The Perak tic-tac-toe

Its all but over for the Pakatan Rakyat government in Perak.

In a series of moves akin to the game of Tic-Tac-Toe, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has reclaimed the Bota state seat and won support from legislators representing Behrang, Changkat Jering and Jelapang for Barisan Nasional to brazenly offer to form the state government.

The score is tied 28-28 between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional with three indepdendents supporting the ruling federal coalition, strengthening the deputy prime minister’s hand as he prepares to succeed Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi this March.

Getting Perak back into the fold will make up for the ruling coalition’s dismal performance in the March 2008 general elections although it will not change anything in the federal Parliament where Barisan Nasional holds a simple majority.

As all eyes turn to Sultan Azlah Shah as he mulls whether to accede to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin’s request to dissolve the 59-seat assembly for snap polls and deny Barisan Nasional an easy ride to Ipoh, the implications of today’s events will reverberate wider.

First, it can put to stop any idea of Barisan Nasional assemblymen in Negri Sembilan crossing over like Bota’s Datuk Nasharudin Hashim as Seremban has been awash with rumours of defections resulting from in-fighting in Umno.

Second, it will show Najib’s resolve in keeping Barisan Nasional together as seeks to inspire them against a resurgent opposition led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim while fending off a souring global economy that is already affecting Malaysia.

Third, it reflect’s Najib’s desire to ensure he will not be the Prime Minister that will lose Putrajaya to the opposition and will take all means necessary to keep the government firmly in Umno’s grip.

Anwar, who 10 days ago crowed about his success in luring Nasharudin, put it bluntly today when he said, “BN is trying to form the state government by hook or by crook - more by crook.”

His allies in the Pakatan Rakyat, DAP and Pas, are still the government pending the sultan’s decision but he has been clearly outfoxed by Najib and Barisan Nasional’s latest moves to unseat the pact by defections.

“We are pushing for dissolution of the state assembly and fresh elections in the state. We must go back to the people and get a fresh mandate,” said Anwar, echoing the wide belief that Pakatan Rakyat can easily win the snap polls with a bigger mandate.

Elections are clearly not on Najib’s mind as he put it succinctly, “Barisan Nasional now has the majority to form the next government. We will seek an audience with the Perak sultan”.

The next few days will see more Tic-Tac-Toe moves as both sides try to shore up their positions to govern the Silver State and by extension, offer a glimpse of their potential to rule Malaysia in a two-party system