Perikatan Nasional treasurer-general Sanusi Nor made no attempt to disguise the fact that Saturday’s motorcycle convoy in Terengganu was staged to highlight that Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan – allies in the unity government – are the real burden as the country grapples with a fuel crisis triggered by the Iran war.
Sanusi was responding to PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar’s criticism that the convoy was a tone-deaf stunt that wasted precious fuel amid a worsening global energy crisis.
In fact, that was the very same weekend that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in no uncertain terms, dismissed the prospect of a snap general election.
He also urged all political parties to work together to mitigate the impact of the crisis on ordinary Malaysians.
Anwar insisted that this was not the right time for political rivalry. Instead, he called on all parties to close ranks and concentrate on finding solutions to the various challenges confronting the nation.
Sanusi’s and Nurul Izzah’s comments underscore a political reality that is difficult to ignore – the 16th general election may still be far off, but the groundwork is already being laid for the campaign, and rather openly.
Sanusi’s response to Nurul Izzah is unlikely to have been spontaneous. It was more likely intended to project PN’s narrative that the unity government has failed to address issues surrounding the global crisis and its impact on the cost of living.
Why not? In contemporary politics, fact often gives way to perception, with narratives taking precedence over reality.
The motorcycle convoy was clearly the drawcard, but there is a deeper message of real significance. The opposition is suggesting that its ears are closer to the ground and, for that reason, it represents a genuine threat to the current administration.
This was clearly a form of “soft” campaigning, carefully choreographed to build momentum well before Parliament is dissolved.
Still, Nurul Izzah’s reprimand cannot be brushed aside. In these difficult times, any public show of force – whether through rallies or mass gatherings – risks being perceived as insensitive to the struggles ordinary people face, especially when the cost of living, fuel subsidies, and the nation’s economic stability dominate public concern.
Anwar’s appeal for political parties to prioritise working together to find solutions was likely aimed at reducing political temperatures.
Realistically speaking, though, there is no cooling‑off period in politics. Whether behind closed doors or out in the open, it never truly ends.
Anwar’s remark that he “will not be holding an election in the next one or two months” suggests that political temperatures are indeed rising.
When a sitting prime minister feels compelled to deny the prospect of snap polls, it suggests that speculation is rampant among both the elites and the grassroots.
We can therefore assume that the pre-election campaign season is already upon us.
Political parties are testing the waters with certain narratives to gauge the public’s reaction while strengthening their machinery.
Issues such as the global energy crisis, rising living costs, and government efficiency all provide fertile fodder for warring sides.
But will these debates bring any tangible benefit to the rakyat?
Or are our political actors simply looking to fall back on rhetoric to score points with the electorate without offering genuine solutions?
The writer is the editor of FMT’s Malay News Desk.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.