Still waters run deep

The writer asks: How many tigers can Mount Umno accommodate? — AZMAN GHANI/The Star

IT is said that one mountain cannot hold two tigers. How many tigers can Mount Umno accommodate?

Historically, when there are two tigers on a “mountain”, the younger one usually eliminates its older rival – what more when that older tiger is caged.


It was a veteran political journalist who brought up the “How many tigers can Umno accommodate on its mountain?” analogy when we had coffee recently. It was his response to my question about whether he thought Datuk Seri Najib Razak would be released from prison any time soon.

“If the Umno mountain can only contain one tiger, do you think anyone would have claimed to have seen a copy of a royal order to move Najib to house arrest?” he said. “If Najib is out, there will be two tigers on that mountain.”

We also chatted about how, in politics or war, a politician who uses the art of deception or is deceitful is considered brilliant, though admittedly wicked too.

In Malay politics, “seni sandiwara” (the art of theatre) or “main wayang” (playing charades) is regarded as the best means of getting your audience to think and believe what you want them to think and believe.

“Those claiming to have seen the royal order want the Umno grassroots to think they are fighting to release Najib. They have to do that to appease party members who feel that the jailing of their leader is unfair,” said the political analyst who was having coffee with us.


The next day, during the Umno General Assembly on Aug 24, Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, the daughter of Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, shed tears while paying tribute to the jailed Najib, saying his aura could still be felt at the World Trade Centre’s Dewan Merdeka where the AGM was being held.


“At every division meeting I attend, I hear motions from Wanita Umno delegates urging that ‘Bossku’ be given the justice he deserves,” she said, using Najib’s nickname.


“I personally support these calls and hope that Umno’s top leadership will firmly uphold justice for Bossku without fail, recognising his contributions through both challenges and triumphs.”


Her tears set the stage for Act Two. At the closing of the Umno AGM, party president Ahmad Zahid appeared to choke up as he spoke about Najib. Holding back tears, the Deputy Prime Minister thanked his friend Najib for his contributions to the nation and party.


“To know why Zahid and his daughter cried, we must first understand what they both desire and fear the most,” the political analyst explained.


“What Zahid’s daughter desires most is for her father to retain the Umno presidency for as long as possible. And what they both fear most is losing Zahid’s post as Umno president as Najib could challenge for it if he is out of jail.”

The Umno president could deal with other challengers, but not Najib.


“Therefore, Zahid had to conceal his real intentions by way of an artful deception last Saturday,” the analyst said.


“Zahid knows there can be only one tiger on the mountain. Now that the bigger tiger is behind bars, I believe it suits Zahid just fine and eliminates his fear quite thoroughly.”

This led to a discussion about subterfuge, which means using deceit to achieve one’s goals.


Historically, people with lofty ambitions have tended to use subterfuge. So what we need to know is just how ambitious a politician is. Sometimes, even though he/she has reached the apex in a party’s hierarchy, it is not enough.


We discussed leaders who nobody took seriously – those average and mediocre politicians who we thought could reach vice president or religious affairs leadership levels at most. Yet, somehow, these politicians sometimes get above such levels, an achievement beyond the expectations of most people.


We came to the conclusion that these average and mediocre politicians climb the party ladder through subterfuge. For example, they pretend to be loyal to the Umno president while plotting to win the No.1 post. When the timing is right, the seemingly not-so-clever politician will maul the leader who thought he was only average and mediocre.

When he was prime minister and Umno president, Najib underestimated such politicians. Will Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim do the same?


There can only be one tiger on a mountain.