When A ‘Show Of Strength’ Becomes A Sign Of Weakness

Prime Minister Mahiaddin has been putting a bit of stick about, over recent days especially, and it reminds of nothing more than the dying days of the BN government as former PM6 (Najib Razak) sought to intimidate voters into keeping him in office.

Even Sarawak Report has learnt there are efforts underway to charge the editor over complaints that were signed off by the police in 2018 for ‘No Further Action’.

Much more troublingly, the Prime Minister has not hesitated to set the police onto the country’s muzzled MPs (including his own former party leaders whom he deserted and betrayed) who attempted to walk to their place of work last week after he had nervously once again balked facing a vote on his record in office.

This was in contradiction to his commitment to the Agong and the Rulers who had ordered him to hold that vote. Under instructions that can only have been politically motivated 110 elected MPs have now been dragged into the police station to be quizzed by common constables about alleged potential violations of social distancing orders as they sought to represent the people and exercise their solemn duties.

At the same time the nation has watched Mahiaddin’s cronies travelling in and out of his alternative seat of government i.e. his house, where they have met and mingled (mask-less according to photos circulating on social media) to do what they like.

SOP = Some Over People?

Naturally, there has been no basis to charge the MPs. So, where does this sick PM take things next now that he seeks to rule through fear in the absence of legitimacy or respect? A genuine dictator needs real big guns at this point, so will the army turn against the people and will the Rulers support that move?

It seems that such institutions have remembered their duties and would rather play a longer game in favour of stability and popularity. In which case, Mahiaddin’s police and MACC sticks have had to flay out against more soft targets arresting and harassing youth leaders who have protested the suspension of Parliament (on excuse of the Some Over People (SOP) rules again) and people who have spoken out on social media.

A Mahiaddin crony made a disgraceful joke about the refrigerated lorries provided for Covid victims. After families of victims made their displeasure known, the crony at least apologised. Nonetheless this weak PM saw fit to set his police squads into action against those who criticised the crass, insensitive and gross remarks online.There have been arrests and questionings over Facebook remarks about the incident deemed likely to cause public unrest!

The people can see all this for what it plainly is, which is not a display of strength from a confident and powerful prime minister, but evidence of extreme insecurity and weakness from a confused and desperate PM lashing out at anyone he can as he fails to secure his own position.

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