Beware: Twisty plot ahead

Intriguing: Lee Jung-jae as protagonist Seong Gi-hun in Squid Game S2. The highly plotted Korean series – whose creators ‘also understand that if we are not united, however big your majority is, you can be divided’, according to Ahmad Faizal – doesn’t hold a candle to the intrigues in Malaysian politics. — Netflix

“HAVE you seen Squid Game season two?” Datin Seri Dr Nomee Ashikin Mohammed Radzi asked me.

On the second day of the new year, I was at the Kuala Lumpur office of her husband, Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu; I wanted to get his take on politics in 2025.

“I have, and it was... ,” I began, but the paediatrician did not allow me to finish, saying, “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me! I have not watched the last two episodes”.

Since his wife had brought it up, I asked the former Perak mentri besar and Youth and Sports minister whether he was a fan.

“I can’t say I am a fan as I haven’t watched it all yet – I can’t say if I like it or not. From what I have seen, the creators of the Squid Game series understand that those who understand how to divide and rule will rule. Will be king,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the creators also understand that if we are not united, however big your majority is, you can be divided, and the clever minority will rule,” said Ahmad Faizal.

“You are talking about the noisy minority, which can overrule the silent majority when the latter is not united? In the Malaysian context, who is the noisy minority, or, as you put it, clever minority,” I asked.

“DAP. They understand divide and rule. That’s how DAP brought Rara in Bentong and Aziz Bari in Tebing Tinggi, as they understand how to divide and rule... and use puppets...,” he said, referring to Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman and former Tebing Tinggi assemblyman Dr Abdul Aziz Bari in Pahang and Perak respectively.

Ahmad Faizal continued: “If you look at the current government, DAP has been aggressive in their demands. PKR and Amanah can’t do anything about it. They are merely convenient fronts. They can’t even say anything about activities their fellow DAP Cabinet colleagues organised.”

Playing devil’s advocate, I countered: “For the progressive bubble, the noisy minority for them are PAS and Bersatu, that they see as conservatives.”

“DAP has stigmatised Malay parties,” said Ahmad Faizal in reply. “When they talk about Taliban or the Green Wave, they are putting out the fear that kononnya [supposedly] the majority – or to you, the minority – PAS is very regressive, anti-establishment and anti-everything, that they are bad for the country,” he said.

I asked the former Tambun MP and Chenderiang assemblyman who he thought would be the politician of the year in 2025.

“In what terms?” he asked in turn. “It can be a powerbroker or main player that political events revolve around,” he said.

“I have an idea. But I rather not say who,” he added.

“Give me a hint,” I said.

“How to answer that? The person is so powerful that he can make things change, and he will dominate business, politics, and the Constitution,” he said.

“Now you have given me another thought. I have changed my prediction of the politician of 2025,” I said.

“Mine was this person, as the year starts with him. The event is on Jan 6. Some parts of Umno with the Opposition – PAS and Bersatu – will gather in front of the courts to show solidarity with former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“It looked to me like Najib – based on last year’s information – would be the politician of 2025 as even PAS and Bersatu are in solidarity with him, and this could possibility trigger another Sheraton Move,” I said, referring to when the big Malay parties – Umno, PAS, and Bersatu – united to bring down the Pakatan Harapan government led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2020.

“It will be a major event, but it is not the one that can bind everybody. It is not that simple,” Ahmad Faisal replied.

“Jan 6 is about the government’s inability to tell the truth. Since January 2024, we have asked the government if there is an addendum, and there has been no answer.”

“Will the government be toppled?” I asked.

“To be very honest, if you ask around all the Umno members, and Bersatu and PAS on the ground, they want to see the Malays be united.

“But the issue is the leaders, especially the Umno leaders, wouldn’t want this to happen as they are comfortable with Anwar and DAP now so that they are not charged in court and thrown into prison,” he said.

“Will you watch the whole Squid Game series?” I asked.

“I will because my wife has been watching it, and it irritates me, and I want to know what is going on,” he said.

If only Malaysian politics are as easy to predict as Squid Game with all its twisty plotting.