The Unravelling Of Umno


 
IN the early hours of Thursday (July 8), Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi delivered what some have billed as a scorching address against the Perikatan Nasional government led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
After months of political wrangling over the Emergency proclamation, the battle against Covid-19, economic distress and loss of livelihoods, it was supposed to be a seminal moment in Umno's political journey post-GE14.
However, preceding the announcement was the Prime Minister’s appointment of Umno's Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as Deputy Prime Minister and Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein as Senior Minister (Security).
Some saw these appointments as an olive branch to Umno from the Prime Minister, while others took it as an attempt to defenestrate the anti-Perikatan faction in the party.
Regardless of the Prime Minister’s motivations, the appointments of Ismail Sabri and Hishamuddin took the wind out of Umno's sails in the leadership's move to procure the party's exit from the Perikatan government.
To digress a little, Umno – like all political parties that have been accustomed to being in government – is a creature of power and position.
Unlike perennial opposition parties like DAP and PKR, Umno has been bewildered ever since losing power.
Since the last general election, Umno has lost 18 of its Members of Parliament, almost all to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.
Umno MPs lack the wherewithal to withstand the rigours of opposition politics, including the loss of government allocations.
In 2008, Gerakan lost its citadel of Penang. It was the most painful moment for the party that governed Penang for 39 years. Some months later, I joined the party as an eager 23-year-old.
In many debates with Barisan Nasional component parties, especially Umno, I would not hesitate to remind my colleagues in that party that someday they would lose power and then there will be a real test of loyalty, character and leadership.
After the loss of Penang, Gerakan was constantly taunted as a loser or mosquito party by friends and foes, but alas, life has a way of teaching lessons even to those who seem invincible. What is paramount is that one learns from these lessons – sadly, Gerakan did not, but it may not be too late for Umno.
It is equally telling that Malaysian politics have taken an unfashionable turn where elected representatives of the losing party hop over to the winning party to retain the perks and privileges that come with being in power.
This is bad for democracy as it negates the system of checks and balances – and Umno MPs are the epicentre of this shift.
Back to Ahmad Zahid and his presidency as the first Umno president who is not the prime minister. He does not have a stick or a carrot, so his term in office has been tumultuous because he not only has to fight corruption charges, but also hold together a party that cannot find its footing or act in unison.
I spoke to some Umno insiders over the past few days, and many tell me there is no singular focus or overarching objective for the leadership.
Personal interests and self-preservation drive many politicians, including those from Umno. That is why despite the withdrawal of the party's support for the Prime Minister, its MPs have refused to adhere to the party diktat and continue to support the Perikatan government.
This marks the unravelling of Umno, and the erstwhile party of Malay nationalism and independence is not only at its lowest ebb but completely confounded in the fast-changing and rapidly evolving Malaysian landscape.
Some have sought to take a nuanced approach towards the withdrawal, with Umno supreme council members saying that while the party has withdrawn support for Muhyiddin, its MPs have been given a “conscience” vote.
Others have said that Umno will support the current government until the Emergency is lifted.
In a Westminster-style partisan democracy such as ours, there is little room for “conscience” votes. There is no room for vacillation with the party withdrawing its support for Muhyiddin while the same party’s MPs maintain support.
It has to be one or the other – they cannot have their cake and eat it too.
So, while Ahmad Zahid and his like-minded party comrades head back to the drawing board to fine-tune their moves, there is very little he can do if his MPs do not back him.
At the same time, if Ahmad Zahid cracks the party whip, Umno may only be left with a handful of MPs and probably end up being the smallest Malay party – which is unthinkable.
What we need is a détente so the focus can be on handling the Covid-19 Pandemic. National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin is doing remarkable work with the vaccines. I have been on the receiving end of the vaccination committee’s efficiency and expeditiousness, and for that, I am grateful.
At the same time, Umno needs to do some soul searching and ask itself the hard questions of what it wants in this New Malaysia and where does it sit in the political spectrum. It must go back to the drawing board and rebuild itself as a Malaysian institution.
The Prime Minister must be given the space to manage the country until we reach herd immunity, so no more lives are lost to Covid-19.
I may sound wishful, but I think I speak for many Malaysians when I say that our politicians should take a break from politics and focus on the country because there has never been a more opportune time for adult leadership.
Ivanpal Singh Grewal is an advocate & solicitor. He was formerly political secretary to the plantation industries & commodities minister. - Star


Artikel ini hanyalah simpanan cache dari url asal penulis yang berkebarangkalian sudah terlalu lama atau sudah dibuang :

http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-unravelling-of-umno.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MalaysiansMustKnowTheTruth+%28Malaysians+Must+Know+the+TR

Kempen Promosi dan Iklan
Kami memerlukan jasa baik anda untuk menyokong kempen pengiklanan dalam website kami. Serba sedikit anda telah membantu kami untuk mengekalkan servis percuma aggregating ini kepada semua.

Anda juga boleh memberikan sumbangan anda kepada kami dengan menghubungi kami di sini
Umno Leaves The Government Immediately

Umno Leaves The Government Immediately

papar berkaitan - pada 8/7/2021 - jumlah : 177 hits
Umno has officially withdrawn support for the Perikatan Nasional led government Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also called for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to step down Zahid made the announcement after a Supreme Council meeting which...
Now Is Not The Time To Withdraw Support Says Umno S Tajuddin

Now Is Not The Time To Withdraw Support Says Umno S Tajuddin

papar berkaitan - pada 13/7/2021 - jumlah : 314 hits
Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said the Umno general assembly decided to pull out from the government and not just to withdraw support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin PETALING JAYA All Umno Supreme Council members agreed to withdraw support for ...
If Only It Was The Same For Covid 19 Says Yeo Amid Scramble To Contain Umno Fallout

If Only It Was The Same For Covid 19 Says Yeo Amid Scramble To Contain Umno Fallout

papar berkaitan - pada 8/7/2021 - jumlah : 329 hits
Former minister Yeo Bee Yin noted that the Perikatan Nasional government was working overtime following Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi s announcement that his party was pulling its support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin This was ami...
Toe The Party Line Or Face The Music Najib Tells Bn Umno Mps

Toe The Party Line Or Face The Music Najib Tells Bn Umno Mps

papar berkaitan - pada 9/7/2021 - jumlah : 268 hits
PETALING JAYA If Barisan Nasional and Umno MPs refuse to toe the official party line then they must be ready to face the music says Pekan MP Datuk Seri Najib Razak The Barisan Nasional advisory board chairman said if Umno and Barisan MPs wi...
The Golden Age Of Umno Is Gone

The Golden Age Of Umno Is Gone

papar berkaitan - pada 17/7/2021 - jumlah : 185 hits
People like Tajuddin Rahman Annuar Musa and those other veterans are on a mission And their mission is to save Umno But it will be an Umno as a component of a bigger Malay bloc There will be resistance of course But resistance is futile bec...
Umno And Bersatu Rocky Relations From The Start

Umno And Bersatu Rocky Relations From The Start

papar berkaitan - pada 8/7/2021 - jumlah : 292 hits
The PN led government s slim majority is under scrutiny after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi withdrew his support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin PETALING JAYA The tumultuous relationship between Bersatu and Umno has shaped much of t...
Umno Setting The Stage For Muhyiddin S Fall Say Analysts

Umno Setting The Stage For Muhyiddin S Fall Say Analysts

papar berkaitan - pada 13/7/2021 - jumlah : 217 hits
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is likely to cling on to power unless there is pressure from within his Cabinet for him to step down said analysts Academician Azmi Hassan said Umno s strategy is to continuously attack Muhyiddin for failing ...
Zahid Throws Down The Gauntlet At Umno S Ministers And Mps

Zahid Throws Down The Gauntlet At Umno S Ministers And Mps

papar berkaitan - pada 8/7/2021 - jumlah : 266 hits
Members of the media watch a livestream of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi s online press conference at Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur July 7 2021 Malay Mail photo ANALYSIS Umno s ministers and MPs have a decision to make t
Zahid Umno Couldn T Keep Enabling Perikatan S Failures

Zahid Umno Couldn T Keep Enabling Perikatan S Failures

papar berkaitan - pada 9/7/2021 - jumlah : 191 hits
Umno had to reject Perikatan Nasional as it would otherwise be endorsing the administration that was mishandling the Covid 19 pandemic Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi asserted today He claimed Umno was being blamed for the PN government s fai...
Wordplay And Slang For Brand Name

Kl Chinatown Festival 2024

Cultural Reasons Make Malaysians Target For Human Trafficking Says Firm

Hiburan Tahu Lah Minat Tapi Tak Perlu Follow Netizen Kecewa Lihat Pemakaian Daiyan Trisha

Seketika Di Tugu Negara

Cops Probing Into Foreigner S Death In Custody At Klia

Cikgu Bawa Trip Tadika Naik Kapal Terbang Dengan Kawan Kawan Pengalaman Baru Anak Anak

Makan Steamboat Dapat Henna Free


echo '';
Info Dan Sinopsis Drama Berepisod Lara Kasih Slot Samarinda TV3

Senarai Lagu Tugasan Konsert Minggu 2 Gegar Vaganza 2024 Musim 11

Keputusan Markah Peserta Konsert Minggu 1 Gegar Vaganza 2024 Musim 11

Senarai Lagu Tugasan Konsert Minggu 1 Gegar Vaganza 2024 Musim 11

Info Dan Sinopsis Drama Berepisod Dhia Kasyrani Slot Akasia TV3


Bitcoin Menghampiri Us 100 000 Mdapa Memberi Peringatan Kepada Pelabur Untuk Lebih Peka

Apa Itu Thyroid Tummy Punca Perut Buncit Yang Jarang Disedari

Topvision Daripada Pasaran Leap Ke Pasaran Ace Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad

Pengalaman Stay Casabella Homestay Di Batam

Coffee Is For Closers The Motivational Phrase From Quot Glengarry Glen Ross

Coffee 2 0 Brewing The Future Of A Beloved Beverage