Dirty Politics: Najib vs Anwar, Perak May Fall

Hantu Laut

Very few political campaigns have been completely free of dirty politics. Slander,libel,forgery and other potentially damaging criminal acts to embarrass political rivals are the instruments of choice in this dirty game.Some are of the notion that they should use any and all means necessary to guarantee a win and do not feel guilty of their unsavoury ways.Dirty politics range from invasive investigations and revelation of an opponent's personal life, their families and friends to past misdemeanours.

In the recent US Presidential Election, Democrat's candidate Barack Hussein Obama had been the target of dirty politics.His opponents alleged he is a Muslim as his middle name 'Hussein' connotes an Islamic name.Even the New York Times, in abhorrent bad taste, jumped on the bandwagon and came up with a caricature of him in Islamic garb.Fortunately for Obama, the American people didn't buy the story. He won the presidency and created history as the first black president of the US.

In Malaysia, dirty politics have broken all the rules of decency and in some cases even the rule of law. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had been accused of sodomy by the victim himself and police report was lodged against him and he has been charged by the police and awaiting trail.Most Malaysian don't believe the story, majority believed it was politically motivated and part of the government ploy to stop him from gaining power. Najib was the suspected master mind of the plot as the victim had been seen in his house before the expos'e.

Najib is even in a bigger mess than Anwar. He was alleged to be romantically linked to a beautiful Mongolian model who was cruelly murdered and her body blown up by explosives by two policemen who had been official body guards to him and his wife.The indomitable Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the most sensational and controversial Malaysian blogger, had signed a Statutory Declaration implicating Najib's wife in the murder.The main accused Razak Beginda, a close friend of Najib was acquitted by the court adding more speculation to a conspiracy to alter the course of justice away from the real culprits.

In Najib's case, although he could well be victim of dirty politics, majority of Malaysians seemed to believe the story.Why is Anwar seen more innocent ? Was it sympathy because of the bad treatment he got under the BN government or he is just a better actor than Najib. Could it be the many years he spent in prison for what he called trumped-up charges by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad that deflects whatever wrongs he may have committed?

The political impasse in Perak is a battle between Najib and Anwar.The politics in the state will get dirtier until one side is vanquished.

Two seemingly corrupt assemblymen charged by the ACA and awaiting trail suddenly become hot shits for UMNO. Will the court case on 10 February for the two accused be foregone conclusion. They would be found innocent ?

How UMNO going to explain accepting two assemblymen awaiting trail for corruptions when they are in the midst of cleaning up their own house from corruptions or was it because they already knew what the outcome of the trail would be.

On the other hand, why was the Perak state assembly Speaker so eager to accept the resignations of the two assemblymen by ignoring their objections to the letters which they claimed were pre-signed and undated.Why didn't he call the two assemblymen for clarification.Wasn't he showing bias and partiality because he is from PKR and appointed by PKR to that position?

Adding more intrigue to the fascinating world of dirty politics is the Election Commission's decision not to allow the by-elections.This would be the first time the EC rejects call for by-election.Whether they are empowered to do so we have to wait for the court case taken against them by the Perak state government.

In the meantime , Najib is still in the driver's seat, Anwar is the back seat driver and Perak in a limbo.

In latest development it was reported more Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen have absconded.DAP's Hee Yit Foong has resigned from her party and former UMNO Bota assemblyman Nasaruddin had disappeared and expected to return to UMNO.Perak Menter Besar Nizar Jamaluddin is seeking audience with the Sultan to dissolve the whole assembly and call for fresh election.

Najib Tun Razak may see the Sultan to form a new government.

Perak getting very messy.