MAY 7 — One has a tendency to read a lot into things during pivotal moments, such as the looming May 9 polling day.
The ceramahs and the crowds — or in some cases the lack of them — have certainly given a lot of us food for thought about the issues that the nation has been dealing with this past decade.
The actions of civil servants and institutions which are supposed to be independent or at the very least seen to be so have also bolstered public opinion to a point where it may hurt the chances of the ruling coalition which is seeking its 14th mandate.
As former International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz puts it, the contract for managing our house called Malaysia has expired and there are two contractors seeking our approval – the current contractor wants an extension; and there’s another contracting company led by the former CEO of the house who is seeking to sign a fresh agreement.
The former Wanita Umno chief who is now batting for Pakatan Harapan along with her former boss Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and ex-Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin.
The wishful thinking ones relish the idea of the return of this “Holy Trinity” who led the nation at its peak. While they too have had to fend off their fair share of controversies and criticisms, critics of the present caretaker government — especially the older generation and Baby Boomers — opine that the Mahathir era scandals did not implicate him personally.
Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has decided to take the 1MDB bull by the horns by facing the international press in his Bloomberg interview and sent the board’s CEO Arul Kanda on a roadshow to explain the matter to the people.
This is also an indication that the caretaker premier is unfazed by the allegations and has enough evidence to exonerate himself from any wrongdoing. That Pakatan Harapan leaders have not taken the opportunity to face off with Arul Kanda publicly with the given platform contributes to the BN narrative that 1MDB is a clever spin by the Opposition to discredit the prime minister.
Reading between the lines further, the unprecedented actions of the Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun and Navy Chief Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin in publicly assuring their men that their votes are secret and they are free to exercise their democratic right to pick the candidate and party of their choice is being interpreted in many different ways: that they are keeping the heat off the incumbent government which has been constantly accused of abusing these institutions to get an unfair advantage over their opponents; that Mohamad Fuzi and Ahmad Kamarulzaman are in fact closeted Pakatan Harapan supporters; or that they are hedging their bets to secure their jobs in case Pakatan Harapan takes over the federal government.
All these theories seem plausible but the truth could be as simple as these two senior officers entrusted to keep our nation safe are merely upholding the Constitution and protecting the integrity of these institutions. After all, their allegiance is to king and country.
Yes, there is plenty to think about as we enter the final round of what is turning out to be the most bruising battle the nation is not only witnessing, but also enduring.
* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
