The Kajang vs Khalid Move

This is how I am reading the Kajang move. It’s a personal opinion not necessarily shared by DAP. I am writing as a political observer.The Kajang move is supported by the people. Khalid's move is supported by UMNO.

About the Kajang move, I have explained one of many theories behind it. I want to thank Anwar Ibrahim for educating Malaysians about enhancing democratic methods. The kajang move whether justified by the right to recall or any other theories, sends a message to the government that it does not have an irrevocable right to remain in power. The people through periodic elections can recall their support.

Within their own camp, the right to recall when exercised provides the leadership of a particular party or a coalition of parties, with a correcting mechanism to carry out change. This can be relied on to carry out changes in the leadership, to change policies and so forth.

If a rational explanation is not convincing, we have an irrational and emotive answer. This kajang move is necessary to fortify PR’s hold on Selangor. This is done to forestall any defections from PR that may lead UMNO and BN regaining control over Selangor. With the regain, BN can lay its greedy hands on the RM3 billion cash reserve and the assets in the state of Selangor. With consolidation of political power, Selangor being the richest state can serve as the dagger pointing to the heart of Putrajaya, now for the time being, the abode of thieves and plunderers of our country. As a result we must make Anwar win this election. Simple.

Anwar is morally unfit to become MB and eventually PM. Who speaks that way? I have said it an earlier article- UMNO’s own morality is a cesspool. It doesn’t have the moral authority to tear down Anwar when its own house is in disrepute. 

Is it reasonable for us to imagine that Anwar wants to take over Selangor to use it as a bargaining chip to enter into the embrace of Kim Il Najib and become deputy PM? Why should a person who were once already a DPM and in fact stood in as PM when Mahathir went on an extended cruise on Ananda Krishnan’s luxury yacht, wants to become second in command serving under invertebrate Najib? It’s clear that whoever advances such a theory is paid by Najib to ensure Najib is fenced securely. That theory is as feasible as a camel passing through the eye of a needle.

Notice how recently the UMNO cyber troopers are changing tactics- from attacking and besmirching Khalid they have now resorted to softly endorsing Khalid. Suddenly Khalid has become UMNO’s darling. One favourite line is Khalid has done so well for Selangor; this Kajang move is an attempt to get rid of Khalid.

Let’s not be sentimental about this; if Khalid is really the problem for PKR and hence PR, getting rid of him is just part of the business. Same with Azmin- if he is the problem, getting rid of him is all business. Nothing personal. We are not in the game on UMNO’s terms.

We must read the ember lights. In recent months, Khalid has made some political blunders. When the whole country is facing economic difficulties, he raised lawmakers’ salaries to an insensitive level; his decision to expel Azmin from PKNS was a poorly judged one. His success at reducing an outstanding loan with a bank owned by BN should raise suspicions as to the ease by which he got the relief; we can’t rely on a single poor general to defend Selangor. If troops are not well fed and contented, dissension can escalate and capitalised upon by the enemy.

Suddenly Khalid is UMNO’s angel.

We should be suspicious indeed when Khalid is suddenly regarded as an angel by UMNO. All this time, Khalid was condemned in the meanest of terms ranging from being a bungling stutterer, a bone-head and a philanderer having secret liaisons with people from Faekah and Elizabeth Wong. Since when has economic achievements and sound management been attractive points with UMNO? Never. They are interested in having power and abusing them to their advantage. And as to Khalid’s management prowess as a manager, that is an overrated quality. When UMNO is finished with using him, they will dig up his less than sterling achievements when managing PNB and Guthrie.

The fact that UMNO is softly endorsing Khalid should be raising our suspicions that Khalid can possibly be a Trojan horse. Or he can be the borrowed knife to kill another. 

Khalid is simply the stubborn mule. He believes that he can be the MB without having the required hierarchical credentials. He has zero political skills. You can’t stay in an important position without having the party credentials. If Khalid is too thick to understand the political game, the only way he can be educated to act accordingly is through this Kajang move. That would be a respectable way to exit with a face saving gesture.

Only now he has got the message- that he needs to have a position such as PKR’s deputy president to stay on as MB. He hasn’t read the anomaly- he is a committee member, while Azmin who is not even made an exco is the Selangor PKR chief. I would be surprised if Anwar is not supporting Azmin. Anwar cannot condone anarchy.

Khalid should be more intelligent in this matter. The restraint by which Azmin’s camp is conducting itself on Khalid should be read as a concession of respect given to Khalid. Its Khalid’s camp that is showing hostility and riotousness. They have been less guarded when treating Azmin’s camp. Azmin’s camp is mature while Khalid’s camp is reckless.

Hasn’t Khalid achieved so much for Selangor? Such as RM3 billion cash reserves and other social welfare assistance to the poor and the aged? These are indeed commendable achievements which are not trivialised. But they can also be achieved by other than Khalid. More importantly these achievements are of no significance to UMNO but suddenly they are held in high esteem.

The other often used line of argument: If what Khalid has achieved thus far is good, that should be enough to showcase Selangor as an example on how a state is managed right?

Well, not quite right. Achievements must be functional. They don’t exist in vacuo. We are not scoring high marks in an exam paper here. We are dealing with real politik. We want an achiever that is functional. The achievements must serve a purpose. The purpose is nothing short of securing and consolidating political power. UMNO likes what Khalid is doing because his achievements are good on paper but do not translate into power at the state. UMNO is after that power. Power to do good can be also be used to do evil things.

If the troops are not empowered, the empire crumbles. They can succumb to UMNO’s financial enticements.

We must not lose focus on the overriding objective of expelling the wolves of Putrajaya. We must not forget the Alpha wolf is in Putrajaya. We must keep UMNO people way from the treasury and sources of income. These are in real danger. All wealth creating resources, reserves, projects are in danger if UMNO people are around.

Those who are uneasy about the Kajang move, please ponder this. What if all the 15 PAS ADuns were to cross over after being promised the important posts. BN and PAS will control 27 of the 56 seats in Selangor. Since they all like Khalid, they invite him and a few of Khalid’s friends to come over too. Khalid retains his MBship without a power base. Later he will be kicked out all the same.

Or imagine that 7 from PKR and 7 from PAS cross over creating a PR deficit of 26 seats. Same thing- UMNO will milk the discontented and hard-pressed to join and form a coalition government. Once they become government, they have control over the RM3 billion cash reserves and other assets; they will start buying the others. In the end, PR loses Selangor.

When that happens, all the good and the achievements that Khalid did will just be some quaint topic over some food and drinks in some speak easy. These people will ooh and aah over plates of pink salmon and probably some intoxicants.

Then they will rue the consequences of their misplaced sentimentalism. Why didn’t Anwar do something? Because when he wanted to do something, we object because to call a by election is a betrayal to the people. It’s a waste of public money, even when we know the proposed budget for the election is half the amount the government spends on Najib’s official residence. We objected because it offends our sensibilities. If we allow our misplaced sentimentalism to get in the way, we will live to regret for not supporting Anwar in Kajang.