Tun Ghafar Baba: Tun Mahathir's troubles began when he let Ghafar go. Ghafar was totally loyal.
Consider the impact Anwar had been in just the past few days:
:: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad accused Anwar of ulterior motive in releasing the cellphone video recording of V. K. Lingam allegedly brokering senior judicial appointments. Anwar, the ex-PM claimed, was trying to undermine Lingam’s credibility as a lawyer defending Dr Mahathir against Anwar’s RM100 million lawsuit;
:: Anwar dismissed Dr Mahathir’s accusations, pointing out that the Lingam video was taken in 2001 when he was still in Sungai Buloh prison;
:: Khairy Jamaludin (BN-Rembau) launched a well-prepared attack during his debate on the royal address against Anwar, slamming the ex-DPM of inflating his own importance in curbing petrol price hikes during his tenure as Finance Minister and also failing absolutely to check the 1997 financial crisis.
This Anwar-influenced conviction has permeated into the Dewan Rakyat since it commenced proceedings late last month, if you were to also add the Anwar claim that 34 Sabah BN Mps are ready to defect to Pakatan Rakyat and a BN MP who accused Anwar of fixing him when the ex-DPM was Umno deputy president.
Today was no different: Anwar’s name was bandied about in equal measures of devotion and derision, more so after he was recently adjudged to be one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world under the segments of leaders, thinkers, heroes, artists and scientists.
If you are a Parti Keadilan Rakyat MP, like N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai), you will parrot Anwar’s name with the commitment of a cultist, singing praises of leadership, exultation and heroism. If you are a BN MP, like Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (BN-Jerlun), you will disparage Anwar’s name with the conviction of a loyalist, barking condemnation of treachery, megalomania and deception.
Gobalakrishnan has been involved in most major altercations in the confrontation with BN backbenchers during the debate on the royal address but today as he held the floor, he declined to give way to BN backbenchers to seek clarification in the same manner that Khairy simply refused to budge from his no-clarification stand yesterday
Before singing praises for Anwar, Gobalakrishnan echoed the political tsunami cliché that catapulted him and a horde of opposition members as unlikely MPs while demanding the release of five members of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) detained under the ISA. For good measure, he also demanded that the ISA be abolished and still latching on the ISA, demanded that the Government pay reparations to all former ISA detainees, including Anwar Ibrahim.
All and fully expected but when Mukhriz took the floor, he meandered a bit on the mundane stuff before refocusing on the flavour of the week – a well-heeled three-point attack on Anwar.
First, Mukhriz alluded to the TIME 100 special in naming Anwar as one of its inductees for leaders and revolutionaries. Before anyone in the House thought that Mukhriz was issuing a begrudging praise, he dived into the accompanying essay lauding Anwar, penned by Paul Wolfowitz – former US Deputy Secretary of Defense and World Bank president who resigned in controversial fashion – and quickly named him as one of the people responsible for the mass murder of the Iraqi people. “Why is Anwar in cahoots with Paul Wolfowitz?” he asked in an unrushed, calm tone.
Secondly, he claimed that an article reported by the Jerusalem Post postulated that Anwar will be Malaysia’s future Prime Minister. “This proves that Israel agrees with the idea that Anwar can become prime minister of Malaysia. Why is this?”
Thirdly, Mukhriz claimed that the Foundation of the Future, a foreign organisation chaired by Anwar, received US$35 million from the United State, US$10 million from Bahrain and US$11 million from unknown sources. Mukhriz also repeated an earlier allegation that Anwar had a hand in bringing in Wolfowitz’s girlfriend Shaha Ali Riza into the foundation.
For the record, Anwar had issued a statement in May last year disputing the allegation, insisting that the Foundation obtained pledges of US$56 million only funds from Turkey, United Kingdom and Jordan, among others, but not the US. Anwar also insisted that he did not appoint Reza to the Foundation but that she was first assigned by the World Bank through the US State Department to the Foundation in late 2005 before he became Chairman.
But Mukhriz was not at all interested in Anwar’s explanation, reasoning that being the man tipped to become the next Prime Minister of Malaysia, how he can collude with a known neocon responsible for the deaths of many Iraqis.
As he concluded his debate, he declared. “Can we allow this? I will assure you that Umno will defend steadfastly against this man from becoming Prime Minister.”
There’s no escaping Anwar Ibrahim… (NST 13 May 2008)
Comments:
Must I need to comment? Roger Milton's comments in Asiaweek,30 November 2000 would suffice.In his article "Power Play" Roger wrote: "WHEN MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER Mahathir Mohamad returned from New York to Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 30, he was an unhappy man. The day before, he had addressed the 50th session of the United Nations General Assembly, an honor for any leader. It was a speech the whole world was waiting to hear, said Malaysian newspapers and TV. And it was a very good speech on one of Mahathir's favorite themes: that the U.N. must be reformed to serve all nations, not just the interests of the rich.
But few Malaysians noticed. The prime minister's hour in the international spotlight was almost totally eclipsed by the defeat that same day of a Mahathir loyalist in a party divisional election. An added sting: the election was in Kedah, the prime minister's home state. The electoral setback -- one of many in recent weeks -- sparked rumors that Mahathir, 69, was losing his grip on UMNO, the dominant party in the ruling coalition, and might soon have to relinquish control to his deputy, the dynamic finance minister Anwar Ibrahim, 48.
The PM deftly jested about it, although his face betrayed his irritation. When later asked how he would deal with the electoral rebuffs, he smiled, clenched his fist and quipped: "I will not elaborate, because now I am losing my grip." He may joke, but a growing number of serious observers and partymen are beginning to wonder if indeed that is not the case. So much so that on Oct. 2, the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange fell 1.6% to a five-month low and remained down throughout the week. Brokers attributed the drop to political uncertainties.
What -- or more to the point, who -- is behind Mahathir's troubles? Most of Malaysia's political junkies -- and that includes almost everyone from taxi drivers to tycoons to technocrats -- think they know. The talk around town is that Anwar, Mahathir's chosen successor and UMNO's brightest star, used proxies to battle -- and defeat -- his boss's candidates in the party's internal polls. The question now on everyone's lips is whether Anwar may be positioning himself to claim the top prize -- the party presidency, and with it, the premiership -- at the November 1996 party elections.
The real story, though, is more complex. To put it in perspective requires a review of past leadership battles, current generational conflicts, money politics and grassroots UMNO electioneering. It helps to get a few things straight from the start. 1) True, Anwar has effectively taken charge of UMNO at almost all levels. 2) Despite that, he is unlikely to challenge Mahathir for the party presidency next year. 3) Although he may not openly challenge Mahathir, that does not mean that he will not take over as leader in the near future.
HOW DID HE DO IT?
How did Anwar seemingly outmaneuver the man who has dominated Malaysian politics and national life as premier for 14 years, and who led his National Front government to a stunning general election victory just six months ago? Simply by concentrating on UMNO party affairs. As one of his close business associates told Asiaweek: "Forget the general election. For Anwar it's always the party, party, party." The focus has paid off. In the party's recent internal elections for the top posts in the 165 divisions around the country, Anwar's men tightened their hold, while many of the PM's top loyalists were ousted. To a man, the losers believe their downfall was engineered by Anwar's supporters.
The list of casualties reads like a Who's Who of Mahathir backers: the PM's close friend and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, former agriculture minister Sanusi Junid, the ex-deputy premier Ghafar Baba, former chief minister of Malacca Rahim Tamby Chik, current deputy ministers Khalid Yunus and Railey Jeffrey, and the party's veteran information chief Hussein Ahmad. Said a Kuala Lumpur-based diplomat: "It looks to me like Mahathir is in trouble. What shocks me most is that UMNO men have ignored his explicit instructions to support these people."
The PM had bluntly dismissed the challenge to his friend Daim as "nonsensical," and publicly backed Sanusi, who has been one of his staunch loyalists for almost two decades. Yet both were sidelined. Daim was so humiliated by the challenge that he withdrew before the election; heavyweight Sanusi lost to his former deputy. Says political analyst Rustam Sani: "If only a few years ago the PM had said: 'I don't want you to challenge Daim,' they would all have obeyed. No question about it. Now they quite openly didn't."
That was enough to start the talk of Mahathir's demise. But what really kicked the coffeeshop talk into high gear were the vehement denials by Mahathir and Anwar that there was a split between them. In the labyrinthine world of Malaysian politics, smoke in the kitchen means there is something cooking. As Penang-based University of Science academic Ariffin Omar says: "You don't have to have the front pages of all the papers deny that there's going to be a challenge unless that is precisely what everyone thinks is going to happen." Adds Ariffin: "It is shaping up to be a real dogfight. I don't think either Mahathir or Anwar really wants it, but it is now being thrust upon them by events beyond their control."
To many, it is beginning to look like an eerie reprise of the events of 1993. At the start of that year, Anwar said that he had no intention of running for UMNO's No. 2 slot, and continued for months to deny that he would challenge the incumbent deputy president Ghafar Baba. Yet all the while, he and his supporters were working for exactly that end -- even though Mahathir had said explicitly that he wanted Ghafar to remain in his post.
Building up support from the grassroots, Anwar's backers got most of the party's divisions to nominate their man for the No. 2 slot. They then got almost all the state chief ministers to endorse Anwar, who by then issued a statement that he felt obliged to heed the party's wishes and accept the nominations. Ghafar quit in disgust soon after. The party elected Anwar deputy president in November, and a month later, Mahathir elevated him to deputy premier.
Says a business consultant in Kuala Lumpur: "This is the Malay way, the shadow play. You don't say you will challenge, you say the opposite. But you work to get the party to support you and then say that being a party loyalist you have to heed the party's wishes, even though you have nothing personally against the incumbent, whom you admire greatly. This is what Anwar did to Ghafar and what he is likely to do to Mahathir. If Anwar gives the word, the nominations will start to flood in for him for party president next year."
WILL ANWAR GIVE THE WORD?
That is the question on everyone's lips. The answer: chances are he won't. But that has not stopped speculation that the PM will step down before the nominations start coming in around June next year, in order to avoid an embarrassing defeat. However, most seasoned observers rightly scoff at this scenario. Says University of Malaya academic Jomo Sundaram: "It is not credible that the PM will stand down in the next few months." Adds banker Tan Siok Choo: "He will not stand down, he will fight. He still has an agenda." Indeed, both leaders are too savvy to let an unsavory contest ensue. Besides, nobody wants Mahathir, who is hugely popular and respected by a wide spectrum of Malaysians, to be forced out with a loss of dignity.
Still, there is no guarantee Anwar won't mount a challenge. Others have done it before. In the 1987 UMNO elections, then party deputy president Musa Hitam and former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah nearly toppled the prime minister. "Mahathir will never forget what happened," says the K.L. business consultant. "I vividly recall Mahathir and Musa Hitam embracing in November 1985. Then in early 1986, Musa split from him and contested against him. So much for loyalty."
UMNO's Zahid Hamidi agrees: "We had a very bad experience with Mahathir and Musa, and with Mahathir and Ghafar. The political balancing that Mahathir is now doing must be followed by Anwar." Maybe, but some say the balance is tilting too much Anwar's way. The root of Mahathir's problems goes back to 1993, when Anwar chose to make his move against Ghafar Baba. Says Ariffin: "Mahathir's troubles actually began when he let Ghafar go. Ghafar was totally loyal and no threat, and he looked after the party for him. Now Anwar has taken it over."
It is no secret that Anwar is in line to become premier some day. Activist and intellectual Chandra Muzaffar agrees: "Mahathir has groomed him for this role." That has been clear ever since he brought the former firebrand student leader turned social activist into government in 1982. At an UMNO Supreme Council meeting last month, Mahathir told the members "I give the party to Anwar." It was a repeat of what he told party leaders after the April general election victory: "Anwar is my heir apparent. He will take over from me." So top partymen know the score. But no one knows the timetable for the changeover, or whether Anwar and his backers accept it. Hence the worry that if the PM stays on too long, his hand may have to be forced by a contest.
UMNO is one of the most democratic parties in the world. "Too democratic," quips Youth head Nazri Aziz. Members elect divisional delegations, who every three years elect a president, deputy president and three vice-presidents. When talk of a challenge flared again last month, Mahathir repeated there would be no contest for the presidency. It provoked a backlash. Said a diplomat: "Some young Turks expressed loyalty to the PM, but said: ÔHow dare he say there won't be a contest. It's not up to him to say that. UMNO is a democratic party. If someone wants to contest for any post and gets nominated, then they can run. You can't stop them.' "
This view was aired publicly by a senior UMNO man. Said parliamentary secretary Fauzi Rahman on Oct. 3: "The view that the top two posts should not be contested must come from the divisions and not from top party leadership." In other words, if the members decide to nominate Anwar against Mahathir, there is little, technically, either man can do about it.
WHY MAHATHIR MIGHT STEP DOWN
The rapport between Mahathir and Anwar is based on trust and admiration -- in spite of ideological differences. As Anwar's closest adviser Kamarudin Jaffar says: "There is mutual respect." Yet each holds undeniably divergent views of how Malaysia should develop: Mahathir, the can-do, pro-rapid development leader who has grabbed Malaysia by the neck and thrust it into the modern world; Anwar, the social libertarian who voices concern that the welfare and social values of the people are being subverted in the rush to modernize -- the man of the common folk.
But partymen say what has caused most of the recent complaints about Mahathir, and has fueled the current crisis, is the growing perception that he is not open to renewal in cabinet and other government and party posts, that he does not promote from within the ranks but sticks with the same old guard. Said one partyman: "Every division voiced criticism, not of the PM himself, but of his style of keeping the same people. The ones who have been sitting in subordinate positions waiting for the chance to get promoted are just fed up. They see the advent of Anwar as a chance for their much delayed promotion."
Similar complaints are heard regarding the corporate sector. Politicians have long lamented that there are not enough bumis -- indigenous Malays -- in top business positions, and that the PM keeps rewarding the same coterie of trusted tycoons with government contracts. Anwar has promised to spread the wealth more widely.
Following the blatant vote-buying in the 1993 UMNO party elections, the party held a special assembly last year to clean up its act. But little changed. Says an UMNO divisional chief: "The politics of patronage is now ingrained in Malaysia." Anwar has vowed to fight this. But few believe he can do it -- and some even question his resolve, largely because his 1993 Vision Team included some of the worst perpetrators of patronage.
WHEN WILL ANWAR BECOME PM?
Some say Mahathir will resign in the next six months, that is, before party nominations come in, so as to avoid the prospect of defeat. This is possible, but extremely unlikely. Says a party strategist: "Mahathir will not step down in the next year. If he did, there would be a bloodbath for the No. 2 spot under Anwar. That will not happen."
Alternatively, nominations for Anwar may flood in, forcing him to reluctantly accept them in a replay of the Ghafar defeat in 1993. Thus he replaces Mahathir -- either after the PM resigns or is defeated at the polls. Nothing is impossible in politics, but this comes close to it. Another scenario sees partymen obeying the call not to nominate Anwar, so both top posts go uncontested and the status quo remains. However, after the events of the past weeks, no one thinks things can remain the same.
The savviest analysts believe the most likely scenario is that a deliberate signal has been sent to Mahathir showing Anwar's power in the party. The senders have also indicated that they do not want Mahathir to stay on indefinitely. They would like him to go, not immediately, and not without dignity, but relatively soon. The talk that he might stay on into the 21st century is simply not tenable anymore.
These analysts say that privately a commitment is likely to have been given and that both sides will honor it. There will be nominations for Anwar, but he will cut them off to show his power, and will unstintingly support Mahathir for the top spot. After his re-election, Mahathir, in return, is likely to say that he has been in power 15 years and it is nearing the time to pass the baton to a new man. Says the party insider: "So no challenge, no fight, no embarrassing parallel of '93, whereby the PM has to resign to avoid losing a contest. He retains his dignity, stays on -- but only for the short term. He must go between '96 and '99, and it will be sooner rather than later."
If that is the case, then all sides will be relieved. Talk of a rift will die. The succession will be handled with such sureness and lack of rancor that political stability will be ensured and the economy and stock market will be unaffected. Such a smooth transition would show the unity and political maturity of the Malaysian polity at its best."
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