In Khairy and Mukhriz, Umno and Malaysia’s divergent paths?
“Under Khairy, Pemuda’s (Youth) image and orientation had shifted to progressive, centrist and problem solving. Although the Malay agenda will continue and preserved, a more unionised narrative, meaning more inclusive policies, is needed for the larger embodiment of the country,” said a source close to the 37-year-old minister.
Syed Jamal Zahiid, MM
Both are scions of former prime ministers; both are rising stars in the country’s most dominant party, Umno; both are striking out on opposing paths; one could someday chart Malaysia’s future.
While the eyes of the nation remain largely fixed on whether there will be challenge at the head of Umno, the contests on the sidelines provide a tantalising glimpse into the two seemingly disparate visions vying for ascendancy in the Malay nationalist party.
On one side is Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir ― Kedah mentri besar and the son of the party’s founder and Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He is seen to represent the conservative face of Umno that his father continues to champion even in retirement.
On the opposite is Khairy Jamaluddin ― Umno Youth chief, youth and sports minister, and son-in-law of Dr Mahathir’s successor-turned-nemesis, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. His banner is that of progressiveness and centrism that the appeals to the youth, both in and outside of Umno.
While the two are not facing off this time around — both ran in the contest to head Umno Youth in 2009 that Khairy won — analysts believe the duo are the best symbols of the two ideologies vying for control over Umno.
“They represent the aspiration of an emerging generation of young Umno leaders but the two also represent the different interest groups with different political interests,” Universiti Malaya’s political scientists Professor Datuk Mohamad Abu Bakar said in a brief phone interview with The Malay Mail Online.
The father’s son
Already 48, late bloomer Mukhriz is tipped to go for one the party’s vice president spots and observers believe he may win on the support of the party’s old guard said to remain loyal to his father, Dr Mahathir.
Three days ago, Dr Mahathir also made an impassioned plea for the party’s stalwarts to make way for new blood, presumably to save Umno from an otherwise inevitable demise. But observers believe the call to be a sly nod towards Mukhriz’s rumoured entry into the VP race.
The prominence of his father throughout his young political career has led to the continued perception that Mukhriz is a surrogate for Dr Mahathir and his right-wing influence.
“Mukhriz has yet to show his ability as he is not as articulate and vociferous as Khairy and he is also someone who is seen living in the shadow of his father. His rise is associated with his father.
“Until and unless he can show that he is a man of his own, unless he can do that, the public will always look at him negatively,” Mohamad Abu said.
The analyst added that Mukhriz’s rise up the ranks of Umno would mean a continuation of the conservatism espoused by his father and associated forces.
Appetite for change?
Although often viewed as a conservative party, one political analyst said that there is a growing belief within Umno that it was in need of renewal despite the outward blaming of non-Malays for the waning performance of the Barisan Nasional coalition headed by the party.
“That is what the polls is about, they want to see Umno rejuvenated, changed; and I can see that Umno is ready to start a change,” Professor Jayum Jawan of Universiti Putra Malaysia told The Malay Mail Online.
Coincidentally, one such voice for change is Khairy.
To prove his intent, the Umno Youth chief announced two weeks ago that four of the wing’s members will contest for positions in the party’s supreme council in a move aimed not only at increasing his influence in Umno’s decision making process, but also to push the progressive agenda.
“Under Khairy, Pemuda’s (Youth) image and orientation had shifted to progressive, centrist and problem solving. Although the Malay agenda will continue and preserved, a more unionised narrative, meaning more inclusive policies, is needed for the larger embodiment of the country,” said a source close to the 37-year-old minister.
Paved with good intentions
Ultimately, however, the question of which of these two rising leaders and their professed visions could come to lead Umno may be of little consequence.
In recent years, an increasingly strident right wing has come to dominate discourse within the party and drowned out both moderates and liberals inside.
This was apparent in recent developments involving Umno president and prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
A self-styled modernist, Najib has faced relentless pressure in his various attempts to introduce reforms since taking office in April 2009.
Among others, he has repealed the Internal Security Act and the Emergency Ordinance, lifted the country from three states of Emergency, and sought to offer Malaysians greater liberties.
But all that has earned him is criticism from conservatives insistent on the status quo.
Now, it appears that reforms are on hold.
Last week, he went to bat for Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia, urging government-linked firms and agencies to help support the Malay-language newspaper that has been the voice of the party’s right and far-right elements.
Days later, Najib went on to entrench the country’s decades-old pro-Bumiputera affirmative action, wrapping it in the guise of the New Economic Model that he had introduced in 2010 with the express aim of dismantling race-based policies in favour of meritocracy.
This suggests that, Khairy or Mukhriz, the outcome will be the same if neither man can rein in Umno’s shrill right.
Elections for the Umno Youth, Puteri and Wanita wings are set to take place on October 12, while the contests for the party’s Supreme Council positions will be decided a week later.
This will be the first time some 146,000 delegates will vote to elect the party’s top leaders, after Umno amended its constitution to open up voting to more members.
