‘Umno has been daring, proactive’

MOVING FORWARD: Some have suggested that the upcoming Umno election will be stiffer than the 13th General Election. After all, how the party election pans out will have a direct impact on who will administer the country. However, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who is seeking to defend his vice-president’s post, is confident that the members’ wisdom will pull the party through. He speaks candidly to A. Jalil Hamid and Yushaimi Yahaya on a host of issues, including matters pertaining to his family ties with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his hopes and aspirations for Umno, which forms the backbone of the country’s leadership

New Straits Times

Question:   Is Umno at a crossroads?

Answer:  Not Umno but the country is at a crossroads. Crossroads are  being faced by a lot of countries out there. Some countries have gone through it and survived. Some are still going through it while some have not survived.

From Umno’s perspective, it is critical as it is the backbone of the country’s leadership. If we look at other political parties instrumental in gaining independence for their countries, only the PAP in Singapore is still around.

While we congratulate ourselves for having survived, we also have to be aware of the challenges faced by parties that have been around for so long. As Umno leaders and members, we must understand that there is a new generation now. The world is borderless.

The gap between rural and urban is so apparent. All world leaders have to face religious and racial squabbles.

Yes, it’s critical, but we are grateful we are still being given a chance to move forward. That is why I feel very strongly that the party’s wisdom shown since independence will continue to prevail as we have a lot to do after the party election.

You have to be confident of your ability and have faith in Umno. Without Umno, we would not be where we are today. We don’t have to be apologetic. In fact, we should be very proud.

Question: The saving grace is that Umno performed better in the last election than in 2008. As one of the major contenders in the Umno election, what are your hopes and aspirations?

Answer: It is not a saving grace. Without being apologetic, I think Umno is strong. We won more states and seats. Despite the allegations of rigging and 40,000 phantom Bangladeshi voters, not a single petition filed by the opposition touched on this.

All that was nothing more than spin. What it means though is that we had won fair and square. If we had been emotional, our country could have been destroyed.

Just compare it to Egypt and Australia. (Don’t) change for the sake of change. They changed Mubarak for Morsi in the name of democracy. Now, Egpyt is still unstable. How many people have died? Are you telling me that Egypt is better off? I don’t think so. Try explaining that to the families of those who died in the streets of Egypt.

Compare that to Australia, that went through a transition that showed democracy in Australia is quite mature.

Let’s compare the two situations — where do we want to put Malaysia? This is not to scare anyone, but it is happening in front of us.

I think Umno has done very well and now faces the test of a party election. Will we be stronger? That will depend on the maturity of our members now that 150,000 of them can decide.

Question: Your thoughts on the emergence of many challengers to the vice-president’s post?

Answer: I have contested many times. Normally, it is worst at the divisional level as it tends to get extremely personal.

I had contested for the Pemuda and vice-president’s posts before. What is different now is the number of candidates offering to become vice-presidents.

For the first time ever, there are hardly any personal attacks. I don’t see that many cliques or members ganging up. In fact, it could be a lot more intense, what with social media at their disposal.

It used to be chain letters. That was more personal. I remember how Datuk Onn (Jaafar, Hishammuddin’s grandfather) was not spared, and neither was my late father (Malaysia’s third prime minister Tun Hussein Onn).

The culture of hurling chairs and tables has stopped. Ninety-nine per cent of the branches have had their meetings and they went well.

How can you even resort to money politics? Who can buy 150,000 members? From the transformational aspect, Umno has been daring and proactive. The changes that we have made will only strengthen Umno.

Question: What is causing this new-found maturity?

Answer: I don’t know if it is the maturity of the members, or the party, or the leadership, or the realisation that we cannot be lax after the last general election. We have been working hard. Some may not have realised that we are going through a massive reform.

I hope MCA, MIC and Gerakan will learn from this as they have to do some soul-searching themselves.

Question: If you are re-elected, what would be your priorities? Your comments on your family ties with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak?

Answer: I was not appointed a minister just recently. People forget that I was with (Tan Sri) Rafidah Aziz under the international trade and industry ministry. I was with (former Gerakan president Tun Dr) Lim Keng Yaik at the primary industries ministry. I was also with the youth and sports, education and home ministries. I am now handling two ministries, one in an acting capacity.

So, in offering myself as Umno’s vice-president, people can assess me from those days. This is not about a position that can be bought or pawned. Umno is not like that.

Members who vote will not base it on what we promise. It may be true for newcomers, but for people like us, who have been in the government for so long, we do not have a place in Umno if people dislike us.

It has nothing to do with being Najib’s cousin. When I was leading before this, it was not because Datuk Onn is my grandfather or Hussein Onn my dad.

One must remember that when I was chosen to be in the government previously, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was not my grandfather. When I was helming the education ministry, Pak Lah (former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) was not my father. Lim Keng Yaik was not my cousin. So, why are family ties a consideration now?

It is not about what I am offering. The delegates know their leaders. If they don’t, they are not qualified to become delegates themselves as they are leaders at branches and divisions.

Some 150,000 members can decide the party leadership this time around. What would be their considerations? Money? Blackmail? Revenge?

I am not perfect, but Umno’s history has proven that when placed in a corner, we will make the best decisions. If the best decision is to not include me, then I am willing to go without a position.

I have done my best. I have led for more than 20 years. It is also the same with Najib. If people don’t like him, then just remember what is happening in Syria and Egypt.

If our leaders are not commanding or intelligent, then why would United States President Barack Obama and Chinese president Xi Jinping visit Malaysia in October? Umno can’t be all that bad for the leaders of these two powerhouses to come to Malaysia, can it?

Question: But there are still those who hurl claims of your family ties.

Answer: Alhamdulillah, I have no sex or corruption scandals. I am thankful to Allah if it is only my ties to Najib.

Issues such as leadership performance, family ties, money politics and corruption are not new for all of us. It is not just me — it is the same for Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (the trio are the three Umno vice-presidents seeking re-election). We have gone through everything. If that is the best they can throw at me, I am thankful as I cannot decide that I am Najib’s cousin. I cannot do anything about it.

Question: On calls, including from former prime minister Dr Mahathir, for a no-contest for the posts of president and deputy president?

Answer: I hope there will be no contest for the top two posts as party stability is crucial. I agree with Tun M. This is not a play thing, contesting for fun. Try administering the country and party in the present climate. I do not see the top two posts being contested, alhamdulillah.

At the vice-president level, an additional two or three candidates do not matter, as long as there are no personal attacks, money politics and other unsavoury tactics. I feel that Umno’s highest echelon is safe.

The jostling for Umno supreme council posts, however, will be intense. It can have positive effects or the reverse.

We have to understand that this is the first time we are going through an election after amendments to the party constitution. It is impossible to know everything as the grassroots will decide the fate of the council.

Whoever wants to be candidate must go down to the branches. That is us becoming more inclusive. In the context of democracy, Umno fully embodies it. Name me another political party that does this?

The wings must also carry out their responsibilities. Wanita, Pemuda dan Puteri are important as they are the future of the party.

Those who offer themselves as candidates in the wings must have the vision and plan how to bring the young into the party. In the haste of campaigning, don’t forget that the leaders chosen must translate their elections into support from people outside the party or we will be in a serious situation come the 14th General Election.

Question: Some were hoping to see new faces in the Cabinet line-up and have suggested that old faces are still there. Your thoughts?

Answer: That’s inaccurate. Many old faces are not there.

Khairy Jamaluddin is there. Rahman Dahalan is there. These are new faces. Before that, they did not hold any positions. Can’t we recognise that? However, KJ has to deliver. Rahman has to deliver now that he is in the cabinet.

Question: Some are of the opinion that the opposition allows more room for young leaders to come up the ranks.

Answer: The opposition can do whatever they want to. We do not know what will happen when they are given the chance to lead the country. The stakes are higher. The opposition has nothing to lose. They can project new leaders, or even “babies” if they like. Their task is easy. They say the country is topsy-turvy, they say there were 40,000 phantom voters and they will always attempt to discredit us, but as the government of the day, we have to be responsible.

If we want to push young leaders up, they must be responsible leaders. If we give inexperienced leaders the chance, and they abuse it, the country will fall into chaos. Those we project must prove their worth.

On the other hand, we have given the chance for young leaders to grow. The menteris besar of Kedah and Perak were from Pemuda. Khaled Nordin, Idris Haron? I am helming two ministries. The prime minister, too, was from Pemuda. So were Zahid and Shafie.

People accuse us, but the reality is that this is an untruth. Now, we need to find leaders from Puteri. Pemuda has proven itself, as we have menteris besar, a home minister, a defence minister. (Deputy Prime Minister) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was a Pemuda leader himself.