As Umno general assembly is drawing nearer, we'll see & hear more 'interesting' characters/behaviors & statements by its leaders.
My prediction on Lokman Adam is pretty close when he has already indicated his interest to go for Youth Wing No 2 post. I predicted No.1 should Khairy Jamaludin dare the vice president (VP) post to join his former rival for Youth chief post, Mukhriz Mahathir. Mukhriz is widely speculated to contest the VP post in coming party election.
Now, we had Umno Wanita (Women) chief Sharizat Jalil who was reported to have supported detention without trial a day after it's Youth Chief said the opposite (though it was also reported as his personal view).
For Sharizat, without ministerial post and not even a parliamentarian or assembly woman, looks like she can't afford to go against the tide.
When people are crying to dismantle draconian laws, here she comes indicating her support. I'm not certain if that was her personal or Umno Wanita's stand.
Anyway, her days of having some 'power' in Umno may be numbered if she fails to defend her post.
Unlike the Umno Youth chief now a minister, Sharizat's popularity within Umno especially the Women wing's silent majority is possibly at the lowest following the NFC controversies.
We also had Noh Omar an ex-minister dropped from today's cabinet lineup possibly for BN's worst performance at the same time failure to re-capture the state of Selangor in recent general election (GE), coming up with strongly worded statements over various issues.
The latest is when he slammed Selangor Chief Minister (MB) Khalid Ibrahim for his Aidilfitri (Eid) speech which he claimed was politically motivated.
As if Umno's speeches & deeds are not politically motivated, I suspect he is just trying to stay in the limelight in view of the coming Umno assembly.
Earlier, he was slammed by MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek for urging the authority to investigate the person who revealed information in the 'shower room turned canteen' controversy under the Sedition Act.
It looks like they behave in such a manner (posing intimidations, threats of violence & outrageous statements) to gain mileage, popularity and public attention for their personal interest.
Echoing statement made by Shafee Apdal (a minister & Umno VP) on reintroducing the Internal Security Act (ISA), 'dropped' Sharizat and Noh Omar seemed very fond of the draconian law when there are even
allegations levelled at them.
As many supreme council seats are up for grab, 'new comers' are likely to pose challenge to incumbents, especially those who made it in GE13 and appointed to the cabinet. But will the 'old horses' give way?
Will money politics start to play it's role?
Umno is the largest & main party of BN which govern the country. Having position in Umno is like having a good 'future' for them.
Intresting to watch will be the potential race of VP of Umno.
Incumbent veeps are Hishamuddin Hussein (Defence minister), Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Home minister) and Shafie Apdal (Rural and Regional Development minister).
Signs of possible VP race is there when ex-Sabah Chief Minister (CM) & state Umno No.2 Salleh Said Keruak was reported as saying that current CM Musa Aman is the right choice from the state to vie one of the three Umno's VP, and that Sabah is solidly behind him should he decides to contest.
If this materialize, it will be a threat to Shafie Apdal's position who is also from Sabah.
Meanwhile, ex-CM of Malacca Mohd Ali Rustam was also reported to have confirmed that he would contest in the party election.
He has said that he would get feedback from the grassroots before deciding on the post to contest.
Mohd Ali was elected VP in 2004,but was not allowed to contest for the deputy president in 2009 after he was found to have breached party regulations.
Voted out by voters in his constituent, he is the 2nd state CM of Malaysia to have lost in GE13.
Not less interesting is the son of Malaysia's longest serving prime minister, Mukhriz Mahathir.
If his father Dr Mahathir chooses to push him for the post, it will pose a serious challenge to at least one of the incumbent VPs.
Zahid is likely the possible VP to force out taking into account of what he has done in 1998 Umno assembly.
Zahid spoke out against Dr Mahathir, calling for an end to cronyism and nepotism and was subsequently detained under Internal Security Act (ISA).
Thus, Sabah CM Musa Aman would make Shafee's position becoming critical while Kedah new CM Mukhriz Mahathir would pose serious danger to Zahid's position.
However, anything can happen. Umno could just choose not to allow contests at VP's level.
As far as top two posts, chief of Sembrong Umno division Hishamuddin said his division has adopted the stand that president & deputy president posts to remain uncontested.
(Hishamuddin is cousin to PM Najib).
On different note, former Umno Wanita chief Rafidah Aziz had a differing views when she told The Malaysian Insider that a contest for top party posts is the best way for the Umno leadership to gauge its strength among members.
"Only then can you witness who has better leadership skills to hold the party together and make decisions in the best interest of the entire party and not their cronies,". Rafidah said in a special interview.
She even questions, "In the first place, why was there even a call for no contest?
Just carry on, carry on!".
In sharp contrast to Rafidah Aziz's call, her successor, Sharizat was again reported by Malaysiakini today that Wanita Umno has agreed to support the status quo of the Umno president and deputy president posts, vowing to 'fight' anyone who wanted to contest the top two posts.
The question rises again whether her call received the endorsement from the Wanita wing since she used the name Wanita Umno in her call.
Sounded 'flattering', her views and stand seemed like seeking refuge to the status quo to the extend of going against the principles of democracy.
It will be interesting should Azalina proceed with her readiness to challenge Sharizat. The outcome will tell us if she (Sharizat) still have strength in the wing she headed.
Even former Umno deputy president Musa Hitam has made the call that all top Umno posts should be open for contest in keeping with the basic principles of democracy. "The argument that if you contest, it will divide the party, is nonsense," Musa was quoted as saying by the Singapore Straits Times.
He added, "That is merely a political argument that serves the incumbents or those who worry about their positions."
Among those calling for a no contest of top 2 posts was none other than Umno's former president Dr Mahathir who was never challenge, making him the longest serving president of the party and prime minister as well.
Incumbent VP Ahmad Zahid Hamidi echoed similar calls citing the party is still in need, the guidance of the current president and deputy president.
It is not known if his call was aimed at 'encouraging' the president & deputy president into imposing a no-contest at VP level as well, in view of the potential challenge from Mukhriz Mahathir.
If there is one name to mention, he is Mohd Isa Samad.
A former CM of Negeri Sembilan who was suspended from the party for money politics but has gained the trust of PM Najib to contest in last GE13. He won.
As far as coming Umno party poll is concerned, its 'too early' to know if he could be of any 'threat' to existing incumbents.
Federal Territory Umno division through it's liaison chief Tengku Adnan has said the division has no problem to support PM Najib & DPM Muhyiddin to remain president and deputy president respectively.
However he said the members wanted VP posts be contested.
Many developments may take place before Umno's assembly. There is even speculation of Najib/ Hishammuddin Vs Muhyiddin/Ahmad Zahid Hamidi 'clash'. It's too early to tell.
If that happens, we will be seeing how Umno is disintegrating.
Video of lawyer Americk Sidhu is in public domain. Americk spoke of Altantuya's murder in 2006 and stressed whatever he speaks is based on just facts.
Will revelation by senior lawyer Americk has any impact on PM Najib (esp when it was mentioned that Altantuya was Najib's girlfriend) should the top two posts are open for contest?
Only time can tell.
Love this quote-
"People were created to be loved, Things were created to be used,
The reason why the world is in chaos, is because things are being loved, people being used."
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