstrate their protest by not voting.

Ismail Sabri should stay the course and put his faith in the silent majority who will not want to see the party being punished again for having corrupt leaders.

His stoic silence amid threats of sacking and his actions in declassifying defence contracts that implicate other Umno leaders seems to be his style of fighting back.

Despite the criticisms of his administration, Pakatan Harapan leaders have been generally kind to him and have expressed that he is someone they can work with.

As Muda chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman says, he is a reconciliatory prime minister.

Hence, if it comes to it, Ismail Sabri could even survive a vote of confidence in Parliament.

One year ago, Ismail Sabri would never have imagined himself to be prime minister. 

Today, he has the opportunity to leave a legacy as the person who weathered the dark forces of his party to defend the rule of law.

As a reconciliatory prime minister, he can help bring together fragmented political forces and succeed where Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad failed.

Probably once these dark noises are muted, he will be able to focus on more imaginative and inclusive policies that truly embody the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia. – The Vibes, August 30, 2022

Terence Fernandez is editor-in-chief of PETRA News that publishes The Vibes and its Bahasa Malaysia sister portal Getaran