All roads lead to Seri Perdana. Or as it was during Najib's time, Jalan Langgak Duta.
Now, during Ismail Sabri's time we saw how the marhaens thronged the open house at Seri Perdana. The reason was very simple, they wanted face time with the Prime Minister. I doubt people invested their petrol money, energy and time to eat the food there. There are cheaper options for food. And more value for money ones.
Also, a demonstration of support for some. Sure, not all who came voted or will vote for BN but the politicians of this side will claim that this is a show of support.
I have pictures. 100,000 people came.
All roads also lead to Perdana Putra. The structure of power in Malaysia, just like in majority of countries is that the most lucrative businesses are state-owned. Most famous of all, the favorite cash cow: Petronas. Petronas came up recently in the debate to save Sapura between Anwar and Najib.
I'll relate a story related to this. Redza Minhat, who was my mentor while I did my CFA qualification but did not pass due to personal reasons, said people like him work for GLCs. What I think he meant was that smart people like him work for GLCs because of the pay and the spirit of serving the country at the same time.
In the old days, people like him would have joined PTD but now as pay in GLC is better, his folk would join GLC. The best would of course consider BNM (just like how he is Chief Rep for London office at BNM), Khazanah, Petronas, et cetera.
This illustrates that how as things change, things stay the same. Money attracts talent as per said by Ahmad Nadir, strategy analyst at agency under Economic Planning Unit, (EPU), Prime Minister's Department, Malaysia.
Oh, so much to learn about people and power structures!
Signing off,
-Affan.