Filipino pirates must be shaking in their shoes at the news that Special Functions Minister Hishamuddin’s principal present task, according to him; is to counter threats to security in Sabah.

Having regard to what Kuala Lumpur has achieved so far in that matter all extra help is welcome but exactly what Hishamuddin can do remains unclear. He will not be brandishing a kris aboard one of the non-submersible submarines, nor contributing new brilliant ideas about how to catch Suluk pirates. What then? Any further statement would be welcome but unlikely.

The record of KL in respect of security in Sabah is a dismal one and the current arrangements have yet to improve on what the OCPD Lahad Datu was able to do prior to 1963 with a dozen constables and an old police launch!

Putting his statement to one side as irrelevant verbiage, uttered by a man incapable of coming up with something more believable, it remains to be asked exactly what Hishamuddin is tasked to do. A few housekeeping tasks have been suggested elsewhere and maybe that is all that there is to the appointment. But probably not. Why, for instance, create a new post requiring new bribe money; even as a family favour?

The only logical explanation is that, despite public statements to the contrary, Najib no longer trusts Zahid not to displace him one morning soon and wants to put Hishamuddin in place as the undisputed successor when he has to run for it. So Zahid had better watch his back carefully. There may be a bodyguard with explosives on his tail!