Much ado about nothing?

PETALING JAYA: They came, they ate and they left.

This was the impression a large number of politicians, including MPs and assemblymen from both the government and opposition, left on a hoard of newsmen at the Sheraton Hotel here yesterday.

Since 10.30am, the place was a hive of activity after news that premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would show up at the hotel to make an earth-shattering announcement made the rounds.

Even the police descended in full force with over 100 personnel, including senior officers, stationed at the hotel.

However, at about 7.30pm, an official of the Prime Minister’s Office debunked claims that Mahathir would show up or make any announcement.

As the hours passed, the crowd swelled with more journalists and supporters of both political factions, bringing the numbers to over 200 people outside the conference room hall.

Politicians who showed up declined to speak to the media.

Among the top politicians who showed up were Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Economics Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, MIC president Tan Sri

S. A. Vigneswaran and his deputy Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.

They stepped into a conference hall, and behind closed doors, nobody was privy to what was discussed.

Then at about 8pm, journalists and photographers moved to a higher floor on receiving information that a press conference would be held by top leaders of the political parties.

However, no such media conference took place.

When the politicians stepped out, they walked past the curious journalists, barely making eyecontact and declining to take questions.

However, theSun managed to intercept two political leaders as they were leaving, enquiring why they were there.

“Saja datang makan makan saja. (Just came over to eat only),” said former deputy minister of international trade and industry (Miti) and Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

Also responding with the same reply was Saravanan: “We just came here to eat,” he said.

Several supporters who were asked to comment on the gathering said they were there to bring members of both political factions together for social interaction, prior to a plan to form a new government.

So, what had started as an announcement of a new political alliance turned out to be a dinner of sorts. Or was it?