MOHAMED Azmin Ali’s meeting with Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs and a smattering of PKR MPs last night has raised more than a few eyebrows and fuelled speculation of political chicanery and plots.

Or as the PKR deputy president and Economic Affairs Minister would like to put it, a gracious gathering for those who want to meet him.

Really?

Is that the reason behind not attending his party leadership meetings because he is too busy meeting other people from all walks of life at their convenience?

Is it usual to meet more than 20 MPs from the opposition bloc in your house?

Does he take Malaysians as fools? If that was the case, Pakatan Harapan (PH) would have got the same level of support, if not more, in the Tanjung Piai by-election.

Instead, the pact only received less than half the votes won in the general elections last year.

Azmin’s answer today shows his disdain for the intelligence of Malaysians and his obtuse thinking.

It also shows how detached he is from the rest of the pact led by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

If the speculation is that the gathering is to pledge support for Dr Mahathir, then the best thing Azmin and his ilk can do is to perform as ministers and MPs.

Not by way of shenanigans.

The wholesale rejection in Tanjung Piai in almost all voting stations tells a story of pact that has yet to show leadership, commitment and ability to run the country towards a better future.

Particularly the economy. Yes, Malaysia suffers from wage stagnation, the middle-income trap and the effects of BN’s corrupt years.

But what is being done thus far?

A Felda White Paper, a Shared Prosperity Vision policy and expanding the gig economy to have motorcycle taxis?

What more has been planned or launched or even executed in the past 18 months of PH becoming the government?

The entire cabinet needs to perform, not just Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Lim Guan Eng and Mohamed Sabu.

The economics team needs to do more, as do the entire cabinet line-up.

Azmin can do more than just meet his political foes for supper to discuss their allocations or whatever.

Even that is the purview of the finance minister not economic affairs.

His job really is to take care of the economy as promised in the PH manifesto.

If that is done, people would still vote for PH in any by-election. – November 19, 2019.