READY FOR IMPLOSION: The Umno ground is restless

ORDINARY Umno members (read as those who are not aligned to either the co-called pro-Najib nor anti-Najib group in the current “crisis”) are worried about the future of their party.

Just try listening to the topics discussed during Hari Raya open house functions, you are sure to catch those expressing fear of an implosion that could see Umno losing its relevance in the eyes of Malaysians altogether.

And with a daily dosage of allegations against the leadership of party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the criticisms levelled him by Umno leaders as well, they see signs of dissent within.

“All these criticisms have affected party members who do not understand the issues that are being raised by the Opposition and detractors.

“Just listen to what people (Umno members) are whispering at Hari Raya open houses, you can sense they are worried over the fate of the party,” a Puteri Umno divisional leader from Penang said.

The young entreprenuer, while admitting that she, like many Umno leaders, engaged in discussions over allegations against Najib with regards to 1MDB, still insisted that she remained loyal to the party leadership.

Now, what would become of Umno if the current sentiment in the party snowballs into something bigger when, and if, members began aligning themselves to different teams?

PM Najib

It is obvious that grassroots leaders are already taking sides; they have no qualms in attacking the party president even directly during the on-going Umno divisional meetings over issues involving the debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Bhd, including the Cabinet reshuffle last month, a move that had been seen as an attempt to silence internal criticism over 1MDB.

The unsavoury remarks by Wanita Umno member Anina Saadudin at the Langkawi Umno division delegates’ meeting had sparked speculation that more open and crude criticisms are in the offing.

Although it is not uncommon for someone to use the word “kencing” (urinate), a slang often used to describe someone as lying or cheating, it is unbecoming for such a harsh word being used to attack one’s own party president.

In the Cabinet reshuffle, Najib had dropped his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the MP for Pagoh in Johor, and another senior Umno leader, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafei Apdal, the MP for Semporna, Sabah, angering some Umno leaders, especially those from Johor and Sabah.

That Umno leaders are at odds over Najib’s recent dismissal of Muhyiddin, who remains Umno deputy president, is only to be expected.

Najib himself is not oblivious of the backlash and was prepared for it.

He had defended his decision as something that should be done, including before the Johor Umno crowd, amid Johor sentiments.

“It was a very difficult decision, but for certain reasons, it had to be made in the interest of politics … not to hurt the Johorians,” he said in his speech at the opening of the Pasir Gudang Umno division delegates’ meeting on Sunday.

The visit to officiate the AGM last Sunday was Najib’s first to Johor, where Muhyiddin was its Menteri Besar once, since the Cabinet reshuffle.

He could choose to have cancelled his engagement with the division because of unfavourable reports that reached his ears, but he decided to go ahead with it since his attendance had been confirmed two months back.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin was a good host although enthusiasm was lacking from the floor, something which Najib had possibly expected.

Najib should also expect lukewarm response, too, from delegates of some of the divisions that he is due to officiate at soon. But as a leader, he is ready to face his critics.

Many Umno members, in their years of fighting for Umno’s cause, had witnessed how factionalism had weakened the party in the past.

They know the consequences should Umno once again get embroiled in a serious leadership crisis.

Their fear is genuine.

A crisis is something Umno cannot afford to land itself into in the present political climate. - Therakyatpost