ANOTHER day, another sex scandal in Malaysian politics. From the time of D.P. Vijandran, the former deputy speaker accused of possessing pornographic materials – discovered when those tapes were produced as evidence of a break-in at his house – Malaysia would see the word “pornography” in national headlines once or twice per decade.

As time goes by, interest in this appears to have waned, from the fiery speeches and dropping of MIC’s rising star in the 1990 elections to the largely forgiven Chua Soi Lek, to the largely ignored tapes allegedly implicating a leader each from PAS and PKR. And now, we have a sitting minister being accused of the same. Three parts of what is said to be a four-part video have been released.

Unlike the previous accusations, this seems to be far better planned, thought out and executed. The timing, the distribution method, the parties the video was distributed to, the clever attempt to make it go viral, the ability to anticipate the responses by political figures, and to have a response to that at hand, all point to not only internal collaboration, but also help from the correct people in the correct place to give that help.

Even the type of video – of gay sex – is something those behind its release chose carefully. While extramarital affairs are frowned upon, and as mentioned above, sex videos are dipping in popularity, the increasingly conservative Muslim majority would not be able to accept a “proven” homosexual leader. Years of the anti-LGBT narrative have more than ensured that.

Regardless of the authenticity of the video, the entire episode reeks of political sabotage.

For the first time, this seems to be a PKR affair in more ways than one.

No other party has admitted to doing it,

No other party is commenting on it,

No other party seems to be even really bothered about it…

Other than PKR members from the two factions within the party.

And why should outsiders comment on it? It does not concern them. In the worst-case scenario, where it is entirely true, a person’s personal business is his own. Private morals should not be policed. In the opposite scenario, where it is entirely fabricated, the people lending credence to it by perpetuating the story would be complicit in a criminal attempt to bring down an innocent man.

In the in-between scenario, which most people would likely place their bets on, it could mean either, without conclusive evidence of a “yes” or “no”, and remain a cloudy rumour floating overhead until the issue dies down – as most Malaysian political topics do.

If the tide of sympathy continues to flow Mohamed Azmin Ali’s way, it would be folly for the other two Malay parties to wade into something that could reverse the positive trend of grassroots support turning in their favour.

Perhaps, they, too, sympathise with the man.

Perhaps, despite the dogged negative propaganda plaguing Pakatan Harapan, Azmin is an exception, an anomaly who has largely escaped the magnifying glass of scrutiny that has brought black school shoes, palm oil and flying cars into the mainstream political discourse.

In a narrative that paints leaders as being either controlled or controlling, as either selling out their own race or intruding upon another, he is one of the very few who fit the criteria of a coalition leader – seniority, respectable, accepted by most races, has a reputation for being a moderate, and experienced in government.

Who would want to take him out? It is anyone’s guess.

But like most things PKR, it looks set to either be a big win or a backfire.

And so far, at least from the public reception, it looks like Azmin is winning. – June 19, 2019.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.