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PETALING JAYA: Many emotions were left unfelt, many wishes unfulfilled, after the first day of the Umno general assembly, but there is more suspense in store as different factions fight for control of the largest Malaysia-based party.
Epithets like “hypocrite”, “enemy” and “hate politics” had sounded even as calls for “unity” echoed through the assembly hall as party leaders expressed frustration at the current situation in Umno.
But behind the veil are stories of hidden betrayals between friends, secret handshakes with enemies, and the seemingly endless struggle to stay on top.
For ordinary people, the two-day general assembly, in the Umno Diamond Jubilee year, is a show of solidarity within a party founded on Malaysian interests that developed multiracial appeal through its Barisan Nasional leadership.
However, secret meetings between different factions are heating up the party’s climate, prompting Umno Vice President Mohamad Hasan to set the tone in his speech to the general assembly yesterday.
Mohamad had urged Umno members not to be confused about the party’s true enemies, adding that “wolves in sheep’s clothing” were more destructive to the party.
Political strategist Syed Arabi Idid, commenting on the day’s proceedings, said that traitors and “snakes” exist in any political party, but that the situation worsens when the party is weak.
He told FMT that Umno is run by warlords who operate within the power structure. “But now, the party is not as strong as before. The warlords seek and ask what is in it for them, thus creating factions ”.
He said it was for that reason that Mohamad’s speech focused on encouraging members to stick together while reminding them “Umno has a chance to win. So stay. Do not jump “.
Another political analyst, Kamarul Zaman Yusoff of Universiti Utara Malaysia, said that some Umno MPs may feel that the party lacks a clear direction of where it is going.
He said that the party chairman, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, might not win the support of the Umno MPs as he did not hold a government post. “That is why some dare to speak out against him,” he said.
Parliamentarians in government positions may be looking out for their own interests by maintaining a good relationship with the PPBM despite calls from the party to cut ties with the ruling party after the next general election.
“In that sense there are snakes, they want to ensure their individual interest in the government and at the same time that they are seen working in the interests of the party so that they obtain the support of the Umno members,” he added.
Kamarul believes that this behavior will continue until the Umno presidential elections later this year, where delegates will elect the party’s leader for the next three years.
“Until then, this culture (traitors) will remain,” he said, adding that the warlords will continue to push for their election of the party chairman.
But political analyst Azmi Hassan believes that Umno MPs who support Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin need not be betraying Umno.
“There could be a misunderstanding. When a minister or vice minister supports the prime minister, they could be supporting his policies because they are in the government, ”he told the FMT.
The Umno General Shareholders’ Meeting continues today and Zahid is expected to give a fiery speech for everyone to follow the party line as the fight between PPBM and Umno intensifies.
