In deriding Anwar, Daim shows Umno fear of losing Putrajaya sooner than later


The Malaysian Insider
February 26, 2014

So why is Tun Daim Zainuddin quaking?

Make no mistake, the former finance minister is worried. Worried enough that he keeps talking incessantly about Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Publicly, he dismisses the PKR de facto leader as a publicity hound, a man who craves the limelight and loves the next headline.

Publicly, he runs the opposition leader down as someone who has never been able to solve any problem.

Publicly, he says that Anwar’s move to contest a by-election in Kajang is a complete waste of public funds.

Apparently Daim’s fixation with Anwar continues in private discussions but behind closed doors, the tone is less dismissive, less condescending.

Those in his circle say he speaks with some concern over the consequences of an Anwar victory in Kajang; chiefly the real possibility of Anwar being the chief executive of the richest state in Malaysia with several billion ringgit at his disposal and the immediate impact on the morale of Umno members in Selangor and then around the country.

Left unsaid is the fear that with a strong economic base and a platform to showcase stronger leadership qualities than the incumbent in Putrajaya, a rejuvenated and focused Anwar could lead Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to defeat Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general elections – an end result could prove particularly uncomfortable for Daim, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and other Umno leaders from the glory days of privatisation and excess.

After all, Selangor is the country’s richest and most-industrialised state and next to it is Kuala Lumpur, which make them rich pickings for infrastructure projects, property deals and business for cronies and others connected to Putrajaya.

It would be in the interest of the few who have benefited in the past to ensure Selangor returns to the Barisan Nasional fold.

Anwar leading the state would make that a remote possibility for the near future and turn Selangor into another political fortress like Kelantan is for PAS.

To put it simply, there is a need to protect the golden goose.

And Umno-linked tycoons will go all out to prevent Anwar from taking over as menteri besar.

So do not be surprised if Daim takes more than a cursory interest in how Umno/BN are preparing for battle against Anwar.

It would be in the interest of the old guard of the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad era if the current Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim does not vacate his position or at least drags out the whole process.

And let’s be clear, their disdain about the “Kajang move” has little to do with the use of public funds for a by-election.

Because if they were truly concerned about how taxpayers money is spent, they would not have allowed the one-sided toll concessions or sweet deals for the independent power producers or keep water resources in the hands of a few connected businessmen.

The battle for Kajang then, is really the battle over who gets to control Putrajaya in the nearest future.

An Anwar win in Kajang could lead to Umno losing the federal government sooner than later. – February 26, 2014.

  1. #1 by yhsiew on Thursday, 27 February 2014 - 7:57 am

    If Anwar could showcase his leadership skills and achieve a good track record in administering the Selangor state, his chances of being elected as PM in GE14 will be high.

  2. #2 by lee tai king (previously dagen) on Thursday, 27 February 2014 - 8:39 am

    Business must be booming for cintanegara.

    His rambutans must selling well this season.

  3. #3 by Bigjoe on Thursday, 27 February 2014 - 9:12 am

    Of all of Mahathir’s men, Daim has always been the one most objective – he focus on fundamentals and if he is worried about something, its fundamental.

    Daim is not known to be extremist, corrupt and calculating but not extremist or racist. Its well known, when his masters, colleagues i.e., UMNO is tough spot, Daim has been known to advocate defensive measure he is sure they will not lose. Hence his recommendation of focussing on Malay vote is not about racism but actually to try and piece together the broad spectrum, as broad as possible – hence he talks of cost cutting and projects but note he does not speak against welfarism – just against for the entire population – he is not against welfarism for the bumis only..

    Yes, absolutely Daim is worried.

  4. #4 by boh-liao on Thursday, 27 February 2014 - 9:00 pm

    Actually he n his band of thieves r DIAM, DIAM happy what
    They r confident dat b4 dat guy becomes d next MB of Selangor, a judge will find him guilty of s0d0mee n LOCK him up 4 good
    No sweat lah, sleeeep weell

  5. #5 by waterfrontcoolie on Thursday, 27 February 2014 - 9:57 pm

    There is no doubt that BN especially UMNO is afraid of what Anwar can do to change the whole scenario. Everyone of them who have had gained ‘illegally’ will be shivering in their pants. So such comments are expected; knowing the game of BN; Anwar could have walk into the sunset with a Bank under his armpit had he wanted to. It was obvious that the Mamak could have tried that offer but obviously Anwar did not compromise hence his trip to Sungei Buloh!. Given the very powerful position of Selangor; Anwar can use it to show his caliber in managing a smaller version of the country! As it is Selangor together with Penang has proven beyond any doubt that the Opposition can deliver!

  6. #6 by boh-liao on Saturday, 1 March 2014 - 8:27 am

    Honestly, rakyat KNEW dat AI is NOT clean
    (How CAN a former #2 UmnoB kaki under MMK be clean n NOT KNOW all d DIRTY tricks n corrupt practices of UmnoB?)

    Now dat he was hammered n outside of UmnoB/BN, he did NOT expose all d dirty tricks n corrupt practices of UmnoB
    Y? Ahemm, rakyat KNEW (Certainly NOT bcos there were no such dirty tricks n corrupt practices of UmnoB)

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