More calls for Zahid to take leave
That means this leaves only the 49 Umno MPs. If Anwar needs another 32 votes it has to, therefore, come from Umno. But many of the Umno people want to be with Mahathir and not with Anwar. Hence these people want Zahid to ‘take leave’ because they do not want a pro-Anwar Umno president.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Many in Umno want Zahid to ‘take leave’
There are more calls from Umno leaders all over Malaysia for Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to take leave from his post of Umno President. The moral thing to do, of course, would be to take leave while you sort out your criminal charges in court.
But then Lim Guan Eng, too, faced criminal charges and he, too, refused to take leave from his post as Penang’s Chief Minister. Many other Pakatan Rakyat/Pakatan Harapan leaders, too, faced criminal charges over the last ten years and none of them took leave from their posts or jobs.
Hence why should Zahid alone take leave when scores of others, in particular those from Pakatan Rakyat/Pakatan Harapan, did not do the same?
Umno may soon have to decide whether to support Mahathir or Anwar in the tussle for the Prime Minister’s post
The issue here is not a moral issue. It is a political issue. Many in Umno want to work with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. This would be a back-door entry back into the government. Zahid, however, is aligned to Anwar Ibrahim. And these Umno people are expecting a clash between Mahathir and Anwar soon.
It was 20 years ago in 1998 when Anwar tried, unsuccessfully, to oust Mahathir. And they are expecting the same thing to happen again. But Anwar cannot oust Mahathir unless he can get Umno, PAS, Sabah and Sarawak to support him.
Anwar’s first coup attempt 20 years ago in 1998 failed and he wants to try again today
If DAP, Amanah and half of PKR (those not aligned to Azmin Ali) support Anwar to oust Mahathir, that would be less than 80 seats (READ MORE HERE: Malaysia’s slush funds come to the surface). So, Anwar will be short of 32 seats.
Sabah and Sarawak may stay neutral and work with whoever wins the tussle for the Prime Minister’s job. The priority for Sabah and Sarawak is the MA63 and 20% oil royalty. Who becomes Prime Minister is not important to Sabah and Sarawak because BOTH would need to honour the MA63 and 20% oil royalty election promise.
All PAS wants is the 5% oil royalty for Terengganu and Kelantan, and they have got it
PAS, which is ruling Terengganu and Kelantan, is happy with Mahathir. They have now got back their 5% oil royalty and maybe this will be increased later. So, who do you think they will support if Anwar and Mahathir clash?
That means this leaves only the 49 Umno MPs. If Anwar needs another 32 votes it has to, therefore, come from Umno. But many of the Umno people want to be with Mahathir and not with Anwar. Hence these people want Zahid to ‘take leave’ because they do not want a pro-Anwar Umno president.
