Mere ‘sandiwara’ or is Anwar really on the comeback?

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. -filepic

FOR some time now, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been written off as finished and his dream of becoming prime minister was said to be over.

Even his Pakatan Harapan partners were looking elsewhere for an alternative prime minister candidate.

But it’s best to never say never in politics because Anwar has managed to get everyone, as the Elvis song goes, all shook up after claiming he has the numbers to form the government.

He has positioned himself squarely on centrestage and, in doing so, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has, once again, found himself at the centre of a potential political crisis.

The PKR president did not provide any numbers nor did he name the parties that would enable him to form the government, yet the effect of his claim was as if he had dropped a rock in the water and the ripples are still spreading out.

His request for an audience with the King, who is currently hospitalised, is still pending.

Journalists have been bombarded with calls about when His Majesty will be discharged from hospital, when Anwar will be granted an audience and, of course, whether Anwar really has the numbers.

It is unclear when the King will be well enough to grant an audience but there is quite a bit of scepticism out there because Anwar had tried something similar after the 2008 general election.

Moreover, his announcement appears to have caught his Pakatan partners by surprise.

There were also swift denials from several Perikatan Nasional partners.

“It sounds like psywar to me. Imagine if the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had granted the audience, photos of the audience would be flying all over Sabah, right up to Gunung Kinabalu, giving the idea he will soon be sworn in as the PM, ” said Umno supreme council member Datuk Alwi Che Ahmad.

However, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi gave Anwar a boost when he claimed that “many MPs” from Umno and Barisan Nasional are for it.

It is no secret that ties between Umno and Bersatu are quite tense on the ground, but it is hard to see Umno MPs backing Anwar for the premiership because Umno is trying to claim the prime minister post for itself.

Some in Umno thought Zahid’s statement was less about supporting Anwar for the top job than telling Bersatu not to underestimate Umno’s clout.

But Anwar’s political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak said: “I have seen the list. It is not about working with parties but with individuals. Trust me, it’s a lot, the majority is there.”

Farhash said Anwar would not do this unless he is very sure of the numbers.

“People think it is a perception ploy, that it is a ruse because of Sabah.

“It has nothing to do with Sabah. We’ve got only seven seats there. This is something much bigger.

“The ball is in the King’s court. Anwar will present the list to His Majesty when he is healthy, ” said Farhash.

Regardless of whether one is a believer or disbeliever, everyone is eager to see what happens next.

If Anwar produces the numbers, then good for him. He has waited 22 years and it means his time has come even though he would basically be leading another backdoor government.

But what if he is unable to pull it off?

“The damage will be great if the numbers are not there. His credibility will be shot, ” said DAP politician and newspaper columnist Jeff Ooi.

In the meantime, it is a game of wait and see.

On Friday (Sept 25), Anwar tweeted a video of himself at the wheels of a refurbished Volkswagen with the caption: “Long time since I drove. Went around the neighbourhood to confirm that the car is in top condition”.

It seemed like a metaphor that the Opposition Leader is ready for the driver’s seat.

Anwar has shown that he can be a clear and present danger to the government of the day. However, he would not have been able to cause such a stir if the ruling coalition was not resting on a super-slender majority.

He managed to rattle the government without producing a sliver of evidence of his numbers.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who announced a RM10bil economic stimulus package on the same day as Anwar’s premiership claims, expressed confidence that he is still in charge.

As several legal minds have pointed out, the powers of incumbency are immense and Muhyiddin has the option of advising the King to dissolve Parliament and call for a general election.

That seems to be the optimal way to move forward, for both sides to fight it out and may the best side win.

Putrajaya insiders had earlier indicated that the Prime Minister was already thinking of calling for an election by the end of the year.

But events of the past week may have helped him decide that it has to be soon.

Muhyiddin is believed to have instructed his coalition partners to quickly settle the issue of seat allocations among them so that he can decide on a date to seek a fresh mandate.

Anwar will have to move fast if he does not wish to be overtaken by Muhyiddin.