A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.
– James Freeman Clarke, English theologian and author
If there is one sentence to describe the state of Malaysia’s politics it would be “neither here, nor there”.
What do I mean by that? I think the main political players – those in the government and in the opposition are unsure which team they should be playing for.
It is a stark contrast to past general elections (GEs) where political alliances, demeanours and affiliations are already carved in stone.
In past GEs, we know that Barisan Nasional (BN) parties with lynchpin United Malaysia National Organisation (UMNO) would be the parties that are for the government.
Meanwhile, parties like Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Islam Se Malaysia (PAS) are fighting as the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR)
Each would carry themselves as that – BN and UMNO upholding the policies of the government that they are and the latter would raise issues of the rakyat, highlighting the shortcomings of the government.
Essentially it is cut and dry – it couldn’t get any simpler than that. They each would have the support of political minnows – that is expected.
Now, you have UMNO – which is the government but also not the government. Same goes to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM). Heck, we don’t even know what the federal government is called – is it BN or Perikatan Nasional (PN)?
It is that messy, and the mess that GE14 has created – along with the Sheraton Move did not stop there.
There are now an increasing number of political parties nationwide each thinking that they have a “chance”.
As one local political analyst memorably puts it, “they all think they are very lihai (strong and formidable)”.
Before it was BN and PR in GE13 – then PPBM was formed. After that PPBM members spun off two new parties – Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (PEJUANG) and Malaysia United Democratic Alliance (MUDA).
PPBM, which took in the ex-PKR faction led by Datuk Seri Azmin Ali is now seeing those from PKR leaving the party.
Case in point, Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin – an Azmin loyalist leaving PPBM for Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) – essentially a rebranded Sarawak Worker’s Party (SWP).
Questions now linger whether her boss Azmin will follow suit. Most would speculate that he would do so and thus deliver a fatal blow to PPBM, losing their political strongman.
Azmin was tapped by PPBM as a political muscle to party president and then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Essentially, he was the federal government’s No. 2 before current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri pipped him to the post of deputy prime minister.
Another Azmin man, Datuk Willie Mongin – an MP for Puncak Borneo has applied to join Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
A weakened PPBM might find its standing being reduced in the government – and many could speculate that a reconciliation is on the cards with old alliance, Pakatan Harapan which Bersatu is part of in GE14. That’s one.
PPBM’s rival turned ally PAS is seen by pundits to be departing from PN, judging from its eagerness for an early GE15.
Perhaps, PAS is seeing that its partnership with the Malay party to not bearing fruit. After all, PAS was brought into the limelight supporting the current government due to its loose Muafakat Nasional (MN) coalition with UMNO.
Now PAS, UMNO and PPBM couldn’t stand each other. PAS may very well be going solo in GE15; we would know which side they are on when the time comes to choose between UMNO and PPBM.
This brings us to DAP, who has in the past flip-flopped on its position to work with arch-nemesis UMNO.
Describing that “politics is dynamic”, secretary general Anthony Loke said the party is always open to working with others, including UMNO in order to achieve what is best for the people.
Of course, this did not go down well with hardcore supporters of DAP but it is representative of the dynamism of politics in the nation.
It is only right that they think of the future of the party, as lending support to PKR’s Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim bid for prime minister has been futile all this while.
A snap general election would see these parties at play aligning with one or the other – they know that going solo, while might sound “noble” and a good crowd-pleaser for their ceramah, it is not feasible.
GE15 might just be around the corner – we’ll know soon enough.
