Heart or head – the choice before Umno delegates
A Mingguan Malaysia editorial on Sunday urged Umno delegates to think carefully between the two aspirants, saying the “right” decision is important because Umno and the country are at a crossroads.
By Baradan Kuppusamy, The Malaysian Insider
The Umno election campaign has entered its final lap with the focus on the battle for No 2 spot.
The contest in the run-in for the deputy presidency is virtually a tussle between vice president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Ali Rustam.
Umno Information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib is a distant third and can safely be discounted.
The irony is that Mohamed Ali is popular in Umno and among Malays in general and is perceived to be favoured by outgoing president Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi.
Nevertheless Mohamed Ali has other factors that are going against him – he has little or no experience as a cabinet minister and is unpopular among Malaysians, especially non-Malays, for his often controversial and sometimes unvarnished views on various issues.
A recent Universiti Malaya poll showed he was leading in the contest but another poll among Malaysians show Muhyiddin was clearly preferred over him.
This is the dilemma Umno delegates face on March 25 – whether to follow their hearts or use their minds and think of the country and the economic woes it faces.
They have a choice – to pick a versatile and experienced candidate like Muhyiddin, or select a relative novice in terms of experience in national economic management and as a national leader.
On the other hand, Muhyiddin is seen to be backed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as someone who had aided the former prime minister in ousting Abdullah and should be rewarded in the new power re-alignment that is taking shape.
The pros and cons between the two leaders are being widely debated within Umno and in the Malay vernacular dailies with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz leading the charge on behalf of Muhyiddin.
In numerous interviews, Nazri, who is not contesting any post in the Umno election, has laid out the issues as he sees them – one is experienced, the other is not; one is senior the other is junior, one makes up a natural team with Najib while the other is not because he will leapfrog over many more senior leaders if he wins.
A Mingguan Malaysia editorial on Sunday urged Umno delegates to think carefully between the two aspirants, saying the “right” decision is important because Umno and the country are at a crossroads.
For Najib, having Muyhiddin as his number two would enhance and give credibility to his incoming administration especially on the economic front what with a downturn set to worsen.
But, politically, Mohamed Ali is a safer bet for Najib because he is younger, has to sit tight to accumulate experience and gain political clout before he is able to stake a claim for the top post.
He cannot, however, relax with Muhyiddin as his number two, especially with Dr Mahathir on the sidelines but wanting to come in as an adviser to Umno and the country.
Dr Mahathir is already publicly telling Najib what to do – from criticising the Perak power grab to advising him on his Cabinet choices and will eventually, if allowed, set the tone, decide policies and virtually run the country.
He has already expressed his readiness to fight Najib if his views don’t get a fair hearing.
In this context, Dr Mahathir is most likely to rely on Muhyiddin as an ally to press his views in a situation that could see acrimony between Najib and Muhyiddin.
Najib is known to be someone who holds his cards close to his chest and will only show his hand at the very last moment.
It is a signal delegates will be looking out for.
