Umno: Who will be pulling the strings?
The fight for two of the posts will be the most watched. One is for the deputy president (who will be prime minister designate Datuk Seri Najib Razak's No. 2) and the other is for Umno Youth chief (which has former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's son competing against PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's son-in-law). We ask analysts to rate their chances.
The New Paper
The most powerful party in Malaysia, Umno, is having its internal elections to select office bearers from Tuesday. Racked by corruption charges, infighting and a falling voter base, it is looking to renew itself in the week-long general assembly.
The fight for two of the posts will be the most watched. One is for the deputy president (who will be prime minister designate Datuk Seri Najib Razak's No. 2) and the other is for Umno Youth chief (which has former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's son competing against PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's son-in-law). We ask analysts to rate their chances.
UMNO DEPUTY PRESIDENT
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, 62
The International Trade and Industry Minister is seen as favourite of incoming PM Najib.
He is currently one of the two Umno vice-presidents, the other being Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam. Mohd Ali is barred from contesting by the party's disciplinary board.
In a survey conducted last month by the independent Merdeka Centre, Muhyiddin was the choice for 52 per cent of the 1,031 respondents. His challenger got 7 per cent.
Prof Joseph Liow's rating: 8/10
He is a competent administrator, articulate, and has an international profile. He has also been vocal about reforms that Umno will need to seriously consider in order to win back lost ground.
Prof James Chin's rating: 9/10
He stands a very strong chance now that Ali Rustam has fallen out of the race. He also has the covert support of Najib Razak.
Dr Ahmad Nidzammudin Sulaiman's rating: 8/10
He is the main contender at the moment. He has been vice-president for a decade and has kept a good record. He has good relations with Najib too.
Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib, 63
Muhammad was appointed the Rural and Regional Development Minister by Abdullah even though he did not contest in the general election last year.
He was appointed senator in 2006 which allowed him to be made a minister.
Fondly known as Mat Taib, Muhammad is also the Umno information chief.
He was forced to resign as Selangor menteri besar in April 1997 after he was charged in Australia over currency irregularities.
He was later found not guilty.
Prof Liow's rating: 6/10
Probably the dark horse when Ali Rustam was still running. Has experience in Umno machinery. May benefit from Ali Rustam's absence as supporters may shift their votes to Mat Taib.
Prof Chin's rating: 3/10
He represents the older type of Umno membership, and will appeal to the anti-Najib block. He will try to get Ali Rustam's supporters to vote for him, but his chances of winning are low.
Dr Ahmad's rating: 2/10
He is not a member of Parliament, and his only chance is if Ali Rustam's followers transfer their votes to him.
UMNO YOUTH CHIEF
Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, 44
Mukhriz is the son of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The Umno Youth exco member was elected the Member of Parliament for Jerlun in Kedah in the general election last year.
He emerged the favourite after bagging 52 per cent of the votes in a poll of 1,031 Malaysians conducted last month by the Merdeka Centre. His rivals each garnered 11 per cent of the votes.
Prof Liow's rating: 7/10
He was at the forefront of the move to push Pak Lah out, and has recently been saying all the right things. Being the son of Dr Mahathir could work both for and against him though.
Prof Chin's rating: 8/10
He is riding on his father's name. Some feel he is a clone of his father who represents a period when Umno was very strong.
Dr Ahmad’s rating: 6/10
He has been keeping a good record. Khairy was said to have a better rating prior to the disciplinary board action this week. With Khairy being warned, Muhriz' chances are better.
Khairy Jamaluddin, 33
The Umno youth deputy chief is also the son-in-law of PM Abdullah.
In 2008, Khairy was elected the Member of Parliament for Rembau in Negri Sembilan.
The son of a diplomat, Khairy's fast five-year climb up the political ladder has also come with the perception that he is arrogant and had a helping hand from PM Abdullah.
Earlier this week, the party disciplinary board found him guilty of being involved in money politics but let him off with a warning.
Prof Liow's rating: 6/10
Very intelligent and bright, but has not been able to demonstrate rapport with the ground. His links with Pak Lah could weigh him down.
Prof Chin's rating: 6/10
He appeals to younger reformers and urban Malays who feel that Umno cannot be insular anymore.
Dr Ahmad's rating: 3/10
He appears to have nothing to deliver except having his father-in-law's name.
Datuk Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, 43
Dr Khir was the former menteri besar of Selangor. He won the Sungai Panjang state seat in 2008 but lost his menteri besar’s post after Barisan Nasional failed to obtain the majority in the Selangor state assembly.
He was investigated by the Umno disciplinary board for money politics but was cleared of any wrongdoing earlier this week.
Dr Khir, a dentist, does not have a famous family name to ride on.
Prof Liow's rating: 4/10
Outside chance. Has yet to demonstrate the charisma that Umno Youth heads have been known to have.
Prof Chin's rating: 7/10
His chances went up after he was cleared of wrongdoing… he has had a longer history in Umno Youth leadership. He has also built up a patronage network, and has strong grassroots support in Selangor and a few other states.
Dr Ahmad's rating: 1/10
The ex-Selangor menteri besar had many corruption allegations against him. His chances are minimal and he shouldn't have stood in the first place.
EXPERT OPINION
1. Assoc Prof Joseph Liow, associate dean at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
2. Prof James Chin, political science professor at Monash University in Malaysia
3. Dr Ahmad Nidzammudin Sulaiman, University Kebangsaan Malaysia's political science head.
