LETTER | Zahid, the ‘malignant growth’ in Madani govt

LETTER | One of the biggest ironies in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration is that his biggest asset is also his largest liability.

And that person is his deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The BN chairperson has played a key role in ensuring support for Anwar to become prime minister following the last general election as the coalition has 30 MPs.

Without the backing, Anwar would not have realised his long-held dream of becoming the prime minister.

And now that Anwar has 148 of the 222 MPs on his side, his Madani government is rock-solid - at least in theory. But the reality is that it is Zahid himself who is fast chipping away at public support for the Anwar administration.

Leaving aside his appointment as deputy prime minister despite facing 47 corruption charges, Zahid has, since day one, trampled on the Madani principles with reckless impunity.

Take Anwar's pledge of no political appointees in his government - which is one of the first commitments he made after being sworn in as the country's 10th prime minister.

While Pakatan Harapan parties have largely (not wholly) kept to the promise, BN, particularly Umno, has thumbed its nose to the idea.

The latest is former minister, Reezal Merican Naina Merican being made Matrade chairperson. His appointment is in a long line of political appointments from Umno post-GE15 which is part of Zahid's machinations to stay in power.

Other Umno appointees were Ahmad Jazlan Yaakob (Felcra chairperson); Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (Mara) and Noraini Ahmad (Risda).

Why is it that Anwar allows Umno, arguably the most disliked party in the unity government, to ride roughshod in his administration while other parties have to toe the line?

And why did Anwar not chastise Umno for officially seeking the release of Najib Abdul Razak, who's serving a 12-year jail sentence?

Has Anwar forgotten that one of the reasons he was voted to power last November was because of voters' resentment towards BN-Umno, as embodied by Najib, who's guilty of plundering the country through 1MDB?

And how is it that Zahid is not only allowed to get back his passport despite facing corruption charges, but has managed to get his corruption case postponed because prosecutors were instructed not to object to his lawyer's application?

This is despite the fact that prosecutors have made a prima facie case against him. Whatever happened to the good governance that Harapan has stood for in the past?

The rakyat now watches with much trepidation how Zahid has been able to do as he pleases at the expense of support for the unity government, especially in the upcoming elections in six states.

There are red lines that must not be crossed but Zahid has not only done so brazenly, but time and again as if he is politically untouchable.

Be firm, Anwar

The time has come for Anwar to take a strong stance before he finds out the hard way during the state elections, that the rakyat do not tolerate the misrule synonymous with BN that has started to speedily spread like an “aggressive cancer” into the current government.

Just as doctors would usually advise cancer patients to remove malignant growths before they spread, Anwar should just “cut off” Umno from his administration, or risk having the party bring about his downfall.

Even with BN out of the picture, Anwar will still have enough support from MPs to hold on to power and push through the reforms he had envisioned since his days in Umno.

But if Anwar doesn't sever ties with Umno and Zahid soon, the former will, like cancer patients who refuse to remove cancerous growth early, go through intense agony later on, which will likely cost his political life.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.