One reason there is no sense of honour and gentlemenly conduct in Malaysian politics is that political competitors, be they inside or outside a political party, could seized on opportunity from a troubled situation. That happened during the flood disaster and it happened to Dato Dr Zahid Hamidi.
Instead of getting team support from his fellow cabinet member and/or UMNO party leaders, a reliable source claimed a group of instigators approach those close to Dato Hishamuddin Tun Hussein Onn to launch an attack on Zahid. The instigators gathered up MPs and Division leaders from a certain state to meet Hishamuddin and a suggestion to hit out at Zahid cropped up.
Unfortunately, several attendees claimed the same set of instigators organised a similar gathering with Zahid to start a retaliation. Sounds like Lord Rothchild funding and selling arms to both sides in the Battle of Waterloo while also making money in the London stock market.
In case anyone not know, it was similar type of instigators that caused the rift between Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, which resulted in a long drawn leadership crisis in Selangor.
Wonder who?
Opportunist
They felt the political situation is too edgy for any internal squabble.
As the #1 VP, Zahid has far wider support than Hishamuddin. One UMNO source believed he has the support of more than 60% of UMNO Divisions. While, Hishamuddin almost lost out to Dato Mukhriz if not for the solid Johor and royally assisted Pahang votes.
In this new era of openness, any attempt to create dynasties will be seen as distasteful to UMNO members and general public. Class domination or class struggle should have no more place in Malaysia. Tun Mahathir voiced this [read here] in which Dr Puad Zarkashi may have been dispatched to deny.
The leadership and succession plan of UMNO should be decided by members in order to preserve members' support for leadership.
Toppling or pre-planning a line-up could erupt into another UMNO civil war which in the past, off shoot into more opposition parties. Bear in mind that orchestration by power brokers in the past have repeatedly failed.
If Hishamuddin is meant to be, then he must earned it and not rise on the strength of his blue blood or by dirty trick on others. However, if it is meant to be Zahid, then accept that, including his reformasi past.
Hot soup
It was leaked by a Johorean-owned Hong Kong newspaper, South China Morning Post. There is much talk and sources have given many versions on the background of Paul Phua.
However, there is no evidence whatsoever to indicate any wrongdoing by Zahid or link to any gambling kingpin. It is only talk, simplistic association and speculation.
It may not be proper for Zahid to correspond directly to FBI. He should not have wrote the letter at the mere request of a lawyer. And, he had exposed Paul Phua and made him a dead man walking.
Logically speaking, there is nothing unusual in a government to government correspondence. Such correspondence should have been treated with utmost confidentiality by FBI. Thus, how could such a letter be produced in court by either FBI or Paul Phua's lawyer?
Is security slacking at the FBI office that the letter could gotten leaked to the SCMP? Was FBI infiltrated by underworld or a sinister game is being played by FBI towards Zahid? They are capable of doing intentional leak [read here].
Zahid explained his position to cabinet and it was accepted. [Read Mkini here] Security cannot be made open to the public. Most likely, there are undisclosed intention behind the letter which are for your ears only and not fully disclosed to the cabinet.
It was only Malaysiakini that had been drumming up the issue and creating the perception Zahid had acted independently and there is conflict with the police.
Again, they tried to implicate the Foreign Ministry and was responded with a serious tap on the hand by Dato Anifah Aman [read in Rocky Bru in his blog here and his FB here.]
Zahid is believed to be giving a press statement today.
Team spirit
Maybe it is typical Malaysiakini misreporting to pit one UMNO leader against another. However, there are reasons to believe that there was intention by the Hishamuddin camp.
By right, a cabinet member or party leader should not take opportunity on an issue played up by oppositions to discredit the government or ruling party. They are supposed to work as a team and defend their colleague from any wrongful accusation.
For Hishamuddin's people to do so, Hishamuddin is not without any fault and cock-up. If not propped up by the MH370, he would continued to languish in public confidence.
Save the detail, let us only mention Lahad Datu, Washington, Yangoon and Katmandu as places where Hishamuddin's verbal incontinence and moves put Malaysia's security at risk. Zahid has his fair share too like the US requested anti-terror law announced for his usual pre-PWTC public relation stunt.
However, what good can be derived from leaders stripping each other in public. As the source said, Zahid's team had understandably made counter move to response to the moves by Hishamuddin's people.
In the face of diversity, both Hishamuddin and Zahid should have the honour and integrity as leaders to set aside their political rivalry and give priority to the party and government before self.
They should be setting the example for a more gentleman and mature politics to meet the expectation of the time. The time have changed and so do the expectation.
Party members should be allowed to choose based on track record, leader's stance on issues and what leaders have to offer for the party and nation. The rise to the top of the leadership has to be on the basis of ability and acceptability.