COMMENT There are no surprises that cracks have started to appear in the relationship between Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Or, at least, this is my own observations. Take it with your fingers crossed as you read on as it may open your eyes to some new development.

As political observers, we like to comment on what we see. As soon as we can pry open what appears to be an ongoing feud between the two top leaders, we want to be the first to tell the story just like the husband who should be walking in front of his wife, especially when good protocols are to be observed.

While we may not necessarily be correct all the time, you cannot help it but to write your observations and let people think through. One thought leads to another, and this is how we form our opinions and observations (like the scientists their hypotheses), only to be tested against time.

So long as the evidences are there, we can comment about these two public figures. At least, they know that they are being watched, because whatever happens to them matters to us as a nation.

All may not seem as they appear

Although both Najib and Zahid may still appear cordial, I think their generals are already fighting each other.

Both generals appear to be invincible, although to the ordinary civil society, these two would have been labelled with all sorts of names. Rascals and thugs, among others. Certainly they would not be ranked amongst the more dignified Umno members, if there is still one! I allow my readers to suggest to me names of good and outspoken Umno leader who would stand up and be counted, at a time when Umno is at its lowest.

Yet, despite bringing shame to the race and religion that they seek to represent, they are not being reined in by their political parties or their masters (or leaders). If there is anyone that I would respect, they are people like Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, wife of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and others like Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) pro-tem committee member Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman who speaks with great eloquence.

Both generals are as crude and blatantly obnoxious as can be. I wonder how they can champion race and religion in modern society. Even Mohamad Sabu or Mat Sabu, although not as highly educated as Syed Saddiq, is equally as eloquent in Bahasa Malaysia, and of all politicians, Mat Sabu is the only one that I have personally asked to take pictures with.

No wonder even Syed Saddiq calls Mohd Ali Baharom or Ali Tinju a national disgrace. In Syed Saddiq’s own words, this low ranking ex-soldier is a “national disgrace” to “Malaysia, Malays and Muslims”. Previously, I thought Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali qualifies for being the Most Obnoxious Malaysia, but he has since quietened down after Dr Mahathir left Umno.

Observe with me

On Aug 19, Mohd Ali Baharom or Ali Tinju lodged a police report against the other general, Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Mohd Yunos. In the YouTube video that was uploaded and viewed by over 16,000 people, Mohd Ali accused Jamal of making a threat over the phone to shoot him, a fellow Umno member.

We have seen Ali Tinju’s own Camry was splashed with red paint at the carpark, when he was lodging a police report recently. With a little sarcasm, I am sure it must have been done by one of Bersih’s supporters or even a Pakatan parliamentarian! Was it Rafizi Ramli or perhaps Tian Chua? No, maybe it was Nurul Izzah Anwar? Someone said it was Ali Tinju himself, but I do not think it is consistent with the observations that I am making.

So, we now know that both are admittedly Umno members although I remember when they made their debut several years ago, they (like Ibrahim Ali) claimed to be apolitical and representing the local traders. Jamal is now Umno Sungai Besar chief, while Ali Tinju said he is a fellow Umno member in his video clip.

The reason why I defend Ali Tinju is because, in a civil society like ours, the gun is not the answer. Under such circumstances, Ali Tinju has the right to lodge the police report against the aggressor and see to it that actions are taken against Jamal, especially because he is holding a gun. He has urged the inspector-general of police, Khalid Abu Bakar to withdraw Jamal’s licence to own a gun.

In the light of this, someone had merely lodged a report against a former journalist, Sidek Kamiso and for that, he was arrested and released on bail. And, Ali Tinju himself received a personal call from the Khalid and he, too, was arrested and later released.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/356681

All it takes is to investigate whether Jamal had made the phone call to Ali Tinju at the time alleged, and whether a threat had been uttered is immaterial. The gun is supposed to be for self-protection, not for cowboys to shoot as they like. Based on the allegations made by Ali Tinju, because his life is being threatened, the sheriff has to confiscate the gun.

Under such circumstances, the sheriff has to be on the civilians’ side and ensure that justice is held, and peace returns to the people. If you ask me, Jamal’s gun should be confiscated, especially if he is leading a counter-Bersih group on Nov 19.

If he can, as alleged by Ali Tinju, threaten a fellow Umno member, he may even use it against the civilians and claim that his life was under threat. Better confiscate now, than regret later. If proven guilty, he, too, may have to face the gallows.

After all, Ali Tinju has his right to do things based on his personal convictions, whether he is paid or not by his political masters. His life should not be threatened by an opponent. In fact, no one has the right to threaten others in a democratic nation. We are not a cowboy town.

Defending Najib and Rosmah

Listen carefully. According to Ali Tinju, if he were to be killed by Jamal, who would defend Najib and Rosmah? The veteran soldier who said he was not afraid to die is now complaining that his life is under threat.

Well, my question is why would Najib and Rosmah need a veteran soldier to protect them? Is he officially their personal bodyguard? Do you mean to say that they cannot even trust their bodyguards that they need someone like Ali Tinju? What about the police escorts that surround Najib at all times? Why does Ali Tinju have to protect Najib and Rosmah?

Lately, we have noticed that Zahid was at a function attended by both Jamal and Selangor Umno chief, Noh Omar. Both Jamal and Noh are one team and almost in the same calibre.

If Noh can answer to the press that he does not know who Malaysian Official 1 is despite being openly revealed by Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government, Abdul Rahman Dahlan, I wonder if he has done his homework well. The whole world knows, except Noh Omar!

Zahid was also there to help with the by-election in Sungai Besar recently, not forgetting that it was around the same time that Zahid had said to reporters that his wife would warm up to reporters and their family members. I do not want to quote the other part of the line, which may make some people’s wives cringe! Or, at least it appears to look like there was a competition even between the wives.

But, I wonder if you put all the pieces together, would it be obvious now that there is already a rift between Najib and Zahid? Readers can contribute to the discussion by sharing their own observations. While they can hide the rift, their generals who are less refined, cannot. The truth is far more complicated and it is worth discussing and I wish Malaysiakini can run an online forum on this.

If both are presumably using these generals, and they are already at odds against each other, I wonder how they can preserve their dignity as leaders in a civil and democratic society. Every time we hear from Jamal, or Ali Tinju, for the matter, it is threats, intimidation and crude talk!

At best, they are only damaging their own reputation, especially when we as ordinary citizens and voters in this country, see how both Jamal can threaten Ali Tinju without any actions taken against him by Umno disciplinary committee, or Ali Tinju threatening the life of Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah without facing any charges.

But, can Najib and Zahid afford to let their reputation be soiled by these two generals? We already know who they are fighting for and which political parties that they belong to.

So, for Ali Tinju to now invite Chin to a seminar that he is organising, with both Azmin Ali and Mohd Noh Omar as guests, it would simply make no sense why Chin and Azmin should even want to be linked to Ali Tinju. In her right mind, Chin has the right to reject Ali Tinju’s invitation.

After all, let us have some fun seeing the veteran soldier and his team doing a nationwide butt dance. If we cannot create some of the best cheerleaders like some Western countries, at least we have butt dancers for a change! Can a soldier and a ‘general’ who is supposed to protect the lives of Najib and Rosmah also be a butt dancer?

We are living in a crazy, crazy world, indeed! God, please knock some sense into all of us and make us a more progressive nation under a new and more upright government!

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.