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An Umno race worth watching |
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Posted by admin
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Friday, 18 July 2008 08:33 |
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Prof Mohammad Agus Yusoff, lecturer at the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said the scurrying for posts was a phenomenon never before seen in the party's history. Arman Ahmad, New Straits Times
THE race for the three Umno vice-presidents' posts is turning into a mad scramble. With four months to go before the final nominations, the number of people expressing interest has reached 15, and still rising.
On Tuesday, supreme council member Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said he was motivated to vie for a higher post because of the new challenges the party was facing.
Other hopefuls include Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman, Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and former Perlis menteri besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.
The incumbents, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam, have not yet announced whether they would be defending their posts.
Earlier this year, former Umno Youth chief and former Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik also expressed interest.
Despite the general consensus that his political career was over, Rahim, who resigned from all government and party posts in 1994 amid allegations of sexual misconduct with an underage girl, stunned many when he announced he was ready for a "political comeback".
The 58-year-old politician also let off a stern warning to anyone planning to discredit him on the campaign trail.
"Do so at your own peril. I will not hesitate to take legal action," he was reported as saying.
The contest for the vice-presidents' posts is the race for the third highest post in Umno. It is also the training ground for the ultimate post -- party president.
The candidate, as pointed out by an Umno veteran, must have leadership qualities and be credible and capable.
But now, it seems everyone is throwing his hat into the ring despite the requirement that candidates must receive nominations from at least 10 per cent of Umno's 191 divisions.
With branch meetings kicking off yesterday, the race for the three posts has begun in earnest.
Word on the ground is that branches which are holding their meetings over the weekend are planning to discuss likely candidates for the vice-presidencies and to endorse support for party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Political pundits are saying that the record number of candidates running for the posts is a natural reaction to the transition plan. Abdullah will hand over the reins to Najib in mid-2010 -- which means the deputy president's post will be vacant in due course.
But this does not discount the fact that most of the 15 candidates made their intentions clear even before Abdullah made that announcement.
Prof Mohammad Agus Yusoff, lecturer at the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said the scurrying for posts was a phenomenon never before seen in the party's history.
"The reason is because the position of the party is now uncertain. The foundations of the party used to be built on solid ground."
He said many of the candidates believed they could provide the leadership the party needed and were capable of changing the party's fortunes in this time of need.
He also said the record number of candidates had less to do with the announcement by Abdullah to step down, but more with the candidates' belief that they were "senior" enough to contest.
Agus sees this as a good move for Umno.
"This is a good turn of events. Umno is a 'mature' party that is 50 years old. Any efforts to limit the number of contestants and stifle democracy will be a step backwards."
The fortune of these candidates will be decided by the almost 20,000 branches at their meetings.
The branch meetings mark the first phase in the party election process, which will conclude with the elections for the top posts in December.
One thing is for sure: this will be a race worth watching.
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