National Council of Professors fellow Azmi Hassan said the perception that Anwar had given Shamsul the go-ahead to reveal what transpired in a four-cornered fight for the Bagan Datuk parliamentary seat in the last general election could arise.
Such a perception could upset the ties between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, a situation which Anwar would want to avoid, Azmi said.
“Maybe he (Shamsul) wanted to point out that he had actually won, but if ties between PH and BN are strained, it may have an effect on his post and Anwar as the prime minister,” he told FMT.
“Many do not understand why Shamsul went public with it, some two years later,” he said, and suggested for Shamsul to apologise.
On Monday, Shamsul disclosed in a podcast that he had decided against pushing for a recount in Bagan Datuk in the last general election (GE15) on the orders of Anwar, the PKR president.
Shamsul was one of the three challengers to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the parliamentary seat and had intended to call for a recount as he lost by only 348 votes, with 800 spoilt votes.
But he was persuaded in a 2.30am phone call from Anwar not to proceed as he was told that BN had agreed to join forces with PH to form the government.
The elections resulted in a hung Parliament as no single party among PH, BN and Perikatan Nasional obtained the simple majority of 112 seats needed to form a government.
Two Umno leaders – information chief Azalina Othman Said and Wanita Umno exco member Nurulhidayah, who is also Zahid’s daughter – criticised Shamsul for his comments.
PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh was also reported as saying the remarks were “inappropriate”.
However, Azmi said that there was no need for Zahid to respond to Shamsul. “Saving the unity government is a bigger priority compared to Shamsul’s political future,” he said.
Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said while the Shamsul’s comments were his personal view, it had created unease among the unity government, especially Umno.
He said Anwar should advise his staff against issuing statements that could affect his position in Putrajaya.
“Shamsul’s remarks are of no benefit to the relationship within the parties in the unity government.
“Anwar should tell leaders in PH to not destabilise the government with negative remarks,” he said.