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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright March 2023
Two political parties reaffirmed leadership position of their incumbent leaders as presidents of their respective organisations this past week.
One is a major party that runs the whole of China, CCP and the other is a once mighty party that obtained country's independence from the British, the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) now reduced to only 28 MPs in the national Parliament.
Xi Jinping was awarded a third five-year term as president Friday 10 March, "putting him on track to stay in power for life at a time of severe economic challenges and rising tensions with the U.S. and others."
Time magazine reported that "The endorsement of Xi’s appointment by the ceremonial National People’s Congress was a foregone conclusion for a leader who has sidelined potential rivals and filled the top ranks of the ruling Communist Party with his supporters since taking power in 2012."
Xi Jinping won by 2,952 votes to 0 at the latest meeting of NPC. Xi 69, is now into his third five year term, as party general secretary in October.
He seems to be breaking away with a tradition where Chinese leaders would hand over power once every decade.
A two-term limit on the presidency was deleted from the Chinese constitution earlier. This prompted speculations that Xi might stay in power for his whole life.
Closer to home Zahid Hamidi of UMNO retains his position as president uncontested because he chose not to do so perhaps fearing he might lose his position despite purging all his possible contenders from the party recently.
When challenged by party members he found support in the Minister of Home Affairs who made an exemption to a ruling declared by the Registrar of Societies as unconstitional.
Xi Jinping won by a resounding 2952 votes to zero while Zahid magically stays on just by one vote from a Minister of Home Affairs who is not even a member of the party.
Xi Jinping is president of China, a communist country but they do vote for their leader democratically in the National People's Congress.
On the other hand, Malaysia is a democratic country but its once mighty party does not live by the same principle that is supposedly held in high esteem by the entire nation.
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