Is The Addendum Fiasco The Last Chance For Pas Pn To Oust Anwar From Power

---

 
THE controversy surrounding Najib Razak’s bid for house arrest has created political turbulence for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government and PAS is working hard to press for the downfall of the Madani government.
But, politicians from PKR and PN believe the opposition will not succeed in their plans to form a new government.
A concensus is that Anwar’s government could survive if Malaysia’s economy continues to grow and the opposition fails to gain traction in the middle ground.
During a panel discussion at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore on January 9, politicians debated the political impact of Najib Razak’s house-arrest controversy.
Selangor PKR lawmaker Wong Chen suggested that the opposition had missed its “last chance” to topple Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government, pointing to the January 6 rally outside the appeals court in Putrajaya as their final opportunity.
He expressed relief that the event did not lead to a shift in power, framing it as a critical but failed moment for the opposition.
“I think Jan 6 was probably the last possible venue for the opposition to grab power, thank God it’s done,” Selangor PH lawmaker Wong Chen told the panel discussion.
“The question then is, can the unity government survive a full term? The answer is yes, if it (the economy) continues to grow,” Wong said.
He said Malaysians are tired of the ongoing political “conflicts” over the past few years.
Nevertheless, opposition MP Saifuddin Abdullah from Perikatan Nasional (PN) stated that the house-arrest controversy marks “the beginning of the last chance” for the opposition to topple Anwar Ibrahim’s government.
While acknowledging the need to wait for the next general election, he hinted at the possibility of seizing opportunities to challenge the government if significant issues arise before the term ends.
“We will of course need to wait for the next GE, but if there’s an opportunity and if the problems are so big… then you can’t blame us if there were to be some kind of move to take over the government before the term expires,” said Saifuddin at the forum.
Meanwhile , Najib’s lack of broad public support, especially among Malays, diminishes his ability to rally significant backing for UMNO or destabilise the government outright.
However, persistent internal and external pressures, combined with perceived indecision on Anwar’s part, could erode his leadership over time, making his administration vulnerable to political maneuvers.
On the other hand, Anwar’s position is further challenged by his unfulfilled reform promises, including tackling corruption, addressing the cost of living, and improving governance.
Critics argue that the Najib controversy has overshadowed these priorities, eroding public confidence in the government.
Opposition MP Saifuddin Abdullah described the house-arrest issue as a potential catalyst for an earlier power shift if Anwar fails to stabilize the situation. —Focus Malaysia

---