Shamsul’s political career in tatters?

IT was a week when everything that could possibly go wrong for Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin did go wrong.

Shamsul had resigned as the chief political secretary to the Prime Minister a day earlier and was campaigning in Sandakan when he learnt of a video recording linking him to corruption allegations.

The man responsible for the video recording was Malaysia’s most famous or, perhaps infamous, whistleblower Albert Tei.

Shocked, Shamsul headed to the police station in Gum Gum (pronounced goom goom) to lodge a report, claiming the contents of the video to be scandalous accusations and a sinister conspiracy to tarnish the Madani government.

It was indeed high drama in what was already a dramatic week

"They are after me but I will defend myself. I intend to clear my name and defend the integrity of my boss," said Shamsul who was about to board a plane out of Kota Kinabalu when contacted.

The uproar over a letter of support that Shamsul issued for several contractors vying for a Health Minister project had snowballed into allegations of an array of favours that Tei claimed to have gifted Shamsul.

These allegedly included things like "pocket money", cigars, bespoke suits and furniture.

But more shocking are the allegations that Tei’s secret recordings of the mining scandal involving leaders of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah were part of what is known as a sting operation. This could be heard in the video recording of a meeting between Tei and a woman named Sofia Rini Buyong.

Sofia Rini, whose uncle is known to be a friend of Shamsul, has since denied what was said in the video recording.

All three, Shamsul, Tei and Sofia Rini, have been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

It was a hot mess that landed on the doorstep of the Prime Minister’s office and on the eve of the Sabah election.

Shamsul was once a bright star in PKR, but has it all come crashing down for him?

Shamsul is deeply loyal to PKR and a political contemporary recalled the heart-to-heart chat they had in Mecca in 2019, when Shamsul told him: "This is Anwar’s party. You are either with him or you are out."

Shamsul was part of the 1998 Reformasi uprising and went on to become a PKR vice-president and a deputy minister.

He defeated former Melaka Chief Minister Tun Dr Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam in Hang Tuah Jaya in the 2013 and 2018 general elections but lost to Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in 2022 by 348 votes in Bagan Datuk. In hindsight, it was a rather strategic defeat that led to Anwar becoming Prime Minister.

Shamsul was rewarded with the chief political secretary post that made him the first among equals in the roomful of political secretaries. It was quite a high-profile post and he could be seen at meetings the Prime Minister held with foreign leaders.

After failing to get the green light from Anwar to contest the vice-president post in the PKR election in May, he joined the bandwagon to make Nurul Izzah Anwar the deputy which Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli appears to hold against him till now.

Although Shamsul is only 50, he had been around so long he is seen as the "uncle generation" in PKR. His friends found him genial and likeable but call him "Napolean" behind his back on account of his looks.

Initially, many in PKR thought the leak about the letter of support signed by Shamsul was an inside job, a pre-emptive move to block him from being considered for the impending Cabinet reshuffle.

It is still unclear who was behind it although some have attributed it to the deep state, but it was like watching the onset of the monsoons as things unfolded.

"It’s more like a bush fire that can get out of control," said a PKR insider.

PKR leaders appear to have been stunned into silence. The staunch loyalist of Anwar has become problematic to the party.

Ironically, those who jumped to Shamsul’s defence were DAP leaders who were concerned about the impact on the urban Chinese voters in Sabah.

Meanwhile, Tei’s arrest was like a scene from an action movie. Social media has been flooded with comments about how security officers in balaclavas and bullet-proof vests stormed into his Puchong home to take him from his house in handcuffs.

Tei had yelled out to his lawyer, who was present at the scene, claiming he had six weapons aimed at him which MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki has denied.

Those who offer bribes draw as much disdain as those who accept bribes, but many who watched videos of dramatic arrest were appalled and outraged.

The optics were simply terrible. Who would dare to blow the whistle on corruption after this?

The Prime Minister has made fighting corruption a pillar of his Madani administration and this issue which strikes so close to home will impact his government’s image.

"Anwar is a seasoned politician, he needs to put on his game face," said the above PKR insider.

Anwar has also been likened by some to the great escape artist and magician Harry Houdini who had the ability to wriggle out of knots and chains.

The Prime Minister has chosen to take a firm stand on the controversy. He has pledged not to interfere in the investigation.

Anwar is a natural on the international stage and his leadership of Asean ended in a glow of glory. But it is time to face pressing issues on the home front.

How this case involving one of his own evolves and any hint of a cover-up will have serious implications on his government.