IF anyone expects our politicians to stop plotting and instead wholeheartedly heed the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, then they’re setting themselves up for disappointment.

All the pledges by our political party leaders seem to be just lip service, following our King’s request last week.

Members of Parliament have submitted a shocking number of motions to undermine Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, detailed Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun.

“We have received more than 16 no-confidence motions from the MPs and we have listed them in the Order Paper, ” he said, adding that he was scrutinising each for inclusion into Parliament’s agenda when the Lower House convenes from Nov 2.

A news portal, however, reported that a record 25 Opposition MPs have filed motions of no confidence in Muhyiddin, as listed in the Order Paper. One motion is from DAP Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, and another from Tawau MP Christina Liew, Sabah’s PKR chief.

Similar motions have come from all 11 MPs from Amanah, seven from Warisan and five from Pejuang. There are also two motions of confidence submitted by Pasir Puteh MP Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh from PAS, and Arau MP Shahidan Kassim from Barisan Nasional.

The no faith motions will not crop up because government businesses will take precedence, but the point is, no one has asked for the motions to be withdrawn.

Rules 15 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders state that government affairs shall have precedence over other matters and arranged in accordance with government considerations.

So while the party leaders were pledging loyalty to the King, their underlying ploys were to continue with their plans, and we can only deduce that their party bosses have given them tacit approvals. Or are we supposed to naively believe that their party MPs are free to do what they want at the Dewan Rakyat without any control by their party whips?

Basically, no one – including our King – should trust our politicians’ words.

These guys can draft letters to the King and later claim they didn’t sign anything, as reported by some media.

Last Sunday, His Majesty said in a statement issued by the Istana Negara, that he thought there was no need to declare a state of Emergency in just some parts or the entire country. Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the King feels the government has efficiently handled the Covid-19 pandemic, which has entered the third wave in several parts of the country.

“After deliberating and consulting with the Malay Rulers, as well as taking into consideration the situation beleaguering the country, Al-Sultan Abdullah is of the view that the present government has managed to deal with the pandemic effectively.

“Al-Sultan Abdullah is also of the view that at the moment, there is no need for His Majesty to make an emergency proclamation nationwide or for any part of the country, ” read the statement.

Next came the reminder, which one may call a caveat, where Ahmad Fadil said the King reiterated his message for politicians to stop all forms of politicking and disrupting the country’s administration.

Al-Sultan Abdullah, he said, was also under the impression that there was no need for members of Parliament to continue with irresponsible actions that could undermine the stability of the current government.

In a nutshell – don’t reject the Budget, and there’s no need to table a vote of no confidence in the PM.

On Wednesday, the King issued another statement, which urged all MPs to give “solid support” to the 2021 budget for the sake of the people’s well-being and the country’s economic recovery from the pandemic.

The King also conveyed his “full confidence” in the PM’s ability to lead the country during this period when Malaysia is being tested by “various crises”.

In a statement issued by the palace on Oct 28, Ahmad Fadil said the King has stressed that the 2021 national budget, to be tabled in Parliament on Nov 6, is “very important” for the government and authorities, especially frontliners, to continue implementing policies to overcome the unending threat the pandemic poses.

“Al-Sultan Abdullah has urged MPs to respect the advice of His Majesty for them to stop all political quarrels and instead, focus on the well-being of the people and the country so that the 2021 national budget will be passed without disruptions, ” the statement said.

The statement from the palace issued on Wednesday was certainly worded more strongly than the one from Sunday evening, following the meeting of the King and the Rulers.

The rejection of the proposal to proclaim a state of emergency to fight Covid-19 and the economic downturn was viewed by some political opponents as a rejection of the PM.

It didn’t help that there was a second statement on the same day, which contributed to more interpretations, although it could just be a case of misinterpreting a straightforward statement.

The second statement said the King and the other eight Rulers considered implications of an emergency in context of the country’s image, views of other countries, investor confidence, prosperity of the country, people’s livelihood and their welfare.

“The King and the eight Rulers felt it is important to respect the check-and-balance mechanism between the various branches of government, and the role of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which is to balance various demands to ensure justice and to check any abuse of power, ” said the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal.

The phrase “check any abuse of power” immediately set alarm bells ringing as analysts tried to read between the lines.

Others said analysts shouldn’t dissect what was simply an additional statement by the eight Rulers to express appreciation to Yang di-Pertuan Agong for consulting them before deciding to declare an Emergency, or otherwise.

But in a charged atmosphere, it would have been sufficient for the palace to simply stick to one statement.

And by 11pm, word got out that the PM wanted to quit. At that point, many ministers were already at his house.

The next day, the Umno supreme council ended speculation by expressing its support for the PM and the Perikatan Nasional government. It also said it wanted better cooperation based on “respect” and “political consensus” – which simply means it wants more powerful positions and a stronger voice in the government.

Umno also said it would not work with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the DAP – and that as good as killed off any form of government by Anwar, since he would need to include the DAP. That means it would now be impossible for Anwar to work out a new government to topple Muhyiddin.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also found out that Umno would never work with Anwar and by extension, the DAP. His Facebook was bombarded with angry comments. It was hardly news to anyone who understands Umno. Unsurprisingly, many found Najib’s proposal reeking of a desperate attempt to save himself.

So, what comes next?

Most likely, the Budget will get passed, but the difference this time is, the government can no longer take it for granted that it will be a done deal. The government will not be able to ignore the demands from the MPs, including those in the government, and with the PM’s razor thin majority, immediate changes may have to be made, which would need inclusion in the supplementary budget.

A Cabinet reshuffle is imminent as Umno has made it loud and clear that it wants the deputy prime minister post. The names of at least four Umno leaders have been thrown in the hat. The Dewan Rakyat meeting will end in December and that has most likely – given the strong advice of the King – won the PM a reprieve of six months, at least.

At the same time, the Opposition is trying to push for a Confidence and Supply Agreement to ensure political stability, but the conditions include appointments to select committees and proper allocations for their MPs’ constituencies. Some Opposition MPs have also said there should be no snap elections.

It remains to be seen whether the government would want to accede to such demands.

The Dewan Rakyat will meet again in May and by then, it won’t be surprising if a general election needs to be called. For Sarawak, June is the deadline, and we all pray Covid-19 infections will at least be curtailed by then. And if we desperately need to call for polls, let’s find new ways of campaigning to ensure the rakyat’s safety.

Covid-19 patients were once mere statistics, but with a spike in cases, friends and colleagues are also falling victim to the deadly virus.

MOST of us would like to think the Covid-19 pandemic is something that affects others, possibly, people who work as frontliners or foreigners. Or maybe people who live in congested areas or even recent visitors to Sabah.

However, that’s far from the truth. It doesn’t matter if you live in a slum or an upscale residential area because there’s bound to be interaction in some form or the other.

If it’s not you, then your colleagues could be the ones to have had a brush with someone compromised.

The insidious virus could also have weaselled in with friends who dropped by your home for a visit, or latched on to you when meeting with clients outside.

Places of worship are high-risk areas, too. So, since March, and a Holy Communion service apart, I’ve only attended online church services.

The routine Saturday night meal with close friends has been postponed indefinitely.

There are sound reasons to be fearful. I live in a red zone with Covid-19 positive cases around me.

I’ve been working from home and only go out to buy food when needed.

I’ve completely stopped eating at restaurants and have stayed away from malls. It’s not good for retailers, but I’m not taking any chances.

On Thursday, the St Joseph International school across the road from where I live, had to be closed after an intern teacher tested positive for Covid-19. He had apparently been in close contact with a positive case.

Just down the road, at the Jaya Grocer outlet in Mutiara Tropicana, which I often patronise, an employee tested positive.

The person had been staying at the nearby Tropicana Golf and Resort Club hostel, where 23 workers were found infected. The club was also a place I frequented.

Of course, it was only natural I crosscheck between the dates of when these workers were infected and when I had patronised these places.

Certainly, the tracking system by MySejahtera is good because it can be effective in contact tracing. It’s better than merely writing your names in a register, with silly pseudonyms or otherwise.

Naturally, residents staying in our neighbourhood are deeply concerned since there are many workers – who presumably live nearby – who maintain various sectors of our area.

Last week, the Petaling District Health Department began conducting Covid-19 tests for all residents of the nearby Pelangi Damansara Flats at Persiaran Surian after 23 people tested positive for the virus.

Petaling District Disaster Management Committee chairman Johary Anuar said the tests on residents in Block B started on Oct 21 and followed through Thursday (Oct 22).

“I am told that residents in Block B have been tested. Residents from the other blocks will also go through the test. It is crucial to screen all those living at the high-rise area as 23 Covid-19 positive cases have been detected, ” he said.

Johary added that the results of the Covid-19 tests on Pelangi Damansara residents will take four to five days. It will be a tedious task since thousands of people live there.

I’m not being an alarmist, but there was a time when Covid-19 infections involved nameless people that I only read about in the media. They were statistics, but now, that evil has crept closer to home.

The daughter of a church member tested positive because someone at her workplace was infected. It’s a mild case, but disconcerting, nonetheless.

A church elder also shared with us that his daughter, a doctor in London, caught the virus as she had feared because she works in a hospital. The hospital provided little personal protective equipment (PPE), and in fact, merely told her to quarantine at home even after she tested positive.

A close friend of mine, who operates a logistic business, called me recently for advice after a colleague was snared by the virus.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has rightly said that staying at home is the best way to stop the current Covid-19 wave that’s ravaging the country.

He said while there are many “strategies” to prevent contracting the virus from someone, nothing beats avoiding contact altogether with people outside of home.

“The ministry’s advice is always for people to follow this strategy, which involves six methods. They are, applying physical distancing, using face masks, constantly washing hands, combined with avoiding crowded areas, confined spaces and close conversations.

“If you apply this strategy of six methods, you can break the chain of infection by up to 85%.

“However, if you want to break the chain by 100%, then stay at home. That is the best way of all, ” said Dr Noor Hisham at a press conference here on Oct 19.

Certainly, this isn’t the time for socialising or meetings, especially with strangers or acquaintances. If not priority, postpone for now.

Abstain from going to crowded places and high-risk areas. For me, malls are certainly on my list, even if others disagree.

So, to keep people at home, it’s also important that employers encourage their staff to work from home.

WFH, even before the pandemic, began becoming the norm, especially for professionals who feel going to the office is no longer essential with more work becoming digital.

I’ve found myself more productive with WFH because there are no unnecessary interruptions.

It’s much harder for older bosses, who haven’t adjusted to the digital culture, to accept WFH because they don’t completely trust their staff. But such archaic thinking has little place in this age since with the notebook, anyone can work anywhere.

The world has changed but for some, be it in politics or corporate, they can’t embrace the changes unfolding around them. They stubbornly cling on to their old practices and mindsets, or are reluctant to use new tools of communication, like Zoom.

I wrote this piece while watching a live seminar on a minimised screen, while also glued to the TV screen to catch Covid-19 updates.

Covid-19 has hammered us, but it has also opened a new world to us. As I was about to conclude this article, my phone beeped with two messages – from a neighbourhood group chat on Whatsapp and from a friend in Bangkok on the Line app updating me on the demonstrations there.

The mantra now is stay safe and stay connected. And that’s the truth.

While the Covid-19 pandemic and struggling economy has gripped the nation and Malaysians, our power jostling politicians continue to be more preoccupied with power and positions.

MANY ongoing political developments in our country are simply not making sense – at least that’s the consensus. It’s becoming harder to make sound assumptions because they are mostly unsound.

That’s because we think on the level when we make our assessments, unlike politicians, who are not normal. They are bent on pushing Malaysia into becoming a dysfunctional democracy.

In the past week, I’ve had to force myself to read endless streams of data bytes, fake news, official statements, gossip and half-baked analyses.

The usually reliable news outlets are no better. In them are stories obviously planted by untrustworthy politicians or their operatives, to suit their interests.

It’s near impossible to switch myself off from this exercise in futility, but there’s no running away from it. My job requires me to know as much as I can.

My bosses, clients and contacts call me up incessantly to be brought up to speed with the latest. I am expected to know, so they think.

I’m supposed to be the one to distinguish real news from fake ones.

But I’ve had to tell them, apologetically, that I’m just as clueless as them because we’re now dealing with very confused politicians who urgently need sanity checks.

They can’t be thinking straight, and that’s conclusive. Every afternoon, between 5pm and 6pm, we dutifully turn on the television to learn the latest number of people infected with the dreaded coronavirus.

I guess some of us also want to find out what eye-catching attire Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has chosen from his wardrobe. The shirts look like batik, but that’s still open to debate.

Slowly but surely, we’ve become utterly confused by the number of abbreviations he has used for the numerous directives and standard operating procedures.

When his briefings end, we wait patiently for Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Noor Hisham Abdullah to update us on the status of the pandemic.

I’m certain that none of our politicians are bothered with these statistics. The only numbers they are concerned with is whether they have accumulated enough statutory declarations (SD) to topple the sitting Prime Minister, while those in government are counting if they still have the numbers since the commanding majority is negligible.

Here’s why we’re befuddled. Prior to Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim seeking an audience with the Yang di Pertuan Agong, he said he had “formidable and convincing” support from Members of Parliament to form a new government. He was quoted on Sept 23 as saying that their support was “indisputable”.

After his audience with His Majesty, Istana Negara issued a statement to say Anwar did not present a list of Members of Parliament who supported him.

The Comptroller of the Royal Household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, in a statement said, Anwar had disclosed the number of MPs he claimed had declared support, but he didn’t provide their names.

OK, let’s give Anwar the benefit of the doubt. Surely he can’t be so brazen as to seek an audience with the King if he had nothing to show for it.

We are told by nameless supporters that Anwar needs to keep the names closely guarded to prevent them from being counter-offered. So that comes back to the point why SDs are useless and worthless because the signatories can change their minds at any time.

If some press reports are to be believed, there were also purported letters signed by some heads of parties that were sent to the King. Names have been mentioned but they have remained silent. Nobody is even sure if they have received the approval of their members, as working with political enemies is surely a serious matter.

Well, that’s not something we can verify, but what is factual is that the King no longer wants to meet any of them. It’s probably right on the money to suggest that the palace and many of the Rulers are upset with the conduct of our politicians. Fuming, to be precise. In their minds, these politicians are disconnected from reality.

The Covid-19 pandemic has crippled the economy, yet these politicians are only interested in jostling for power. Their actions are just disgusting.

Now, there are other mind-boggling scenarios if Anwar indeed has strong numbers. He would need to get the support of Umno, PAS, Warisan, Amanah, PKR, DAP, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and the Barisan Nasional to put together a powerful coalition.

Umno leaders are getting pelted by their grassroots for working with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. It’s no secret that many Umno leaders are angry that their party has given so much to Bersatu despite having greater numbers.

One top Umno leader told this writer that “the longer we stay in the government, the faster we will die”.

But how can Umno leaders work with the DAP, or how would the DAP tell its members that it’s now OK to work with Umno?

Surely the MCA and MIC, and GPS, would never want to cooperate with the DAP either. Don’t forget Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, either.

It’s also unimaginable that PAS would sit side by side with Ama-nah.

Have we now come to the point where “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” and Malaysians are about to hear how these politicians are doing this “to save Malaysia” rather than to save themselves? Unfortunately, many gullible Malaysians will believe this.

As we cast our attention on Anwar, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has suddenly appeared out of the blue. None of us were aware that he submitted a letter to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun to table a vote of no confidence in the PM.

Ku Li, as the Kelantan prince is called, has now hijacked the limelight from Anwar.

The whole country has suddenly received pictures of Ku Li with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, along with loyalist Datuk Khairuddin Abu Hassan.

Khairuddin said the photo was taken four years ago, until it was pointed out to him that he and Dr Mahathir were wearing, or holding, facemasks.

Wearing facemasks, as we know, only became mandatory after the country was hit by Covid-19 this year.

Then, Khairuddin said this wasn’t something new to Dr Mahathir since he suffered a lung infection several years ago. However, others soon claimed the picture was taken last month when Ku Li hosted a birthday party for Dr Mahathir.

Sure, we believe you.

However, it’s hard to ignore that a plot seems to be hatching to stop Anwar.

For the benefit of young Malaysians born only after 1989, Ku Li left Umno to form Parti Melayu Semangat 46 after a bitter challenge against Dr Mahathir in Umno.

Well, that doesn’t mean they can’t be friends or new allies in a political arrangement. However, the moral of the story is, don’t place all your eggs in a politician’s basket. They can’t even be honest about a picture.

The New Malaysia, which most of us are hoping for, isn’t taking shape. The same ageing actors are still refusing to leave the stage with all still fighting to play the same lead role.

The Malaysian audience has had enough, and the time has come for these stalwarts to realise they have overstayed their welcome. The world has moved on without them. It’s time we dim the lights and tell them that the show is over. Please leave the building.

US President Donald Trump made world headlines when he announced last week that he had contracted Covid-19, and then was immediately whisked to hospital.

The world expected him to be confined for at least a week or more but surprisingly, he was discharged after three nights.

No one’s even sure if he’s now in quarantine at the White House. We’re hearing nothing at the moment. Did he discharge himself by exercising his presidential rights, or did the doctors really think he was already in the pink of health?

Come on, none of us believe this, unless politicians are a special breed of people immune to the virus.

Our leaders will be dealt with cynical smirks and disgust when they tell us that there are no double standards in the enforcement of quarantine and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Ordinary Malaysians infected with the virus can expect to be isolated at Sungai Buloh Hospital, at least that’s what’s happening in our country.

In the United Kingdom, “victims” are being asked to stay home until significant complications surface. And that’s simply because the health system has collapsed, and they can’t cope with the sheer numbers anymore.

Then, there is the indifference among Britons towards the pandemic. Malaysians living there get the impression they are taking it lightly.

Many Britons allude to disliking instructions which impede on their personal liberties, so no one is going to tell them to wear a facial mask, or ban them from having their pint at the pub.

But at home, complacency is obviously one reason why our numbers have also shot up beyond the movement control order (MCO) period. In fact, it’s the grimmest picture we’ve painted yet since Covid-19 hit us.

If the MCO kept us indoors with its tight rules, then we are losing that safety net because it’s unlikely it will be re-imposed due to the disastrous implications for the economy.

We’re already worse for wear as layoffs and pay cuts have continued. Many companies are still struggling to stay afloat and signs indicate they can’t survive for long.

Our politicians must be deaf or plain clueless if they don’t know the sentiments on the ground.

Some people have put up banners venting their anger at the intense politicking taking place in Malaysia.

We may think they are politically motivated and aimed at making the government look bad, which could be the case, but seriously, people are just fed up because they have greater concerns on their minds.

The police also have better things to do than trace the people behind the banners in Ipoh and Johor Bahru.

And now, we’re all worried about becoming Covid-19’s next victim.

Surely it seems totally out of place for us to deal with a general election and jostle for positions while Malaysia faces numerous challenges.

In Sabah, former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman has been targeted for triggering a snap state election.

Some of our politicians have become infected, thanks to the Sabah elections, in which necessary health SOPs were likely ignored.

And some of them probably think they have super immune systems, like Donald Trump, and returned to Kuala Lumpur and carried out their work like usual, without being quarantined at home.

Like with the first MCO, the fear is that it will be the marginalised groups like the B40, migrant workers and small local businesses that will be most affected.

Many Sabahans who returned to KL have contributed to the spread of the disease.

Malaysians have every reason to fear that a snap election or the coming Sarawak election will replicate the Covid-19 outbreak in Sabah.

We look bad because there’s only so much the Health Ministry and its frontline workers can do. If our politicians and campaigners choose to ignore the rules, no one can stop them, especially if they’re political bigshots.

Singapore, South Korea and New Zealand have all recently held their elections and managed to keep everything under control.

All the campaigners, regardless of their allegiance, must bear the blame in one way or another. The Election Commission has mandated that campaign events adhere to physical distancing, temperature checks, recording attendances, limiting the size of rallies and the mandatory use of face masks and hand sanitisers.

Yet, parties still conducted traditional campaign events where members shook the hands of potential voters, said Thomas Fann, chairman of election watchdog Bersih, who was in Sabah to observe the polls.

The Edge reported that photographs from the campaign trail showed one politician from the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah side, who later tested positive, not wearing a mask while squatting inches away from a trader at a wet market. Authorities later closed the market indefinitely.

The Health Ministry should have insisted that everyone returning from Sabah be self-quarantined for 14 days. The same rules should be applied with no exceptions.

But the government said there was no need for the two-week confinement if those returning from Sabah tested negative.

DAP assemblyman Lim Yi Wei tested positive five days after returning from Sabah, even though an initial test at the airport showed that she didn’t have the virus.

Then, there is Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, who has also tested positive for Covid-19.

He attended a Cabinet meeting and had close contact with Cabinet ministers and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, all of whom have since undergone health screening. He also attended numerous events from Sept 24 to Oct 4. Those who have been exposed to virus carriers are advised to go for Covid-19 screening at any government clinic as soon as possible.

In many of the photographs, he was seen not wearing a mask.

Yet, during the MCO, he was very careful, so this can only be attributed to complacency, which many of us are guilty of. The only difference is we never needed to visit Sabah or attend the many functions politicians have to.

The paradox is that politicians still eat, sleep and dream about having elections as soon as possible, purportedly to serve us better, but without the thought that an election could put us all at risk of being infected with the virus.

It seems that getting themselves elected and being rewarded with positions are more important than anything else, and at the end of the day, what could average Malay-sians get even if these politicians can dramatically transform their lives? Nothing.

While the new Members of Parliament enjoy their new perks and privileges, the rest of us are still stuck with our pay cuts and eating the same “economy rice” or “nasi budget”.

Malaysians have earned the right to be cynical and pour scorn on these selfish politicians.

There is a famous Malay proverb, “harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi”, which, translated to English means, we depend on the fence, yet the fence “ate” the padi.

This proverb is normally used when a person is relied upon and trusted to protect something, yet is the one destroying the subject of protection.

My friend Anas Zubedy has modified it instead to “harapkan politik, politik makan hati”, which means if you place your hope on politics, you will end up disappointed.

Then there is another proverb “sebab nila setitik, rosak susu sebelanga”, where the closest English equivalent would be, because of one person’s bad behaviour, the whole community gets a bad name, or one bad apple spoils the bunch.

Anas thinks it should now be “sebab politik setitik, rosak negara sebelanga”, meaning because of politics, the whole nation has been affected.

I will stick to one simple Malay word whose nuances can only be captured in Bahasa Malaysia: it’s meluat (fed up). I hope our politicians who dream every night of delusions of grandeur get it.