Najib's Promise: Target Selangor !

Mkini e-section with courtesy of YDP Gopeng, Tuan Hj Abd Rahim Bin Md Ariff

For the Pakatan Rakyat states, it seems, all roads lead back to Barisan Nasional (BN) rule and Selangor is next on the list. That is, if Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has his way.

It all started with the coup de grace that saw BN taking over Perak. A beaming Najib - who was then PM-in-waiting - announced that the coalition is taking over the silver state in his capacity as state Umno liaison chief.

Najib was handed the portfolio after the Jan 29 Umno supreme council marathon session. He took over from disgraced former Perak MB Tajol Rosli before the events led to the controversial takeover.

The adroit orchestration which toppled the Perak government, saw three Pakatan state assemblypersons suddenly jumping ship and becoming independents. They later expressed their support for BN.

In an ominous move chillingly similar to the Perak fracas, Najib was elevated to the throne of Selangor Umno liaison chief on April 24.

As pointed out by Universiti Malaya antropology and social sciences lecturer Noor Sulastry Yurni Ahmad: "If we remember what happened in Perak, we can infer that Selangor is next in Najib's sights; he has promised to take over Selangor and he is likely to do it."

In contrast to the surreptitious manoeuvring, prior to the fall of the silver state, Najib's recent campaign started with him blatantly telling the nation that he intends to "win back Selangor". He said this while officiating the Kuala Selangor Umno division meeting on Aug 9.

The prime minister's statement stirred a hornet's nest amongst Pakatan leaders. They rushed to close the respective barn doors before any more of their prized elected stallions could bolt.

As with the political jumping jacks in Perak, the assemblyperson in question will usually 'disappear' before reappearing to announce he or she has switched sides. This was the case with Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, Osman Jailu, Hee Yit Foong and Trojan Horse Nasharuddin Hashim.

Now PKR's Port Klang assemblyperson Badrul Hisham Abdullah is nowhere on the radar and, so far, has remained incommunicado.

Looking at his 'disappearance', the Machiavellian machinations attempting to derail Selangor Pakatan may have been long in the making. This is despite Najib only making the announcement a few weeks ago. Mkini