Half-past-six maneuvers

Between UMNO and PAS, I wonder if they care that others are not so "shiok" to see them engaging in secret talks.

And UMNO, unsurprisingly, is in no hurry to explain their actions to other BN component parties. Semua ok?

Not with the rakyat, I think.

PM to explain Umno-PAS talks to parties (The Star, Sunday 27 July 2008)

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will explain to Barisan Nasional component parties about the Umno-PAS meetings during the coalition’s full council meeting.

Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the council meeting would be held a few days after the management committee meeting on Aug 6. He was speaking to reporters after opening the Bunga Matahari Umno branch meeting here yesterday.

Tengku Adnan said Abdullah would explain to parties like MCA, MIC and Gerakan on the meetings that Umno had held with PAS. When asked what Abdullah would tell the component parties, Tengku Adnan said:

“To us the meeting is good. We don’t have two-thirds (in Parliament). Certain laws need to be passed with a two-thirds majority, so we need help. The only party that we can talk to at this moment is PAS.”

On the Umno-PAS talks, Tengku Adnan said it was still on. He added that the discussions would not jeopardise the relationship among Barisan component parties.

Tengku Adnan also said Umno was working closely with the Anti-Corruption Agency to weed out corruption in the party. He said the party would refer suspected cases to the agency before the cases are heard at its party disciplinary board level.

On Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir asking 22,000 Umno branch chiefs to send him the list of their nominated candidates for the top five posts in the party, Tengku Adnan said this was unnecessary as the succession plan had worked well in the past and should be continued.

Kesian, Sabah & Sarawak

Maybe it's not true.

But I can't help feeling sorry for the leaders of Sabah and Sarawak who delivered the crucial votes to save BN in the last general election. And they are still groveling to their Peninsular masters for some tender loving attention to resolve long-standing issues that looks set to remain longer-standing still.

Yong Teck Lee did caution about the problems of Sabah & Sarawak being pushed aside in the months ahead. Looks like it is happening sooner than he predicted.

There are only so much goodies that UMNO can dish out in their attempts to secure their political survival. So, it's a first come first serve basis in this strange game of merry-go-round.

Look what juicy morsels UMNO is serving up to tempt PAS to shed their holy garb:-

Kemuncak dari usaha ini adalah perjumpaan antara Najib Tun Razak bersama Timbalan Presiden PAS, Ustaz Nasaruddin Mat Isa dan Cikgu Mustafa Ali di London. Najib Tun Razak telah menyatakan tawaran mereka kepada PAS.

Tawaran tersebut adalah:

a. Jawatan Menteri Besar kepada PAS di Selangor, Perak, Kedah dan Kelantan.
b. Jawatan exco kepada PAS di Terengganu, Pahang, Perlis dan Johor.
c. PAS akan mendapat kesemua kerusi yang dimenangi oleh PKR dan DAP untuk ditandingi dalam PRU ke 12 kelak.
d. PAS akan mendapat jawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri ke 2
e. PAS akan diberikan 5 jawatan Menteri Kabinet penuh
f. Sejumlah jawatan Timbalan Menteri, Setiausaha Parlimen
g. Sejumlah jawatan Senator dan Ahli Majlis dalam GLC
h. Dan berbagai2 lagi tawaran yang dibuat.

(The full blogpost can be viewed at http://www.malaysiawaves.com/2008/07/pendedahan-dalang2-yang-hendak-membawa.html)

I'm infinitely more interested in how PAS leaders respond to temptations of political power and the promises of materialistic gains than what's gonna happen to Anwar next.

Will PAS come out of this smelling like roses or cow dung?

It's a wait-and-see for now.