Zahid Coming Out Stronger

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WITNESSING Zahid Hamidi receiving courtesy call by former Hamas leader Khaled Mishaal and entourage in Kajang last night proved how the Umno president is 'much alive and kicking', and of course coming on with stronger soundbite.

Firstly, he handles foreign dignitaries eloquently. He stills get international recognition as a world leader, notably from friendly and Arab nations. I remember how he received similar call from the British, Australian and US envoys last year. It was perhaps on his good relations cemented when he was the Deputy Prime Minister.

I don't find this 'package' in others, except for Tok Mat, Annuar Musa and a few but the reality is that, Zahid still earn recognition abroad.

And secondly, the vociferous reaction from among Umno leaders and members and Malay NGOs against 'naughty' statements by one or two division leaders asking for his retirement from the party, is a testifying evidence of his leadership. It is undeniable.

Zahid remains cool. Despite the dissension in Umno, he believes that his subordinates must get his trust. There may be someone of somebody who try to 'overdose' the members with their rolling stone politics but one thing is for sure enough, that he is there to stay.

Many, including me, admire the professional encounter by Zahid in attending to his critics. He agrees to the fact that he can't please everybody, and that Umno must be seen as climbing up from the blackened dots of 14th general election to a greater height.

To him, men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two in Umno, those who support and those who are against him. There are those who fear and distrust him for their own political reasons, and those who identify themselves as being intimate with him but resort to bad precedent in his absence.

He is also of the believe that friends and members, especially his cadres at the top, must gain his confidence. He tries to oherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depository of the members interests.

In every party in Malaysia or the whole world, these two contradictory phenomenons exist, and inspiring them would be the best remedy for unification. And to that, he agrees.

Both of Umno internal divisive groups, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously to more in the same direction. However, Zahid noticed that something changed after GE14, that there are disgruntled and individualistic characters stemmed out from it.

Men have differed in opinion and been divided into small sections since before GE14, and that is fact. Zahid acknowledges it, and in some instances had even tried to eliminate it since elected to the party's presidential in July last year.

Umno under him is observing more openness in speeches and opinion but some is taking it for granted. To him, openness should come with wisdom.

Since Umno and Pas are collaborating closely to provide a formidable contest to Pakatan Harapan, there shouldn't appear of any displeasure elements in the party. And this is what Zahid is prolonging at, and he expects similar treatment from others, namely his deputy, the vice-presidents, Wanita, Pemuda and former senior office bearers.

Will he achieve this? Judging from the current ambient in Umno, its still a guessing game. The tug-of-war among some senior and trust leaders turned out to be a stench to him. To quit is never an option, he must come out even stronger to please the majority. As for now, defusing the small bomb in Umno should not be his priority as the people around him should be able to do so.

But on other thought, I foresee a mightier Umno should Zahid is able to joint all the dots within the party. Friends and foes in politics are so common that even Reagan and Gorbachev managed to put an end to the Cold War.

Umno is of no exception. No matter how challenging it is for Zahid, he has the right set of minds around his waits. The buoys are always ready for him to captain the ship again. Without one, Umno will go astray. To secure a united party is possible if he gets solid backup from the current party leaders.

I guess nature has made some men monarchists by their virtue, and some, of course, there always will be. A few will certainly try to portray themselves as the better man but most of their dictations are fizzling out.

The common division is is the most salutary of all levels in the party and ought, therefore, to be fostered instead of being amalgamated. He must be careful enough to handle this, for taking away this, more dangerous dissension will take place.

The stronger he gets, the more pressure he gets but the only option for him now is to come back as president. Tok Mat is a level-headed leader named to carry out the president's duty. He is a true loyalist, and he will forever be. And so are some others. By old saying, 10 men can easily overcome one!

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