.jpg)
By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright January 2023
Everyone, including Tun Mahathir, says UMNO has more to lose by allowing Zahid to cling to power.
The recently concluded UMNO General Assembly reaffirms Zahid's presidency that may not at all be challenged or contested in forthcoming party polls.
For Tun Mahathir and many observers this will lead to further deterioration of UMNO with Zahid allowed to cling to power for his dear life, at the expense of the party itself.
According to Tun Mahathir, Zahid's desire for control of UMNO is part of his game plan to stay out of jail because of numerous corruption charges that he faces in court in coming months.
"Zahid is afraid that if he does not become the deputy prime minister, he will be found guilty. That is also why he is not allowing the positions of Umno president and deputy president to be contested. This way, the party will be controlled by a president currently on trial."
Consequently, Tun Mahathir concluded that “There’s a high possibility that in the (next) general election, Umno’s seats will dwindle further". (The Vibes)
In addition, the internal conflict over the issue of preventing the top two posts from being contested may even split the party further with dissensions spreading quickly nationwide.
For instance, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the former PM said motion to ensure there would be no challengers against the president and his deputy was invalid and contrary to the party’s constitution.
Ismail went on to urge members who did not agree with decisions reached to speak up and voice their objections. (NST)
We expect this issue which is perceived as highly undemocratic by many party members and outsiders will drag down UMNO further and might even end in court.
Days after the General Assembly, Alor Setar UMNO division says it will submit a formal protest to the Registrar of Societies.
"We are protesting the decision, not because we want to betray anyone, but to ensure that democracy thrives in Umno and that every action is done according to the party constitution,” said Ahmad Shokri Yaacob, Alor Setar Division committee member. (NST)
There is a possibility that other divisions might follow suit.
That reminds me of an expression about Rome's decadent and unpopular emperor, Nero who “fiddled while Rome burned.”
But to equate Zahid to Nero would be a hyperbole, too much of an exaggeration. Zahid is no emperor and UMNO is nowhere near to Rome in comparison.
However, the president of UMNO does remind us of Nero who was an "ineffectual leader in a time of crisis" allowing large sections of Rome to burn while he fidgeted. (History)
Zahid is no different. He ought to have resigned like his predecessor Najib did when the party lost in GE 14. But Zahid refuses to accept blame for the party's massive loss in GE15 by honorably resigning instead he clings on to power dragging the party down with him.
As a result, UMNO is in a critical state. It was once a large and formidable party but now under Zahid's leadership it has been largely dwarfed by old foes in a coalition with only 26 MPs in Parliament.
But Zahid secures the position of Deputy Prime Minister because the government of the day needs his support to be in power.
According to Tun Mahathir and other observers, chances are UMNO will become less potent by next general election because the opposition will make inroads even further into its rural base as the Green Wave capitalises on what seems to be the shortsightedness of its leadership that is trying to perpetuate itself by sacrificing democracy for expediency.
More so when it is facing serious crisis from within that is caused mostly by its own ineffectual leadership that is allegedly clinging to power by undemocratic means.
Most predict the forthcoming state elections will further diminish UMNO's dominance in Malaysia's politics, eventually the party will deteriorate into political oblivion by the next general election.
Mihar Dias is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.