THE recent Tik Tok video by Barisan Nasional’s prime minister candidate, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, says it all.
Does he understand that he just admitted to pushing for the next general election to circumnavigate against going behind bars?
In the video, he candidly identifies others who may also end up being charged with corruption if Umno loses at the polls.
We have seen democracy under siege in Southeast Asia due to fierce geopolitical competition, the inability to accede to a smooth transition of power, and of course, corruption being the order of the day.
But Zahid Hamidi’s power grab takes the cake.
He edged former prime minister and current Bersatu leader Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin out, and held the caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob under siege.
We all know Ismail Sabri buckled under pressure and possibly feared being suspended from Umno and then left in the cold.
But, in all this rush, Zahid Hamidi forgot that the other political parties do not want an election now. This raises questions about the legitimacy of Ismail Sabri, when he went to seek permission from His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, to dissolve Parliament.
Umno’s support for the Parliament dissolution can only count for about 17% of the MPs.
Other political parties publicly disagreed with this decision, including Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional. Assuming that all PH and PN MPs oppose the dissolution, this would amount to 135 lawmakers: a clear majority.
There were a total of 80 ministers and deputy ministers in the cabinet, with only 29 ministers from BN.
Caretaker health minister Khairy Jamaluddin publicly disagreed with holding the general election in 2022.
Caretaker youth and sports minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, meanwhile, has publicly stated that Ismail Sabri did not inform the cabinet about the dissolution.
Therefore, did Ismail Sabri have the majority support of Parliament when he went to seek an audience with the Agong? If he didn’t, then the dissolution of Parliament is null and void.
So, what is the reason for forcing this election on us if not to sanitise Zahid Hamidi’s reputation and allow him to finagle his way out of prison?
This brings us to the fundamental question: is this a power grab, Zahid style? – The Vibes, October 12, 2022
Charles Santiago is incumbent Klang MP
