AT THE rate the Madani Government is evolving, it seems to be keen on flattering Umno/Barisan Nasional.

This would explain its endless effort to imitate what Umno/BN Governments did in the past.

But this is reasonable given that the Pakatan Harapan Government today are enjoying the benefits of having Umno/BN in its midst.

Past Umno/BN Governments did not have such privilege as the PH representatives would not be welcome into their midst or alternatively, the PH men and women would not want to be associated with Umno/BN, even on the pain of death.

In that sense, the Madani Government is almost a complete political entity, enjoying the fruits of its labour and that of its nemesis.

Unfortunately, some of its once ardent fans, or disciple-like followers, find the metamorphosis unpalatable, if not nauseating.

To this set, the transformation isn’t anything to celebrate. Rather it is almost evil incarnate.

While another set may oppose such contentions, symptoms of being possessed are quite obvious.

A newfound affection, among other things, for the Sedition Act, crocapitalismism, nepotism and conditional freedom of speech are symptoms that have become apparent.

Suddenly ailments such as the Prime Minister holding the finance portfolio have become a remedy, if not the panacea, to the nation’s economic ills.

This does not include unfulfilled promises which were mantra-like in the years of campaigning against Umno/BN – from the unconditional promise of lowering fuel prices, and free education to addressing the sliding ringgit.

But to exorcise such possession, it would require everyone across the board to agree, firstly, that these symptoms which used to afflict Umno/have now descended on the Madani Government.

Instead, while one set is concerned, the other is working overtime to justify it.

This set of apologists is quite adept in their defence. Take the case of Hannah Yeoh and her husband, the argument put forth included that the contract was secured on merit.

Actually, that takes the cake.

For years, Umno/BN has been saying just that when accused of cronyism and nepotism but the PH never bought it.

Well, for this set of PH supporters and sycophants, they just proved that the saying that you can’t teach old dogs new tricks is innately wrong.

While they adapt, adopt and improve on the Umno/BN legacy, some redemption could be found if they had observed how the metamorphosis was affected from the very start.

Not that they were not aware, it was just that they were busy justifying them.

The first instance was when they failed to raise a whimper when Umno/BN president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was made the Deputy Prime Minister.

They can argue that without Zahid, PH would not be able to form the Government which in effect would not allow the PH to affect the sweeping reforms that the nation needed badly.

While becoming bedfellows with Umno/BN is indeed strange, appointing Zahid to the coveted DPM post, second only to their beloved leader, was over the top.

They knew that Zahid represented all the evil they were fighting against.

They said so. Their leader said so. Their campaign centred on it and if anything, Zahid was the anathema to all the principles the PH espoused and wore on their sleeves.

But that came past as the nation struggled to make ends meet while they struggled less to reconcile with their sense of existence.

Enter Azam Baki, head of the anti-corruption agency whom the PH had publicly denounced and figuratively feathered and tarred, back into the bosom of the Madani Government, mainstreamed and back as the corruption buster.

He is today extensively “used” to expose corrupt practices and abuse of power, the very crimes he was accused of, which the PH leaders promised to punish him for if empowered.

Whether the PH wants to admit it or not, the appointment or extension the of contract of the two personalities are the actual seeds of their problems today.

It is almost like being possessed because the PH leaders had chosen to step into the dark realm which they felt they could bring light. Instead, they seemed to have been consumed by the darkness and unable to find the light.

To expect the duo to bring them out of it is lame and misplaced.

To expect the PH leaders to do it is expecting too much as they seem to have embraced the Umno/BN culture almost completely and it is a matter of time before they are swallowed whole.

So it is left to the members and supporters to exorcise them but that too is too much to expect given the divide and the keenness of one half to follow the Pied Piper.

That leaves the nation wondering when can the exorcist be conducted and relieve the nation of the ills and ward off the evil.

Otherwise, these are omens of preceding dark days.