STOP THE FUSS: Let the people decide instead of speculating on who should be the next menteri besar
Noor Adzman Baharuddin, New Straits Times
TO name or not to name. That is the issue that has been forced into the open following speculations that Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir may be the next Kedah menteri besar should Barisan Nasional recapture the state in the next general election.
While there is no dearth of candidates to lead the state, there is also no reason to create unnecessary anxiety on the choice of the next BN MB.
Since a teaser of sorts, which had espoused Mukhriz as the next MB, many Kedah Umno leaders (read: prospective menteris besar) have been suffering sleepless nights.
Some, it was learnt, had passed up a good night’s sleep to huddle with their supporters into the wee hours each day to figure out the latest turn of events.
Taking a leaf from past experience in Kelantan, Umno members were united over the choice of Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussein as the menteri besar if Kelantan BN recaptured the state in the last general election. The deputy finance minister, too, was generally accepted by the people.
However, Pas spared no efforts to spoil the BN quest.
In contrast, voters in Penang were kept in the dark if former chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon would defend his Tanjung Bungah state seat or if the BN leadership preferred him to go federal in 2008.
The decision came too late. The delay worsened the tense political climate and BN not only lost Penang but in the process, Gerakan and MCA also got booted out of the state.
Anxiety is also running high in Selangor over who should helm the state if BN wins it back in the next general election.
Back at the ranch, Mukhriz was quick to douse the “fire”, stressing that the MB post was the least of his concerns and that it was more important for Kedah BN to win back the state.
He stressed the “mission” should be a team effort and Kedah Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah also echoed Mukhriz’ sentiments.
Bravo Mukhriz and Tok Bashah, as Bashah is fondly known.
However, considering the degree of malaise affecting Kedah Umno and BN members as well as their leaders, maybe a new choice of MB would not be such a bad idea.
Mukhriz could be a long shot, considering sceptics’ claim he has a small grassroots base in Kedah.
However, since elected into office after winning in Jerlun, he has made considerable strides to touch base with the constituents.
Mukhriz, the third son and fifth child of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, is also vice-chairman of Jitra Umno branch in the Kubang Pasu parliamentary constituency.
So, besides being a deputy minister, he has to juggle as an MP for his constituents as well as meeting the needs of the Jitra Umno members.
Hinting at the MB-designate early could give more time for him to rally support and for voters to evaluate him. However, the fear in Kedah is that would also give disgruntled candidates more time to cantas-mencantas (resort to back stabbing).
Rhetoric or otherwise, this is no time for Kedah BN, especially the state Umno leaders, to melatah, a Malay word which could best be described as acting or talking thoughtlessly.
Tok Bashah and Mukhriz have clarified the matter, so why the fuss among some Kedah Umno leaders?
Just last Saturday, 12 of the 15 Kedah Umno division leaders had pledged that they would not cantas mencantas should they or their choice of candidates not be picked to stand in the next general election.
They, Tok Bashah included, did so before none other than the nation’s architect of modern Malaysia and former prime minister, Dr Mahathir.
Back-stabbing over the choice of candidates in the last general election had derailed the Kedah Umno/BN machinery and turned off many of its supporters, including members.
The general election is imminent and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s tireless efforts to reform BN and Umno, as well as managing and safeguarding the country from “enemies”, both within and outside should be appreciated by all.
Any act or thoughts of selfishness should be the last thing on the minds of Kedah Umno and BN leaders.
Umno and BN in Kedah wasted so much time getting their act together after March 2008.
The Pas-led Pakatan Rakyat state government, too, has been less-than-stellar in its performance.
Mutiny and suspicion are still prevalent in Kedah Pas.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak still harbours suspicion of his successor-designate and prodigy Datuk Phahrolrazi Zawawi and Dr Ismail Salleh respectively since they tried to topple him in March.
Anxiety is not really a bad thing if it elevates performance.
Kedah Umno members, especially its leaders, should get excited and positively anxious to give their all to win back the state.
The voters know what they have been missing and who they can count on. Stop the fuss over who should be the next MB and let the people decide at the ballot box.
