No more Judgment Day shivers this time
Mukhriz Mahathir lost narrowly but even his camp in its hour of defeat was quite composed and unflappable despite the discovery of dirty tricks against him at the 11th hour.
By Syed Nadzri Syed Harun, FMT
The ‘Padang Mahsyar’ quip could have come on again at the end of the blistering battle for Umno vice-presidency on Saturday. But it did not and that is a good sign for the party rooting for stability in the aftermath of the 13th general election (GE13).
Probably the person who had uttered it on stage about 10 years ago lost too badly this time to even think about repeating the same lament regarding unkept promises of votes from delegates.
It provided a big sigh of relief for Umno leaders that such disputes over results have been kept to a minimum.
Mohd Isa Samad won one of the three VP seats in the 2004 Umno election, yet in his rounding up speech at the end of the assemby, he openly expressed regret at how he had failed to get votes from some of the delegates who “were supposed” to have voted for him.
“I hope these people will not have trouble searching for me on Padang Mahsyar,” he said.
Padang Mahsyar, in Islam, is where all souls would be summoned in the hereafter to assemble on Judgment Day. And among other things, those who have failed to settle their debts when they were living, must do so here or else their souls would not be in peace.
Isa lost in his latest bid for VP on Saturday, tying on only seven votes with Mohd Ali Rustam, who like him was comfortably in the VP seat 10 years ago.
Both were disqualified the last round and although this comeback bid fizzled out badly, they accepted the defeat well, saying that it was the wishes of the delegates. There was no Judgment Day fears being thrown for now.
There were whispers all round no doubt regarding divisions not voting a certain way and of opponents buying support but these did not accrue enough decibels to create a storm.
The candidates, however, do keep a running log especially on divisions that did not vote for them. And perhaps they could use this to raise the ‘Padang Mahsyar’ flap later.
Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir lost narrowly but even his camp in its hour of defeat was quite composed and unflappable despite the discovery of dirty tricks against him at the 11th hour.
The victorious Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Shafie Apdal and Hishammuddin Hussein meant it was the first time in Umno election history that the incumbents for VPs were all returned.
