The Drama

For several months now, after the Malaysian General Election in March, Anwar Ibrahim had repeatedly claimed that many MPs in the ruling Government wanted to defect to the opposition camp, i.e. to Pakatan Rakyat. He claimed that he had enough MPs to achieve a simple majority and hence would be able to form a new Government by 16 September.

Well, we have passed that date and Anwar is yet to form his new Government. However, he still insists that he has 31 MPs who're ready to defect. In fact, he claims that he has more than that! Many Malaysians have been waiting for the so-called political tsunami to happen, having had an earlier tsunami in March.

Does Anwar really have 31 MPs from the ruling Government?

Only time will tell, but I wouldn't brush off his claims so easily. My guess is that he has achieved the number and now ready to reveal his Ace from up his sleeve. But he's not doing it just yet. Why? I think if one were to study Anwar's past behaviour, it is possible to understand him to a certain extent.

Here then is a man who has an obsession to be the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Throughout his political career he has always been craving for publicity; and he has a pathetic obsession of the spotlight. Whatever he does he must make sure that all eyes are on him. Whenever he does something he must create a drama—something grand; something to be remembered for a long, long time.

For a while he had the famous Lingam's video clip in silence. But he did not release that video clip immediately. No—he wanted to do it in style. He would release it eventually, but it must be done after a dramatic song and dance. He released that video clip in parts. The first part contained several seconds. It was a dramatic revelation. He kept his audience in the dark for a while. Then he announced that he had a second part of that video clip. More drama ensued. Some more waiting, and just when his audience was beginning to doubt that he had that second part, he came in for the kill. Truly, Anwar Ibrahim is a natural ringmaster.

I think Anwar really has enough MPs to claim at least a simple majority to form the new Government. But to do it on 16 September does not accord well with this style. That will no doubt be major news headlines, but that is not dramatic enough. As usual, he will create doubt first. People are wondering is he telling the truth or not? Maybe not? I think he is just waiting to make a big entrance when the time is "right".

Of course Pak Lah, in spite of what he said to the press, also believes in Anwar's claim. Otherwise why else would the Government spend so much money to send so many MPs to Taiwan before 16 September? More recently, we see the sudden switch of portfolios between Pak Lah and Najib. Pak Lah is now in charge of Defence; and at the same time he announced that Anwar is a threat to national security and economy.

I have a feeling that at least one more person will soon be arrested under the Internal Security Act. But I won't be surprised if 31 others are also hauled in together with that person. If that happens, I'm eager to see how the rakyat would react. We're talking about some people who're obsessed with power here. One will do anything to be the new Prime Minister; and the other will do anything—even throwing his opponents into the freezer—to remain the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Incidentally, this afternoon I attended a talk on the nature of palm oil industry in Sabah. Looking at the figures and analysis by the economic expert who delivered that talk, it seems that we're heading for a bad time ahead. And the KLCI on Bursa Malaysia has just gone below the 1000 point today.

I hope for our sake, tomorrow we will all wake up to a brighter day...