Umno General Assembly ’09 – Will winds of change blow through Umno?

(NST) After a year of self-examination and bitter squabbling, the nation waits for signs of whether Umno, once regarded as almost invincible, is willing to execute the changes required by the party and the nation, writes ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR

AMID a fluid political environment, Malaysia is about to witness elections of a new line-up of its grand old party and, by extension, the leadership of the country.

This makes the 59th Umno general assembly, kicking off today with the joint opening of the Youth, Wanita and Puteri congress by party deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak, unarguably the most important political event of the year.

The focus of attention is on how Umno views its future path, and its prospects for long-term survival.

Racked by infighting and a falling voter base after last year's political tsunami, Umno should be looking at renewing itself during the four-day gathering.

It is, after all, Umno's first national assembly after the drubbing it received from the opposition in the March 8 general election, making it the best forum to discuss ways to touch base — something its leaders had long taken for granted, causing voters to seek solace in opposition parties.

Party leaders are well aware that the voters' rejection of the Barisan Nasional coalition had nothing to do with Umno's nemesis Pas, the infant Parti Keadilan Rakyat or the socialist DAP being better alternatives to the time-tested Umno.

They have learned, through the many meetings and brainstorming sessions after the last general election, that it was their arrogance and perceived corrupt practices that voters could no longer tolerate. These have to change.

Voters showed their resentment by voting candidates other than BN, catching even the opposition parties by surprise and forcing them to hastily form a loose coalition to manage the five states they bagged.

Extreme cases of Umno's rejection were deliberated at a special retreat and during special supreme council meetings, and affirmative plans are said to have been outlined.

All this is expected to be explained at the assembly — which will be closely monitored even without being telecast live — and issues spilling out of the hall will be earnestly debated outside. A no-show on these points will only confirm allegations that Umno is "all talk and no action".

The issues raised by speakers — and the individuals eventually chosen to be members of the new team to be led by Najib — will reflect Umno's will to execute the changes that will determine its relevance in changing Malaysia's political landscape.

The assembly will not only show whether Umno has learned a lesson from recent elections, it will also show if the party is willing to listen to people outside it.

Therefore, there has to be a self-generated wind of change. The necessary momentum to execute the widely debated reforms that Umno has to undertake is, no doubt, in the hands of the 2,500 delegates with voting rights.

Bearing the mandate of the three million party members by putting that little cross on the ballots at booths set up inside Putra World Trade Centre's Dewan Merdeka, delegates will decide where Umno is heading.

The question now is whether the delegates will be able to translate into reality the wishes of the people and party members following claims of political bribery.

The campaign this time has been very intense — marred by alleged widespread vote-buying and abuse of power and dirty campaign tactics, all because every post but the presidency is being contested.

There are likely to be potential violations of the party code of ethics waiting to be uncovered before voting takes place tomorrow for the party's Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings and on Thursday for the supreme council posts, for all of which 267 candidates are vying.

The long campaign period — the longest in Umno's history because the general assembly was postponed from December to March to accommodate the leadership transition — has led to the campaign becoming nastier and more desperate.

Najib, who by BN convention will become the sixth prime minister after Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi steps down early next month, is clear on the qualities of those he wants on his team and has asked delegates to deliver him credible and qualified individuals.

"First, they must be committed to the struggles of Umno rather than their own self-interest or serving certain groups," he said in a press interview ahead of the assembly.

"Secondly, they must be open and ready for reforms and changes. Thirdly, they must be good leaders in the eyes of the people."

In the interview, Najib admitted that Umno needed to change or be changed, as the people had signalled in the last general election.

The road leading to the assembly has been anything but smooth for Najib, and he needs people who will consolidate around him to overcome new challenges in winning back lost ground.

The disciplinary action on party officials for breaching campaign rules, notably the disqualification of vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam from contesting the deputy president's post, is testing his leadership.

The fight for the No. 2 post, which will be contested for the first time in 21 years, is the most watched as whoever gets elected will, by convention, take over the deputy prime minister's post.

It's unclear who Najib prefers between vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, but casual readings of delegates' sentiments following Ali's disqualification indicate a leaning among delegates to the latter.

Delegates think Najib's speech tonight, at the joint opening of the assemblies of the party's three wings, may offer signals as to whom he would prefer as his deputy.

The other contest in focus is the Umno Youth chief's post, for which former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's son Mukhriz is competing against Abdullah's son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin and strong contender Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, the former Selangor menteri besar.

Delegates will choose three vice-presidents from among eight candidates.

The women's wing should see a bitter battle between the incumbent, former international trade and industry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, and her deputy Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

The Puteri wing will also elect their leader for the first time among six contenders. Equally important will be the 25 elected supreme council seats, for which 50 candidates are vying.

For most candidates, winning is not the only goal — it is the rankings that will count, as a strong showing at the party polls is a virtual ticket into the new Najib cabinet.

While some say delegates often choose the most charismatic candidate, others say that a good record of accomplishment is the most important consideration.

The fact is, delegates have to think with their minds and not their hearts. They have to choose the party leadership that can work for the country and is acceptable to the Malaysian electorate, or voters will not need much convincing to decide to throw Umno out of power.

Apart from an election, the general assembly will also hear discussions on various issues relating to Malay and national interests.

Party officials say that likely topics may include concerns over the economic empowerment of Bumiputeras, the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English, the rights of Malays and position of Malay rulers, the empowered opposition, and the three impending by-elections in Batang Ai, Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau.

Abdullah is expected to touch on unity and reform when he speaks to delegates at a closed-door pre-assembly address today, and raise this and his other concerns about the country and racial polarisation, among others, in his presidential speech on Thursday.

Najib's closing speech on Saturday, his first as Umno president, is expected to outline reforms for Umno.