“Annuar charged that Mahathir was an instigator. Najib wants to use him against his old boss who had contributed so much towards him (Annuar).”
If Mahathir was arrested, added Shahbudin Husin the analyst, the question is not what would happen to the former Prime Minister but Najib’s fate after that. “Would Najib be more comfortable or feel increasingly the choking sensation?”
“Najib probably feels that Annuar’s appointment benefits him in helping to stave off the continuing attacks by Mahathir.”
The reality that cannot be denied, said the analyst, is that the new situation would also turn the Najib-Mahathir spat for the worse, critical, and bloody until the next General Election in 2018, if not until the end of their lives.
Shahbudin, commenting on Annuar replacing Ahmad Maslan as Umno Information Chief, said that many people have since realised why the change was made. “It’s clear from several statements issued by Annuar recently.”
“Annuar is the chief weapon, placed right in front on the battlefield, to take on Mahathir as he continues to savage the Prime Minister.”
Many of Annuar’s statements, making comparisons between Mahathir and Najib in power, and his attacks on former Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz, said Shahbudin, are an indication of things to come. “Annuar, in one statement, said that Mukhriz never spoke up during Umno Supreme Council meetings.”
“During visits to Perak and Kedah recently, Annuar clearly stated that Umno must move from a defensive position and go on the offensive. That’s what’s happening now.”
Annuar also urged Umno members to defend the party presidency which was presently under attack and increasingly being questioned. “Before visiting the northern states, Annuar gave a long commentary on Mahathir’s blog piece criticising Attorney-General Mohd Apandi Ali,” said the analyst. “He described it as instigation.”
“Several police reports have been made against Mahathir. The Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Abu Bakar, stressed that his officers would investigate the former Prime Minister for criminal defamation.”
Shahbudin recalled that Annuar had in the past, when Mahathir was Prime Minister, taken to attacking Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and the Kelantan Sultan. “Much water has flowed under the bridge since then, and the wheels of fortune have come a full circle. Annuar, who formerly took his cue from Mahathir, will now focus his attacks on the former Prime Minister.”
“By coming to Najib’s rescue as the new Umno Information Chief and defending him, and by making comparisons between his political master and Mahathir, his old boss, it’s as if Annuar will lead the charge against critics of the administration and the chief critic.”
Annuar’s approach as Umno Information Chief shows no indication that he intends to help bring Najib and Mahathir back together again, instead he intends to attack and attack until nothing is left of them but ashes and embers. “The question remains on who will turn into ashes,” said Shahbudin.