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Malaysia all set to see a clash of the titans

The socio-political landscape of Malaysia is set to witness a colossal clash between the political parties in Malaysia. Whether the current prime minister calls an early general election or otherwise, this clash between the leading political party, Umno, led by Najib Abdul Razak versus the new party Bersatu, that is being hatched under the leadership of Najib’s fiercest critic, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is set for a titanic collision.

The not-so-long-ago self-proclaimed ‘Bugis warrior’ Prime Minister Najib is already digging in with a long list of sworn and self-confessed as well as silent loyalists within the Malay community of leaders and followers.

On that same account we are now witnessing past leaders and their followers who are opposed to Najib, branding themselves as champions of the Malay cause in mapping out their war strategies.

The Malays are set to split into two camps - the Najib loyalists verses Dr Mahathir’s soldiers. The war cry from both corners is ‘Save the Malays’ from being betrayed.

Meanwhile, the opposition political parties, sooner than expected, would have to make up their minds. More than agreeing, they will categorically have to demonstrate in no uncertain terms and in quick time where they stand in this broiling war.

They will perish if they introduced a different drumbeat for sure.

The boiler room within the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition is working at peak temperature. The Chinese- and Indian-based parties, MCA and MIC respectively (as well as several other smaller parties that are in allegiance with Umno), are being enlisted into the Najib war camp.

The magic is in the money. Najib will be hard to resist for many politicians within the BN fold and even perhaps from the historic enemy, PAS, who are all desperately trailing the rainbow in the sky given the economic hard times where getting political ‘donors’ and sponsors is a tough call.

With the key to the cash pipelines allegedly in Najib’s grip, every politician wanting to milk the ground for a leaseline gain or at the least, remain hopeful of making some money for a tidy retirement, will be tempted to join Najib’s platoon.

Hence, if the opposition parties place supporters’ sentiments and party philosophies before them, they may end up as sacrificial fodder for the warring titans, Umno and Party Bersatu.

‘Common enemy’

Given the ‘common enemy’ for those against Najib’s leadership, the Democratic Action Party as well as Amanah and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), will see that aligning with Bersatu makes more sense, for they have pursued a long battering on the 1MDB debacles while eyeing for the voters’ catch.

True, too, all civil society champions fighting a long and hard war against all sorts of corruption-tainted leadership and governance cannot sit back and watch the titans clash. It will be a missed opportunity by all counts for them, let alone dashed hopes for the right-minded citizens.

Hence, these champions of good governance and democracy would also join the warring giants. Given the failures revolving around the sins of omission and commission of Umno these past thirty over years in particular, they would realize the opportunity in giving support to the ‘Seven men Team’ of Dr Mahathir.

So the political landscape in Malaysia is well carved out to see a titanic clash between two Malay parties. On the one hand is Umno with its enlisted Chinese and Indian parties; and on the other side of the battle line will be Dr M’s team with alliances roped in from the opposition political parties and non-governmental organisations championing democracy, justice and good governance.

What and how Malaysians will think and act out will ultimately determine their future generation’s fears, hopes, pains and joys. In the meantime what is most eminent is that investors are either closing shop (as we read in the papers) or they would zip their purses pending the outcome of the clash of titans in Malaysia’s impending general election.

Najib’s option of cancelling out all forms of opposition is past the silver lining in the cloud. His failure to come clean and be open from the very start of the many scandals and allegations going even so far back as the Altantuya Shaariibuu episode remain his biggest liability. Perhaps, and far too late in the day though, he should have listened to the public opinion that offered by so many caring netizens.

Meanwhile Najib will need to ponder long and hard on whether all the cash will hold the Bugis warrior ship in good stead?

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