What’s going on in Sabah?

Malaysia Today

Fortunately, Malaysia was not that badly hit by the recent Tsunami tragedy while Sabah was totally spared. But Sabah is about to see a wave of another kind. Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman is mobilising all the Umno divisions plus the youth and women’s wings to embark on an allegiance campaign. They will soon be flooding the local newspapers with statements pledging support and loyalty to Musa Aman.Musa Aman is on the final lap of his tenure as Chief Minister. According to the ‘agreement’, he should soon be going on leave pending his retirement. But Musa Aman is desperately trying to ‘break tradition’ by staying on indefinitely -- and he is fighting tooth and nail to see this dream of his come true. It may be his dream, but it is a nightmare for the rest of the Sabahans, Umno included. They want him out and out super-fast.But this matter rests entirely in the hands of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and if what Pak Lah practices what he preaches, then Musa Aman’s days are definitely numbered. His excesses and transgressions these last two years not only goes against the very grain of Pak Lah’s anti-corruption drive, but Musa Aman is also a liability that may see Umno Sabah’s fortunes change with him still at the helm.What is behind this desperate move of Musa Aman? Why the need for this loyalty campaign now, at the end of his tenure? Has Pak Lah told him he may be going soon and that the rotation agreement will be enforced? Or is the Anti-Corruption Agency breathing down his neck and he feels threatened so he wants to demonstrate that he is still the Sabah kingpin that the Federal Government cannot shake?But Pak Lah is not Musa Aman’s only problem. Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak too wants him out and Najib has already lined up his choice of successor. The worrying part about all this is: the successor is not a fan of Musa Aman so what is to stop him from launching a corruption investigation against his predecessor once he is in control?Worries and more worries. In the meantime, expect a last ditch attempt by Musa Aman to stay in office. But then, as they say, a dying man will clutch at straw just to stay alive. And maybe this man-made tidal wave that Musa Aman is stirring up may just be the wave that drowns him for good -- unless Pak Lah is not really that serious about cleaning up the government and eradicating corruption.