Who will fortune favour? Ahmad Zahid (left) might find himself facing competition from a revived Najib if luck is in the latter’s corner. — Filepics/The Star
“... AND we know that there can never be a firm friendship between man and man or a real community between different states unless there is a conviction of honesty on both sides and a certain like-mindedness in other respects; for if people think differently, they will act divergently,” Athenian historian and general Thucydides discussing the 5th century war between Sparta and Athens in his History of the Peloponnesian War.
The quote reminded me of the political drama behind former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s “house arrest” addendum. By now, Najib should know which of his friends is not a real friend.
The response to the house arrest issue from some of Umno’s top leaders illustrates Thucy-dides’ point that “if people think differently, they will act divergently”.
On Sept 1 last year, in a column titled “Still waters run deep”, I wrote about subterfuge, which means using deceit to achieve one’s goals.
My column was on Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his daughter, Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, choking up at the Umno AGM.
“To know why Zahid and his daughter cried, we must first understand what they both desire and fear the most,” the political analyst I had met for a discussion explained.
“What Zahid’s daughter desires most is for her father to retain the Umno presidency for as long as possible. And what they both fear most is Zahid losing his post as Umno president, as Najib could challenge it if he is out of jail.”
Fast forward to Jan 6 this year.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, told Umno members not to participate in a rally organised to show support for Najib’s bid for house arrest at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya on Monday. Party members who chose to attend the rally would have to bear the risks themselves: “If individuals attend the solidarity rally, we leave it to them to assume the risks,” he said.
On Jan 3, Umno announced the cancellation of a planned gathering following Istana Negara’s statement that any application for pardons or reduction of sentences must be submitted by the prisoner for consideration by the Pardons Board, which is chaired by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
After the “seni sandiwara” (the art of theatre) at the Umno AGM, why is the party blocking members from showing solidarity with its former president?
The rally is just a rally. It is just a one-day event. A political gimmick hijacked by Umno’s rival, PAS. When the Opposition can obtain political gain from an issue, they will hold a rally.
What is more significant in the Najib House Arrest courtroom drama is the purported letter from the Pahang palace confirming the existence of a royal decree that would allow the former prime minister to serve the rest of his jail sentence at home.
It is the letter that counts, not the solidarity rally. Is blocking the pro-Najib Umno leaders and members from participating Ahmad Zahid’s act of divergence? Is it evidence that the “firm friendship” between Ahmad Zahid and Najib lacks the conviction of honesty?
The public, who are not interested in political intrigues between an Umno president and a former president, has questions about the addendum.
> Why wasn’t the addendum presented to the Pardons Board?
> Who has a copy of the addendum?
> What is the date of the addendum, was the Sultan of Pahang still the King at the time?
> Najib has been allowed to seek a pardon for his sentence. This is the first, presumably. When can he seek the next one? Under the law, he can’t apply for a pardon every year.
> Is it true that there is no law allowing house arrest?
Some people texted me saying that they didn’t understand the addendum – presumably most of the rakyat are equally confused.
“Malah rakyat meluat dengan Umno yang nak bebaskan Najib (even the people are disgusted with Umno, who wants to release Najib),” a friend texted.
“How many of the rakyat love Najib? They punished him in the 2018 General Election,” said another.
An answer to whether the rakyat loves Najib might come from examining his state of fortune.
Italian Renaissance political philosopher and statesman Niccolo Machiavelli wrote: “... men may side their fortune, but cannot oppose her; that they may weave its warp, but cannot break it. Yet they should never give up, because there is always hope ... and since there is hope, they should not despair, no matter what fortune brings or in what travail they find themselves.”
The wheel of fortune might be turning in Najib’s favour.
After 10 years of the 1MDB scandal during which fortune turned her back on him, is she now favouring the former prime minister?
If so, it would be difficult to oppose her.
When Umno, under Ahmad Zahid’s leadership, called off the Jan 6 rally, was it an act of opposition to fortune?
You can oppose people but not fortune.
Remember when fortune favoured Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim despite Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s relentless efforts to block him from achieving the top post?
The same goes for Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who failed in his attempt to be sworn in as prime minister for the second time.
Humans – even politicians – cannot oppose fortune.
