Yesterday evening, a former opposition MP, whose party now is the ruling party, sent the following message:
Breaking news!
Dr Mahathir told ministers at cabinet meeting today that portfolios will be reorganised. Tonight, he's meeting PH party leadersSubsequently, he send a link from a Chinese newspaper, Oriental Daily reporting Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim did not attend the meeting and Dato Mustapha Mohamed to join cabinet.
Earlier rumour heard was Tok Pa is to be made Economic Adviser to PM, and current adviser and possibly others linked to Tun Daim in PM office removed.
It was indicative of a cold front developing between Tun Daim and Mahathir. Those on Daim payroll but working with Mahathir will surely be in a dilemma.
However, Daim and Mahathir could be putting up an act as they did during the late 90s-early 2000 economic crisis as a ploy to "reshuffle" their corporate implimentors.
Daim had committed to claim in April that government will solve the nation's economic woe by October, which is approximately a month and half away.
It was next to impossible without a legitimate position of authority with Lim Guan Eng blocking his plans and Mahathir habitual interference and unjustified wants.
The view was Daim was not talking economics, but hinting of a major political move, in which it will involve UMNO and as one senior reporter confided it is possibly a new coalition.
Credit where it is due, Daim is more serious to revive the economy and fulfill campaign promises. It affected his businesses and a revived economy means quick buck restructuring schemes and deals. However, Mahathir is too embroiled in politics, self interest, political legacy, and building castles in the air.
Part of the move is expected to be a cabinet reshuffling that could see former UMNO Ministers returning including possibly those claim to still be in UMNO.
Political pundits had long anticipated a cabinet reshuffling move by Mahathir to appoint Dato Seri Azmin Ali to replace Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail as Deputy Prime Minister. The Sandakan semburit video managed to delay it.
The bigger expectation from Mahathir in order to draw support from UMNO MPs is to show he still have sincere intention for the first three Jawi alphabets and it must be expressed by removing Lim Guan Eng and Tommy Thomas.
If Mahathir dare, it could break-up PH. However, he knows DAP will not dare to lose power. They fear retribution that could land all of them into Sungai Buloh prison, beginning with Guan Eng. Will Mahathr dare to do so?
As for the general public, Malay or even Chinese, sending Guan Eng in whether in Malaysia or extradited to China is good riddance. Their expectation is to remove not only cabinet deadwoods, but nipping young buds that is growing too wild and unwieldy.
The Star report this morning is only to change portfolio which will be less than the public expectation of a complete removal of all the comedian suitable only as Parliament opposition bench.
Will Mahathir get to bring the frogs with the loud grumbling among PPBM leaders and grassroot supporters for not getting the benefits and perks as winning ruling party and the sacrifices they cclaim to have made?
At the same time bringing in ex-UMNO Ministers will only heighten the internal quarrel within PH and intensify the interparty rivalry, especially between Anwar's supporters and Mahathir's.
Political pundits expected Mahathir to flex his muscle by reshuffling cabinet and bringing those allied to him or willing to succumb to him.
But it is easy said than done. He need the endorsement of the other PH leaders. Otherwise, hey could pull the carpet from under his feet before he is ready for yet another political betrayal and throw them under the bus
The discussion with other PH leaders will be done this week and announcement next week.
One can anticipate higher decibel disagreement, louder than the self initiated controversy on Jawi-khat, Dong Zong, Zakir Naik and Lynas meant as a reverse psychology game to regain support of voters segment.
It will only lead to further political move by Mahathir. More so, he has openly expressed to want all Malay party "bersatu" under Bersatu.
In early August, Mahathir's back was already pushed against the wall and he has already gotten his messengers like Dato Seri Khairuddin Abu Hasan to talk to all political personalities from Perlis to Sabah, Lawas to Semantan, and all walk of political persuasion to convince them to support Mahathir.
There is not likely to be a vote of no confidence, but Mahathir knows only recently that his support is dwindling. The video below should prove what this blog been saying of Warisan already switch to Anwar:
Even Tan Sri Muhyiddin and his men is expected to shift to his long friend since University Malaya days. Among the crossed over UMNO MPs, Dato Ikmal Hisham is believed to be waiting for time to crossover again and this time to Anwar.
Khairuddin have been extremely pleasant and hospitable with old political friends from all political divide that the feedback is his confidence is not believable and Mahathir is in trouble.
Where all PPBM leaders are generally silent and cautious in defending Mahathir, this Amanah member is the only one speaking out.
He condemned Anwar for not attending last night's meeting.
Recently, Khairuddin shot his mouth to Astro Awani to reveal he will be meeting Dato Hishamuddin who muted the idea of a Majlis Perpaduan Ummah upon his return from Haj.
The blog The Unspinner anticipated in early August that Mahathir is planning to sabotaged a planned Perpaduan Ummah organised by UMNO and PAS at PWTC on September 13 and 14.
Khairuddin confirmed what was anticipated to be the repeat of Deklarasi Rakyat to hijack Pakatan Rakyat and Majlis Perpaduan Ummah to confuse the public into thinking it is the same as UMNO-PAS event, thus Mahathir will hijack it.
Hishamuddin had expressed his regret for being accused as betraying UMNO and was behind plan intended to hijack MPs to PPBM.
He said the words at the official opening of UMNO Sembrong annual divisional meeting.
Though he expressed his commitment to UMNO, a former wakil rakyat of UMNO present expressed reservation to his overly defensive stance. Hishamuddin was obviously holding on to dear life by floating on the raft of the Johor UMNO Liaison Chief, Dato Hasni to float him out of the mess he created for being memandai.
Khairuddin maybe trying to implicate Hishamuddin back into the controversy after failing to keep the 27 MPs and got outmanouvered by Dato Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Dato Najib.
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| Picture on Facebook his morning |
However, it may not be convincing to UMNO leaders and members after The Unspinner revealed one of Hishamuddin man, Dato Abdul Rahman Dahlan seen in company with Khairuddin and a former UMNO Sabah member but now with PPBM Sabah.
It could be a casual friendly visit by Rahman to welcome the return of a newly titled Haji and Hajah. However, with the reputation of Khairuddin and Rahman's link to Hishamuddin, and Tan Sri Musa Aman, the close timing could be easily misconstrued as political conspiring.
Hishamuddin was said to have had 27 MPs in his list to crossover but the number has dwindled to 5 following the excitement over Perpaduan Ummah with PAS. Nevertheless, there is one MP clsely associated to Hishamauddin is heard to crossover soon, Dato Mastura of Kuala Kangsar.
UMNO grassroot welcome such intention as it helped cleanse the party of undesireables and uncommited leaders with weak resolve that are unable to withstand challenges and pressure.
Talk about weak heart, there have been overtures from PPBM leaders at branch and divisional level talking to UMNO leader offering to takeover their PPBM branch and division. The problem is at that level, they do not offer any advantage and benefit. These are the members and leaders UMNO does not need.
At the national level, Mahathir is in the same situation and hoping to rope in UMNO, PAS, other Malay based parties, and Sabah and Sarawak to save himself.
How could he do so with his unbridled animosity towards Najib and refusal to even bump into him at the Agong installation? Maybe too embarassed that the SRC case is tanking all the way and 1MDB case could not even get started, still looking unprepared.