Umno supreme council member facing graft charge
"The economic downturn and a crackdown on money politics in Umno is the last thing that we need at this time. Regardless of what our critics have said, we have always been able to stand tall when talking about development. Our weak spot has been in making a convincing argument about values. Every time an Umno is arrested for money politics, it becomes tougher to win the support of the public."
THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER
In a day or two, an Umno politician is likely to be charged with corruption by the newly-minted Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
A member of the party's powerful supreme council, he is one of the most senior party officials to be hauled to court for corruption since Datuk Harun Idris was charged and convicted nearly three decades ago.
MACC officials said 12 of the politician's runners have been arrested for allegedly bribing party delegates to support him in his bid to win another term as a supreme council member.
And the Malaysian Insider understands that other Umno officials will be facing charges in court for money politics, the party's euphemism for corruption.
News of the MACC dragnet is causing considerable unease among Umno members, with even the more enlightened ones wondering if the ruling party can survive having its leaders and members inducted into the rogues' gallery.
"Yes, we all know that money politics has to be tackled in Umno and that there cannot be any half measures.
But the party may not recover in time for the next elections if our leaders are pulled in one after another.
"Not only will the public image of the party be affected badly but there could be adverse reaction in the party, " said an Umno Youth exco member.
Compounding matters for the party at this time is the sinking feeling that the Malaysian economy could be entering negative territory.
In its latest report, UBS said that in view of the weaker-than-expected global economic data, it believed that the economy would contract by 2.5 per cent in 2009.
It added that evidence of a recession by mid-2009 could lead the Opposition to challenge the government once again, just like it did after the March 8 elections.
UBS also felt that because of falling oil prices, the government will have difficulty in pump-priming, noting that the budget deficit could balloon to 6 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product.
The economic blues is bad news for the Umno-led Barisan Nasional. Its main selling point has been developmental politics, as opposed to a value system.
Umno/BN politicians have always pointed to the steady economic growth and rising prosperity as the best evidence of their track record in power.
In contrast, the Pakatan Rakyat has pushed forward a value system as its main platform.
In the recent Kuala Terengganu by-election, Opposition championed democracy, human rights, transparency and integrity.
On the other hand, the BN's accent was on economic development and projects to improve the quality of life in the constituency.
But this message of economic development is going to be tough to sell during these tough economic times in Malaysia.
Analysts expect the downturn to last between 12 to 24 months.
"The economic downturn and a crackdown on money politics in Umno is the last thing that we need at this time. Regardless of what our critics have said, we have always been able to stand tall when talking about development. Our weak spot has been in making a convincing argument about values. Every time an Umno is arrested for money politics, it becomes tougher to win the support of the public," said a party official, who acknowledged that the grapevine was buzzing with news of the impending arrest of the Umno Supreme Council member.
He and other Umno members concede that the party needs an overhaul if it is to reconnect with the electorate, especially first time and younger voters.
They are even willing to see a few of their comrades arrested and charged in court for money politics.
They are just not sure if Umno can handle both at the same time: a sinking economy and a public cleansing.
