Everyone in BN agree reforms must be carried out following its dismal performance in the 8 Mar general elections. That’s the easy part. The hard part is who is to do it?
The incumbents say it’s them who should shoulder the task. In short, they be given the mandate to continue to run the party and do the things deemed necessary. No, say their detractors. You got us into this mess. Enough is enough.
The incumbents retort – we won’t shirk our responsibilities. Let us get the party out of the mess and back on track. The detractors won’t have any of that saying you don’t know how to do it. You had your chance.
So we have it. The situation is the same in MCA, MIC and Umno, especially Umno. Whilst many in Umno continue to back Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and place their trust in him to steer the party out of the slump, there are others who want Pak Lah to quit. Need we say Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is one of them. He wants Abdullah out.
"Say what you want but cabinet posts do have some “bearing’ on party positions. "
With no sign of Abdullah resigning, party strongman Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah made public his intention to take on Abdullah for the UMNO top post. But can the prince from Kelantan get the 58 nominations from the 191 UMNO divisions to mount the challenge? That’s the minimum number required as stipulated in the UMNO constitution. In the last party election in 2004, Ku Li could only muster one nomination and even that from his own Gua Musang division. His challenge ended before it got started.
This time there are calls for the constitution to be amended with regards to that particular provision. Leading the campaign is, Tun Mahathir. The irony is it was he who put the law into place some 20 years ago (Tun Mahathir have his “justifications” but that’s another story).
Vice president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin agrees the provision should be removed but says it can’t be done now. Considering the many procedures, there’s simply no time to do it this year, he says.
But Tun Dr Mahathir begs to differ. He wants the amendment fast via an EGM which must be held this year. Amendment apart, Tun Mahathir wants the EGM to also “discuss” the “shameful performance of the 12th general election”. Incidentally the call for the EGM was first made by Tengku Razaleigh, a former “nemesis” of Tun Mahathir .
The UMNO supreme council has yet to decide on the party election nomination quota system. But the proposal for the general election “ post mortem” EGM has been thrown out.
If anyone had harboured thoughts of moving a vote of no confidence against the leadership at the EGM, forget it.
Anyway, the reality is, so far only Tengku Razaleigh has come up in the open with his intention. And Abdullah has welcomed "any challenges as I can’t be running away".
But there are many other questions of course, in particular revolving big names. Like Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Or Muhyiddin. What will they do? Challenge or be challenged? Nobody is saying anything now, at least not in the open.
But as it is there’s one vice president post vacant, the result of the convictions of Tan Sri Isa Samad for “contravening anti money politics” regulations during the 2004 party election.
The favourite theory is Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein will vie for the post. The incumbents other than Muhyidin, is Datuk Seri Ali Rustam. Should the pundits be proven right then the fight for the UMNO Youth head is a battle royale.
Pre 8 Mar speculation have it that Khairy Jamaluddin will make a bid and taking him head on will be Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir. Many see that as a proxy war between Abdullah and Mahathir.
Post March 8 in view of the general election setback could see some change of plans. Mukhriz has said he will only go for the UMNO Youth chief post if Hishamuuddin vacates the position. Former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Khir Toyo has also indicated his willingness to contest the post.
And with the “blame the election results on the Abdullah camp” getting more vocal in also blaming Khairy for the poor election show, it is said that Khairy will not contest the youth number one spot.
That being the case , KJ, as he is “popularly “ known to friends and foes, will just stay as the UMNO Youth number two. But will Mukhriz try to wrest the position from him?
Some say the UMNO election scheduled this December will be more fiery had UMNO repeat their 2004 general election performance. Then, many would jostle for positions in a party riding high on success. The only way is up.
However the December party polls will be equally if not more fiery despite the 8 Mar results. As said earlier, the “reinvention’ of the party is enough cause for those defending their posts as well as challenging for it.
Again one can’t help but ask. Will Tan Sri Muhamad Mohamad Taib go for a VP post ? To complete his political “comeback” after making it as minister in the Abdullah administration ? He is currently UMNO information chief, a party president appointed post.
What about Datuk Shahrir Samad? He too made his return to the cabinet after an absence of over 20 years. Is this time to move up the party as well?
Then there’s Datuk Syed Hamid Albar who was made home minister recently after years as foreign minister, something many see as a promotion.
Say what you want but cabinet posts do have some “bearing’ on party positions.
And of course there’s Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz. The “iron lady”, dropped from Abdullah’s cabinet has vowed to defend her Wanita chief post.
Will she be challenged? If so, by who? Could it be Datuk Azalina Othman Said? Bear in mind Azalina is not from the Wanita wing. After her stint as Puteri Chief, Azalina contested and won a seat in the supreme council. Making it a “non-wanita” UMNO. Pardon the expression.
And the scramble for the supreme council spots will be intense to say the least. It could very well be a war and it has started.
As for the other BN components, well, there’s always next week.
PEOPLE'S POWER
No comments:
Post a Comment