Mahathir wants Zahid to replace Muhyiddin as the proxy PM
Because of the scandal involving someone else’s wife, Muhyiddin is as good as finished. So Mahathir is looking at a replacement proxy Prime Minister. And since it has to be one of the Umno Vice Presidents, Mahathir is looking at Zahid Hamidi, but only if Zahid can agree to appoint Mukhriz as his Deputy.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
In the previous article, article number seven (Muhyiddin wants Nika’s husband to sign a second SD), we reported that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is not at all pleased with the latest scandal involving Muhyiddin Yassin, his running mate in the ANC (Anti-Najib Campaign).
Muhyiddin was supposed to be Mahathir’s proxy Prime Minister if and when they successfully oust Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. And once Muhyiddin takes over he will appoint Mukhriz as his Deputy Prime Minister. That, in essence, is the whole strategy and the real issue surrounding the 1MDB attacks.
Yesterday, at 5.00pm, Muhyiddin and his sycophants and stooges met to decide on two courses of action. First they want Nika Gee Siew Yee to replace her lawyer with a DAP lawyer, which will then result in the four-day divorce proceeding starting from Monday next week having to be postponed. Next they are trying to approach Stanley Clement Augustin to get him to either withdraw his Statutory Declaration or sign a new (second) SD.
While the 5.00pm meeting was going on, Mahathir phoned Muhyiddin to ask what course of action they are considering and after hearing what they had planned the old man knew that it was the end of the road for Muhyiddin. If that is what they plan to do then Muhyiddin is a dead man walking. Postponing the hearing and getting a second SD signed is as good as an admission of guilt.
Mahathir knows that, because of this scandal, he can no longer bank on Muhyiddin as his proxy Prime Minister. Muhyiddin is just too tainted and Mahathir does not believe that he can recover from this scandal. It appears like Muhyiddin is on the way out and will never be able to make a comeback.
Furthermore, Muhyiddin did not go down to the ground to help campaign for the opposition in today’s two by-elections. So he has really done nothing much to deserve to take over as Prime Minister, even if he is prepared to appoint Mukhriz as his Deputy.
So before he continues with the move to oust Najib, Mahathir needs to replace Muhyiddin as his candidate for proxy Prime Minister. And Mahathir will have to look at one of the three Umno Vice Presidents as his candidate. And considering that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is already the Deputy Prime Minister, that becomes Mahathir’s logical choice.
So tomorrow an emissary will be attending Zahid’s buka puasa function so that this person can whisper into Zahid’s ear the proposal from Mahathir. And the proposal is: Mahathir is prepared to make Zahid the proxy Prime Minister once they manage to oust Najib, but only if Zahid can agree to appoint Mukhriz as his Deputy.
The whole thing hinges on Zahid agreeing to take Mukhriz as his number two once he takes over from Najib — if and when Najib is ousted. And the man who Mahathir plans to send to whisper into Zahid’s ear is Shahidan Kassim, someone who Mahathir has been using to do such things for more than 30 years.
Mahathir realises that with Muhyiddin practically out of the game and finished for good, he and Mukhriz are at the mercy of Zahid. If Mukhriz is ever going to be become Deputy Prime Minister, and, later, Prime Minister, then Mahathir needs to work with Zahid. Short of that Mukhriz will also be as good as finished.
Mahathir also knows that, considering his age, he no longer has the luxury of time. So he cannot afford to start grooming a new candidate. Mahathir has to work with whatever is available and that would mean Zahid or else he has no one.
Mukhriz might also attend Zahid’s buka puasa tomorrow but now that this plan has been exposed he might just lie low instead and not attend after all like he gave Muhyiddin’s meeting yesterday a miss.
