Terence Fernandez：希盟的权力斗争

希盟，这个执政联盟的“政治剧”似乎永无落幕，本周公正党的最高理事会会议，预料也会引爆另一场权斗剧。这场会议将决定与党主席拿督斯里安华不和的妇女组主席祖莱达的命运。

祖莱达被归为署理主席拿督斯里阿兹敏派系人马，这名党内资深领袖被指在公开场合批评党领袖的言论，包括公开她与安华针对男男性爱短片里男主角一人是谁的对话内容，而遭到党采取纪律行动。如果祖莱达被党开除，她就须辞去其现有的部长官位。

祖莱达替代人选？

据说祖莱达正在考虑可能加入由首相马哈迪领导的土团党。但是，祖莱达的加入将对该党妇女组主席拿督斯里丽娜带来影响。尤其，像祖莱达这样重量级的政治人物加入，肯定会对在政治上还属于轻量级的丽娜，构成威胁。

另一个问题是，虽然房地部是分配给公正党，但谁能阻止马哈迪以首相的权力，保住祖莱达留在内阁呢？毕竟，副首相拿督斯里旺阿兹莎在党内也没有任何党职，但依然出任部长。

据了解，备受欢迎的公正党班底谷国会议员兼党的通讯主任法米，是其中被视为可取代祖莱达人选。法米被视为安华的忠实拥护者，也是内阁要更多年轻一代代表的新血。现年38岁的法米，是全职的政治工作者，并且非常了解民间的疾苦。

另一个被看好的，也是38岁的斯蒂亚旺沙国会议员聂纳兹米，他在任雪州斯里斯迪亚州议员时，曾在孟达里组屋区（Mentari），推动提升弱势儿童学习的计划。

据了解，公正党也可能考虑以房地部与诚信党交换联邦直辖区部。基于，法米过去推动让人民负担得起的房屋政策，可持续的城市发展以及解决城市贫困问题，尤其是在中产阶级（B40）的表现，从公正党的角度言，他是最适合的替代人选。

现任联邦直辖区部长卡立沙末是莎阿南的国会议员，也是诚信党的通讯主任。

不管是房地部或联邦直辖区部，都提供了一个很大的平台，以扩大政治影响力，因为这两个部门处理的都是民生的问题，使部长能直接接触到选民。更别忘了，这些部门下庞大的拨款。

冀慕斯达化任教长

这些都是公正党可能会向希盟领导层提出的选项──除非马哈迪认为，他可在马智礼辞职出任代教育部长之馀，还可以担任代房屋及地方政府部部长。

在教育部长人选上，我是其中一个希望看到，同样是吉兰丹人的拿督斯里慕斯达化能在来周被委为教育部长的人。

我见证了他对教育的承诺，我的父亲就是慕斯达化在日里选区为乡村儿童提供周末辅导班的负责人。整个计划由慕斯达化资助。显然，他能继承马智礼“一个都不能少”政策（让所有孩童都能上学），但与马智礼不同，慕斯达化没有很大政治野心，没有利用部门的资源，并牺牲孩子的教育为代价，来提升自己的政治地位。

无论如何，希盟的“权斗剧”似乎陆续有来，没有减少的迹象。新年伊始，马智礼的辞职，以及持续议论的交棒计划，而马哈迪也以希盟如果要他下台，随时可以开口作为反击。问题是，希盟其他成员党敢吗？这就是聪明的94岁老人看透的地方。也许是时候跟马哈迪摊牌了？

《希盟的权力斗争》（Musical chairs in the politics of PH）原文：

THERE seems to be no end to the political drama courtesy of the ruling coalition with this weekend gearing up to be another explosive affair for PKR.

Saturdayˇs central committee meeting will decide the fate Womenˇs chief Zuraida Kamaruddin who has fallen out with party leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The senior leader in deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Aliˇs camp is facing the sack from the party for public statements she made which included revealing private conversations she had with Anwar over the identity of a man in a sex video.

If she is indeed sacked, there will be a vacancy in cabinet as by right Zuraida will have to give up the Housing and Local Government Ministry portfolio, of which she is currently holding.

Zuraida, it is said is considering the possibility of joining Parti Prinbumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) currently headed by Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

However, her joining that party will weigh heavily on Bersatu Womenˇs chief Datuk Seri Rina Harun. It is obvious that a firebrand like Zuraida will pose a political threat to Rina, whom m any consider still a political lightweight.

The question also supposes that while the ministerial portfolio is held by PKR, what is preventing Dr. Mahathir from retaining Zuraida in her ministry, citing his prerogative as Prime Minister? After all Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail does not hold any party position in PKR.

Meanwhile, it is understood that popular Lembah Pantai MP and PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil is among those looked upon to replace Zuraida.

An Anwar loyalist, he also represents the young blood needed in Cabinet for a more significant representation of Malaysian youth.

Fahmi, at 38, has at least held down a full-time job and understands the struggles of raising a family.

An even match would be Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, also 38, who is MP for another federal seat, Setiawangsa.
When he was a state assemblyman, he had mooted the Mentari Project to promote learning for severely disadvantaged children in low cosat housing schemes.

It is understood that the powers that be are considering a swap between Amanah and PKR for the Federal Territories Ministry portfolio. Seeing that Fahmi has been championing affordable housing, sustainable urban development and addressing urban poverty especially among the B40 group, it is not far fetched to say he is an obvious choice for the job, from PKRˇs perspective.

The current Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad is the MP for Shah Alam, who is also communications director for Amanah.

Both portfolios offer a sizeable platform to expand political influence and growth as they deal with bread-and-butter issues and puts the minister directly in touch with the electorate. Let us not forget the generous allocations and funding that come with these ministries.

These are some of the options PKR may put forward to the leadership  unless of course Dr. Mahathir feels he can take on the role of Acting Housing and Local Government Minister, on top of the Education Ministry which he has assumed, following the departure of Dr. Maszlee Malik.

I for one am eager to see if my fellow Kelantanese Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad will be named the new Minister of Education in the coming weeks.

I witnessed his commitment to education, where my father conducted his weekend tuitorial programmes for rural children in his constituency in Jeli. The programme was funded by Mustapa himself. Mustapa would be an obvious choice to pick up the No Child Left Behind policy left by Maszlee. And unlike Maszlee, Mustapa does not harbor high political ambitions, where he would use his ministry to prop himself up politically, at the expense of our childrenˇs education.

In any case, there does not seem to be any let up in the dramatics of Pakatan Harapan. It started the year with Maszleeˇs resignation and continues with the debate over the succession plan, where Dr. Mahatir threw the gauntlet to his coalition partners to tell him to leave if they want to.

Would they dare? The wily 94-year-old knows better. Perhaps it is time to call his bluff?