COMMENT Politicians are supposed to plot. That is the nature of the game. It is not a crime, provided that the plan does not entail deeds that transgress the laws of the nation.

For example, a vote of no confidence against a prime minister is within the democratic framework, and in the current context, observers believe, would be a much welcomed end to the protracted political crisis that has plunged the nation into the twilight zone.

So it is odd that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would turn to the police to seek an investigation into the campaign being mounted against his boss, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Certainly, the home minister and seasoned letter writer to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is aware of what falls within the scope of police jurisdiction.

Being an “ambitious old man” is no grounds for commencing a probe.

Unless, Zahid is under the impression that it is the duty of the police to safeguard the prime minister from legitimate attempts to unseat him.

Perhaps, Zahid is also concerned about his future and does not wish for history to confer upon him the unenviable title of being the deputy prime minister with the briefest tenure in office.

Should the plan come to fruition and the “ambitious old man” becomes the interim prime minister, he might choose to undo the divine intervention which Zahid claims had presented him with the number two post - and banish Zahid into the political wilderness.

To his credit, the police chief educated Zahid on the role of the men and women in blue, and reminded him that thwarting a no confidence vote against the prime minister is not included in their training syllabus.

Though Zahid conceded that the law allowed such a manoeuvre and a similar move was orchestrated to seize power in Perak, he, however, remains adamant that Umno should not fall victim to such a scheme, which he proclaims to be nefarious in design.

In other words, the deputy prime minister is a firm believer of the mantra that what Umno does unto others should not be done unto Umno.

Opposition in a conundrum

As for the vote of no confidence itself, Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s suggested formula has placed the opposition and its supporters in somewhat of a conundrum.

The former prime minister argued that for the plan - which he believes has become imperative at this juncture - to succeed, the opposition must agree to the ruling coalition retaining federal power in the aftermath of the prime minister’s removal.

Otherwise, he said, no right-minded Umno lawmaker would lend his or her support.

The opposition is divided on this. For some, this is a compromise that cannot be made. Umno and BN must be dismantled and a new dawn must break for Malaysia. There is no middle ground. Nothing short of a regime change would suffice.

For the more pragmatic minded, uprooting a regime of more than five decades and whose roots are entrenched in all the major institutions is not as simple as some would choose to believe, especially with the Election Commission accused of being partisan.

A fragmented opposition, with its leader languishing in prison, they argue, is in no position to make demands or set the rules at the negotiation table.

For those who subscribe to this school of thought, Najib is the clear and present danger. He must be removed. Political ambitions must take a backseat.

To them, the prime minister and his coterie are displaying signs of pulling all the stops to retain their grip on power, and the situation can only exacerbate from this point onwards, with freedoms being curtailed.

When he became prime minister, Najib had sought to mould himself as a liberal and transformative leader who was willing to open up the democratic space.

Launching an expensive public relations blitzkrieg, he had desired to win over the hearts and minds of the people, hoping that this would translate into an avalanche of votes.

Alas, this failed to materialise. Trailed by a slew of scandals, he has become the most ridiculed, distrusted and possibly even the most abhorred leader this nation has ever seen.

If public sentiments are to be gauged, Najib might even accomplish the impossible, which is to be regarded as a greater villain than Mahathir.

As one observer noted, the prime minister has become toxic and under these radioactive circumstances, even PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang might be forced to distance himself, fearing a backlash from the grassroots.

An alliance with such a leader would be difficult to explain from an Islamic perspective, especially when PAS itself is in the throes of internal turmoil.

Given this scenario, some are calling on the opposition, PAS included, to think hard and long about Mahathir’s proposal.

For them, ousting Umno and BN from the corridors of power is a battle that can wait a little longer but Najib cannot be allowed to remain at the helm.

RK Anand is a member of the Malaysiakini Team.

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