Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) of Sarawak is in an unassailable and enviable position of being untouchable or uncontrollable by PM of Malaysia. Having 14 MPs and 35 ADUNs (simple majority in Sarawak), its President Taib Mahmud, who is also Chief Minister of Sarawak, has strong bargaining power. Though Umno assumes it as a 'fixed deposit', in fact, it is anything but fixed, fixation maybe. Umno relies on PBB more than the other way round.
Umno can boast about their 88 MPs (which is almost equivalent to Pakatan's 89), but it is relying on other parties to have at least 112 seats in order to have simple majority. Similarly, Pakatan could have simple majority if they could make at least 23 MPs to crossover.
By the way, in case anyone accuses me of being a 'shit stirrer', as an analogy, what Najib did to Perak soon after GE12 could then be described as having made shit cake after stirring it. Anyway, we all know there are no permanent friends nor enemies in politics. So everything and anything you can think of can be made possible, if there is a good enough reason. Surely, power is a good enough reason for most if not all politicians. Often, the end justifies the means. Furthermore, political loyalty cannot be so fragile that it can be so easily influenced by this simple suggestion.
Theoretically, we can do a bit of 'mix and match' to party loyalties to see how our PM is under certain constraints as far as control is concerned. He has no real control over the bigger parties within BN, and his own position as PM is at the mercy of Umno division leaders or warlords.
PM can try to exert pressure on other party leaders, but his hands are tied rather than free. Take Sarawak for example, if too much pressure is exerted on PBB's President, he can choose to work out a deal with Pakatan, making the latter's goal nearer by 14 MPs (just short of 9), and bringing along a whole state to its fold! If we add PRS's 6 and SPDP's 4, then simple majority is achieved! Or, Sabah's PBS (4), Upko (3) and SPDP (4) could be added instead. Alternatively, MCA's 7 and MIC's 4 in West Malaysia could be used in this theoretical exercise. There are a few other possible combinations which make this exercise interesting.
Looking at the ministerial and other appointments, we can see how Najib tried his best to look after all those he needs to maintain BN's majority; as well as to maintain his position as President of Umno, and by virtue of that, his position as PM of Malaysia.
Umno leaders can be arrogant every now and again, but there is a limit as to how much insult they can throw at their other coalition party leaders.
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Umno can boast about their 88 MPs (which is almost equivalent to Pakatan's 89), but it is relying on other parties to have at least 112 seats in order to have simple majority. Similarly, Pakatan could have simple majority if they could make at least 23 MPs to crossover.
By the way, in case anyone accuses me of being a 'shit stirrer', as an analogy, what Najib did to Perak soon after GE12 could then be described as having made shit cake after stirring it. Anyway, we all know there are no permanent friends nor enemies in politics. So everything and anything you can think of can be made possible, if there is a good enough reason. Surely, power is a good enough reason for most if not all politicians. Often, the end justifies the means. Furthermore, political loyalty cannot be so fragile that it can be so easily influenced by this simple suggestion.
Theoretically, we can do a bit of 'mix and match' to party loyalties to see how our PM is under certain constraints as far as control is concerned. He has no real control over the bigger parties within BN, and his own position as PM is at the mercy of Umno division leaders or warlords.
PM can try to exert pressure on other party leaders, but his hands are tied rather than free. Take Sarawak for example, if too much pressure is exerted on PBB's President, he can choose to work out a deal with Pakatan, making the latter's goal nearer by 14 MPs (just short of 9), and bringing along a whole state to its fold! If we add PRS's 6 and SPDP's 4, then simple majority is achieved! Or, Sabah's PBS (4), Upko (3) and SPDP (4) could be added instead. Alternatively, MCA's 7 and MIC's 4 in West Malaysia could be used in this theoretical exercise. There are a few other possible combinations which make this exercise interesting.
Looking at the ministerial and other appointments, we can see how Najib tried his best to look after all those he needs to maintain BN's majority; as well as to maintain his position as President of Umno, and by virtue of that, his position as PM of Malaysia.
Umno leaders can be arrogant every now and again, but there is a limit as to how much insult they can throw at their other coalition party leaders.
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