Malaysian PM taking proactive steps to strengthen UMNO

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi appears to be taking proactive steps to strengthen the ruling party, UMNO.

One day after UMNO's highest decision-making body unanimously voiced their support for Mr Abdullah, speculation is rife that the ruling party is now courting Ezam Mohd Nor, the former political secretary of Anwar Ibrahim, to join the party youth wing.

Ezam was the former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) youth chief but he quit last year, following a fallout with Anwar and the party's vice president Azmin Ali.

Shafiee Apdal, UMNO Supreme Council member, said: "Regarding Ezam, we'll leave it to the party's top leadership. If the Supreme Council accepts him as a way to strengthen UMNO, why not? We’ll accept it."

Analysts said the move – if it succeeds – will be a major boost to Mr Abdullah's government, amid attempts by the opposition to persuade ruling party MPs to crossover.

Tricia Yeoh, director, Centre for Public Policy Studies, Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute, said: "The speculation of Ezam joining UMNO will be an additional booster to UMNO, as well as a negative slap on Anwar and PKR's face.

"These are positive steps, but I don't think it's the end for Paklah yet – the dissension that's taken place ever since March 8 has not ended. There are people leaders at divisions and branches who have expressed their disappointment."

According to unconfirmed reports, some 2,500 grassroots members have already left UMNO, following the footsteps of Dr Mahathir. Another 2,000 members at the branch level are expected to quit over the next few days.

During its emergency meeting, the supreme council also discussed the framework of an UMNO recovery plan to regain the confidence of its members and other Malaysians.

But analysts said so far, efforts have been slow.

"Right now, UMNO is facing two major problems – number one, it's crumbling internally as a party, number two, it's supposed to be the backbone of the Barisan coalition, but by far it has not outlined anything concrete that's going to allow UMNO, plus other component parties, to move forward together. The articulation has not come up and people are waiting," said Ms Yeoh.

More than two months after the last election, PM Abdullah is still reeling from the worst electoral setback in decades, with Anwar threatening to take over the government by September.

Melissa Goh
Channel NewsAsia's Malaysia