Poor fengshui for Bersatu in the horse year

EVERYONE at Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s house looked so happy, they seemed to be having a good time, and no one looking on would suspect that Bersatu was enmeshed in a crisis for survival.

There was live gambus music, the Arabic-style music popular in Johor, the food was simple but tasty thanks to his wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, while the normally grumpy-looking Muhyiddin wore a smile the entire evening.

But no one appeared more delighted that evening than Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Azmin Ali who seemed even happier than on the day his youngest son married into the family of Tun Hussein Onn and which saw the Sultan of Selangor as the guest of honour at the wedding banquet.

Were those at what was described as “a harmonious night” aware that deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin would soon be sacked?

The axe did fall on Hamzah the following Thursday.

Sources said Hamzah had failed to turn up for the disciplinary board inquiry on two previous occasions and the end came when he failed to show up again on Thursday. He was apparently away in Australia.

The letter did not offer the specifics for the sacking but a party insider said one of the reasons for Hamzah’s sacking was related to a secret meeting in Bangkok between him, several PAS leaders and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The rift was evident from the turnout at Muhyiddin’s house last weekend.

More than half of the party’s assemblymen were there but only five MPs attended. The majority of Bersatu’s MPs are aligned to Hamzah and 16 MPs led by vice-president and Sabah chairman Datuk Dr Ronald Kiandee have since asked Muhyiddin to resign as party president.

Putrajaya MP Datuk Seri Radzi Jidin’s presence surprised many who thought he was close to Hamzah.

“YB Radzi posted a touching pantun on his Facebook. He was not taking sides, he tried to be the bridge between our president and deputy president, to get them to meet in the middle but I think he finally gave up,” said Penang Bersatu Youth chief and Seberang Jaya assemblyman Izhar Shah Arif Shah who was at the gathering.

Perlis Mentri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah whose appointment sparked off a crisis between Bersatu and PAS, was also there. He is a hero in Bersatu but a zero to those in PAS.

The dinner gathering was to mark the advent of Ramadan but it was also to soothe nerves and anxiety among the leaders.

It was apparently mooted by Taman Medan assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin who had texted his president in the middle of the night after what was believed to be a rather contentious supreme council meeting several weeks ago.

Muhyiddin texted back at dawn, agreeing to the idea and offering to host the gathering.

“It was the ideal time to gather before Ramadan which is the busiest month for Malay politicians,” said Dr Afif.

In hindsight, some thought that Muhyiddin hinted at the impending strike against Hamzah when he spoke of his own journey with cancer during the gathering.

Muhyiddin, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2018, has passed the five-year remission period. He told the dinner gathering that immediate treatment was critical and it was important to remove the cancer so that it does not fester.

The analogy was not lost on those present.

News of Hamzah’s sacking broke in a big way on Friday and as the day wore on, it started to resemble a purge, with a total of 17 MPs, assemblymen and party officials shown the door by the end of the day.

Political commentator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim had recently joked that Bersatu should be renamed “Berpecat” (sack) or “Berpecah” (broken).

“History is like a circle and it has come full circle. Do they not remember what happened to Umno after Muhyiddin was sacked for going against Datuk Seri Najib Razak? They seem to be amplifying the same mistake.

“Even if there is no mass exodus, the party will be weakened and they could be chasing a pyrrhic victory,” said lawyer and political analyst Ivanpal S. Grewal.

For instance, PAS’ dream of taking over Pahang will remain a dream. Deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was seen as a mentri besar-in-waiting, he is close to the Pahang palace and the royal figures embrace and plant kisses on his cheek when they meet.

Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu has rubbished claims that his party is committing political suicide.

“Muhyiddin built up the party and surveys have shown that he leads as the choice of prime minister candidate in Perikatan,” said Ahmad Faizal.

Those with Muhyiddin believe the party can focus on moving ahead now that the “cancer” is removed and the party is more united.

However, the sackings shook the party like an earthquake and Muhyiddin is under attack. Late Friday night saw the Bersatu official Facebook page carry a banner with the party president’s image and the caption, “Undur Muhyiddin,” calling on him to resign. It was a signal of unhappiness over what happened.

Bersatu is entering the Year of the Fire Horse as a party on fire.

Hours after the sacking hit the headlines, Hamzah and several MPs aligned to him were in Rusila, seated around a table having fried noodles and keropok lekor with PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Awang.

Also at the Rusila meeting were two influential men in PAS - Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan - who have access to Hadi and can whisper in his ears.

It is evident that PAS would be a sanctuary to those expelled by Bersatu.

What if PAS rolls out the welcome carpet for Hamzah whom they clearly prefer over Muhyiddin? Will it push ties between the two parties to the breaking point? Will more people be sacked for aligning with the expelled deputy president?

“The disarray threatens the existence of Perikatan. Muhyiddin will have a party loyal to him but will he end up like a king without a kingdom?” said Ivanpal.

The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own