How To Stop Anwar

Is Pak Lah dumb enough to use the ISA?

I bet Anwar is just waiting for Abdullah to use the ISA on him as this would then resurrect nationwide demonstrations and show of support for Anwar which he would only be too happy to bask in.

Pak Lah's cards are few but there is one card he can play to effectively stop Anwar and put an end to to his lofty ambitions without creating a national crisis. He can step down.

As dull as he is, I am sure Pak Lah realizes only too well that his days are numbered and his equally lofty ambition to be recognized as someone who is definitely much more than just a "Bapak Mertua Khairy" has flown off long before the ISA arrests started. Zaid Ibrahim has also pulled the final plug from under him by declaring that there was never any serious attempt by Abdullah to reform the judiciary, which was one of Abdullah's string of empty promises to the nation. Thus his failure as a PM is now clear and evident to all.

With nothing left to show Pak Lah can play his trump card by stepping down. Anwar will not be able to respond to this because then his present nemesis in the form of Najib will then be elevated to PM. UMNO will certainly regroup as a lot of unhappiness in UMNO now stems from the fact that Abdullah is unwilling to step down and no one can do anything about it, not even ex-PM Mahathir. Even if Najib's capabilities are suspect one cannot deny that an UMNO revitalized is definitely something no one in Pakatan wants to see.

Forget about bringing back Mahathir and his gang of geriatric goons. They have had their time. UMNO's fresh blood is as hungry and even more determined than any other member in Pakatan save one. A new UMNO is definitely a threat to Pakatan's dream and will also tone down their bedfellows e.g. MCA and Gerakan whom have now become bolder due to a weakened UMNO.

Meanwhile Anwar knows his time is quickly running out and he must wrest his position before Abdullah gives way to Najib. The iron is still hot while UMNO lies paralyzed with a head which is unable to move its body. A new head would awaken a new soul and Anwar will not want to see how the new body fights.

Will Abdullah play his trump card? Time is running out every minute he delays. Letting go of power is not easy but will he go off in a whimper or will he go off with his enemy slained?

Jeff Ooi: PM Abdullah responds to Anwar by shifting his furniture around