KUALA LUMPUR - The clock is ticking down for Umno at Bagan Pinang, where a by-election is due to take place that many of its own leaders say will have crucial implications for both the party and its president Najib Abdul Razak.
Will Umno be able to prove that it still owns the hearts and minds of the Malays? Does Najib still have over-arching control over the party's powerful warlords?
Malaysian Mirror spoke to several grassroots leaders, both within and outside the constituency, to get a feel of how they think the party should act.
According to them, the first question can only be answered on Oct 11, the balloting day for the 13,664 voters in Bagan Pinang.
Although Umno is expected to thump arch rival Pakatan Rakyat, the key question is - can it keep or enlarge its 2,333-votes majority?
Then only can the party claim it is still the preferred choice of the Malays, they say.
Anything less and especially in the worst-case - a shock loss - will spark a reaction that will rock the party to the core.
"We are aware that a lot rides on this election. We must win, we don't have a choice," Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin said just a day ago.
Najib's grip on Umno
So crucial is a morale-boosting victory for Umno, which has lost seven of the past eight by-elections, that a huge fight-within-a-fight has erupted over the choice of candidate.
And this is where the answers to the questions about Najib's grip on his party will lie. And this will also be known much sooner - on Sept 29, when the party officially names its flag carrier.
Will the Prime Minister be forced to pick former menteri besar Isa Abdul Samad, the Teluk Kemang division chief, whose supporters insist is the only man who can deliver victory to Umno?
Bagan Pinang falls under the umbrella of Isa's division and hardly anyone there has not met him at one time or another.
Yet party elders such former party president Mahathir Mohamad and Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh have publicly advised against Isa because of his corruption and vote-buying record.
"If Umno cannot find enough candidates, just choose me,” said the 84-year old Mahathir.
Long-term or plumb for a 'sure-win'
But the long-term good of the party may be a luxury Najib cannot focus on right now. Not only does he have to appease party members who perhaps don't mind victory at any cost, but he has to satisfy the local warlords.
If Isa is not picked, there is fear that his supporters may boycott or even sabotage their party's chances at the by-election. So if Najib cannot persuade them to a wiser view, he may have to select Isa after all. Or Isa's proxy - his son Mohd Najib.
But whether father or son - the signal is clear. Just six months into the top job, the Umno president and Prime Minister may have lost sway.
The chieftains in Umno will read it that way. As it is, they already smell blood and the going can be expected to become even tougher for Najib in the months ahead.
"If I am Isa, I will urge the party not to make me the candidate. Then I will work hard to campaign for another candidate that is chosen. With that, it will boost his reputation," advised Manathir. But other party members say he may be wearing rose-tinted glasses.
More than meets the eye
The stakes are definitely much higher than meets the eye at Bagan Pinang. So much so, few really care about who Pakatan's PAS will field. No doubt, a dangerous oversight but nevertheless the focus - right or wrong - has been on a grand Umno triumph and Isa or not Isa.
He was sacked as vice president and his membership suspended for three years from June 24, 2005 for involvement in money politics during the 2004 party election.
"In my personal opinion, I know Umno has other candidates but it is better to field a person who is well-known and well-liked by his people in his constituency, rather than just putting an unfamiliar face to fill in the blank,” PJ Utara Umno information chief Abdul Malik Shahir told the Malaysian Mirror.
"Isa Samad has done his time. If the leaders want him to run for the candidacy, I will support him. He has experience and was well-respected by friends and foes alike.”
Mixed views
Yet, others agree with Mahathir. By nominating Isa, Umno may be seen as reverting to its bad old ways and giving lip service to fighting corruption. Even if Isa wins, Umno leaders have to consider what the rest of Malaysia thinks of their party.
They said Umno should be mindful of the signal sent by the voters of Permatang Pasir, who rejected its flag carrier because he was a disbarred lawyer, found guilty of misapporpriating clients' funds.
“This time around Umno should be more selective in choosing the right candidate," Mas Normah Mas Junid, a Wanita division chief told Malaysian Mirror.
"We don’t want another case like Rohaizat in Permatang Pasir to resurface."
Postal voters
Bagan Pinang is a Malay majority seat with a mixed populace. It consists of 63 percent Malay voters, 21 percent Indian, 11 percent Chinese and 5 percent other races.
There are also some 4,600 military-based postal voters and these alone can swing victory for Umno. But the same questions remain, can Najib afford to take this leeway for granted? Will upset Isa's camp? Can he control them?
“The leaders have been put in a very tight spot. After all that has been said about Isa's tarnished image. If the leaders do choose him, the opposition will also make it seem like Umno is short of new blood and have to cling to Isa just to secure votes," said Abdul Malik.
"At the end of the day, whether or not Isa Samad is chosen, it is still up to the Bagan Pinang people to cast their votes and select the best person to represent their rights.”
Malaysian Mirror
28/09/09
Will Umno be able to prove that it still owns the hearts and minds of the Malays? Does Najib still have over-arching control over the party's powerful warlords?
Malaysian Mirror spoke to several grassroots leaders, both within and outside the constituency, to get a feel of how they think the party should act.
According to them, the first question can only be answered on Oct 11, the balloting day for the 13,664 voters in Bagan Pinang.
Although Umno is expected to thump arch rival Pakatan Rakyat, the key question is - can it keep or enlarge its 2,333-votes majority?
Then only can the party claim it is still the preferred choice of the Malays, they say.
Anything less and especially in the worst-case - a shock loss - will spark a reaction that will rock the party to the core.
"We are aware that a lot rides on this election. We must win, we don't have a choice," Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin said just a day ago.
Najib's grip on Umno
So crucial is a morale-boosting victory for Umno, which has lost seven of the past eight by-elections, that a huge fight-within-a-fight has erupted over the choice of candidate.
And this is where the answers to the questions about Najib's grip on his party will lie. And this will also be known much sooner - on Sept 29, when the party officially names its flag carrier.
Will the Prime Minister be forced to pick former menteri besar Isa Abdul Samad, the Teluk Kemang division chief, whose supporters insist is the only man who can deliver victory to Umno?
Bagan Pinang falls under the umbrella of Isa's division and hardly anyone there has not met him at one time or another.
Yet party elders such former party president Mahathir Mohamad and Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh have publicly advised against Isa because of his corruption and vote-buying record.
"If Umno cannot find enough candidates, just choose me,” said the 84-year old Mahathir.
Long-term or plumb for a 'sure-win'
But the long-term good of the party may be a luxury Najib cannot focus on right now. Not only does he have to appease party members who perhaps don't mind victory at any cost, but he has to satisfy the local warlords.
If Isa is not picked, there is fear that his supporters may boycott or even sabotage their party's chances at the by-election. So if Najib cannot persuade them to a wiser view, he may have to select Isa after all. Or Isa's proxy - his son Mohd Najib.
But whether father or son - the signal is clear. Just six months into the top job, the Umno president and Prime Minister may have lost sway.
The chieftains in Umno will read it that way. As it is, they already smell blood and the going can be expected to become even tougher for Najib in the months ahead.
"If I am Isa, I will urge the party not to make me the candidate. Then I will work hard to campaign for another candidate that is chosen. With that, it will boost his reputation," advised Manathir. But other party members say he may be wearing rose-tinted glasses.
More than meets the eye
The stakes are definitely much higher than meets the eye at Bagan Pinang. So much so, few really care about who Pakatan's PAS will field. No doubt, a dangerous oversight but nevertheless the focus - right or wrong - has been on a grand Umno triumph and Isa or not Isa.
He was sacked as vice president and his membership suspended for three years from June 24, 2005 for involvement in money politics during the 2004 party election.
"In my personal opinion, I know Umno has other candidates but it is better to field a person who is well-known and well-liked by his people in his constituency, rather than just putting an unfamiliar face to fill in the blank,” PJ Utara Umno information chief Abdul Malik Shahir told the Malaysian Mirror.
"Isa Samad has done his time. If the leaders want him to run for the candidacy, I will support him. He has experience and was well-respected by friends and foes alike.”
Mixed views
Yet, others agree with Mahathir. By nominating Isa, Umno may be seen as reverting to its bad old ways and giving lip service to fighting corruption. Even if Isa wins, Umno leaders have to consider what the rest of Malaysia thinks of their party.
They said Umno should be mindful of the signal sent by the voters of Permatang Pasir, who rejected its flag carrier because he was a disbarred lawyer, found guilty of misapporpriating clients' funds.
“This time around Umno should be more selective in choosing the right candidate," Mas Normah Mas Junid, a Wanita division chief told Malaysian Mirror.
"We don’t want another case like Rohaizat in Permatang Pasir to resurface."
Postal voters
Bagan Pinang is a Malay majority seat with a mixed populace. It consists of 63 percent Malay voters, 21 percent Indian, 11 percent Chinese and 5 percent other races.
There are also some 4,600 military-based postal voters and these alone can swing victory for Umno. But the same questions remain, can Najib afford to take this leeway for granted? Will upset Isa's camp? Can he control them?
“The leaders have been put in a very tight spot. After all that has been said about Isa's tarnished image. If the leaders do choose him, the opposition will also make it seem like Umno is short of new blood and have to cling to Isa just to secure votes," said Abdul Malik.
"At the end of the day, whether or not Isa Samad is chosen, it is still up to the Bagan Pinang people to cast their votes and select the best person to represent their rights.”
Malaysian Mirror
28/09/09
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