BY ANY measure, it should be an unsettling, if not an unnerving, week for those who had risen to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad infamy and its primogenitor Mohd Najib Razak (picture), only to be floored with news of him potentially being pardoned.

And by any measures too, for a crime that gave Malaysia notoriety on corruption internationally and that the perpetrator had only been incarcerated for less than a year, just thinking about pardoning him is a crime, let alone considering it.

Making it ad nauseam is that some of those who were part of the uprising then are now amongst those attempting to justify the pardon, as Machiavellian as it comes – the Najib and Umno coterie as a means to the longevity of the Pakatan Harapan Government.

Gone is the fiery principle of zero-tolerance for corruption and abuse of power and now replaced with insipid compromises for as long as the hold on power in not diminished.

However, while the nation is focussed on the debate of whether Najib deserved to be pardoned or otherwise, other developments on the side lines are as dubious and somewhat equally sinister.

If prior to this, the concern is over political appointees to Government-linked entities, the issue seemed to have now paled since Umno’s Abdul Azeez Rahim, a former member of the court cluster, was also appointed to a Government agency.

Such is the horror of it that the other earlier political appointments are rendered acceptable. While Azeez’s appointment is now being reviewed, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, obviously following public outcry, the question is why the outcry especially among those from the PH supporters.

In the first place, Azeez, rightly or wrongly, had been cleared of his court cases.

Secondly, if Anwar and the PH Government can accept Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the Deputy Prime Minister with some 47 cases lined up against him in the courts, what is so unacceptable about Azeez.

Of course, it is argued that Zahid’s appointment is necessary for Anwar and PH to be PM and Government respectively.

But surely, such dependency comes with a price, and Azeez’s appointment as announced by Zahid is such. Though Anwar tried to prove his intolerance for such appointment and had stepped in, Azeez’s case is but only a symptom.

Similarly in the case of Prime Minister’s department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said letter to Najib’s counsels which, to Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s treasurer-general William Leong is tantamount to contempt of court and disrespectful of a Federal Court judgement.

The letter which is extensively used by Najib’s supporters to promote his cause, fuels speculations that there is a conspiracy to get Najib pardoned and failing which, he must be portrayed as a victim, a prisoner of conscience of sorts and not a kleptocrat who committed larceny on funds belonging to the Malaysian public.

Then there comes Zahid, who is supposed to enter his defence as prima facie had already been established, had his case placed on hold to give time for further investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

It prompted former Attorney General Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman to state: “A prima facie case was established as the prosecution had proved the ingredients in all the charges.

“What is there to investigate further, unless there are other reasons one can only speculate at? In my view, this reflects badly on the present AG.”

The development only add sinister to suspicions.

And it diminished the issue of double standard when Zahid’s passport was returned unconditionally.

It all points towards Zahid and Umno are getting their way and much as Anwar attempts to trumpet his commitment of not compromising when it comes to saving the people from individuals who plunder the nation’s wealth, they sound truly hollow.

But the case of the tail wagging the dog is actually not a fait accompli nor a damnation either way.

Expelled Umno leader Khairy Jamaluddin was correct when he wondered aloud as to why Anwar is still pandering to Zahid and Umno when the PM would still have a majority in Parliament even without Umno.

Surely, as pointed out by Khairy that Anwar would have had enough of being a political hostage to Zahid and Umno and the time had come to put his foot down.

And putting the foot down included opposing Umno’s pardon request for Najib.

Otherwise, Anwar and his supporters may have to accept being compared to his predecessors with Tan Sri Mahiaddin Md Yassin and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and suffer the ignominy that they were less compromising.

Both to the very end did not interfere with Najib’s cases and neither appointed Zahid to any top positions in the Government. Of course they eventually lost their crowns through Umno’s machinations.

But for others, the Najib’s pardon is merely a smokescreen. The actual objective is more about Zahid and his court cases which at this stage is in murky waters following the intervention of the MACC.

It makes sense. Najib’s pardon would not contribute anything more to Anwar’s well-being as PM and neither would Zahid’s position be anymore enhanced.

Unless, the pardon of Najib is one of the pre-conditions set by Umno on lending their support to Anwar in pursuit to become the PM. For the reformists, they will have to eat their hearts out.

The hypocrisy is definitely nauseating but it is time for them to learn that there are those who find that principles are seasonal commodities and these people are now obviously in their midst.

And that the legend of hollow men needs to be written. – pic TMR File