The Battle for Umno: Infighting at the very top

Nawawi Mohamad

There has never been any real agreement between the UMNO president Najib Razak and his deputy Muhyiddin Yasin. There was competition between them even before Najib was proclaimed the UMNO president after Abdullah Badawi was forced by rebelling warlords to retire early.

Muhyiddin’s name is now becoming famous in the Malay community. It has cropped up many times as a possible contender for the top post although both his image and Najib’s are always presented side by side in the government-controlled media to create the perception that they are on the most friendly terms. But make no mistake, the competition between the two men has always been there.

How loyal is the ‘most loyal’ deputy?

In 2008, unfortunately for Muhyiddin, former premier Mahathir Mohamad had decided that Najib should be the one to take over from Badawi as many had predicted he would. Muhyiddin was devastated at having been beaten by Najib at the eleventh hour. But as they say, what to do? Mahathir is still a force in UMNO to be reckoned with and it would be even worse to cross him and his ‘geng’ or gang of right-wing political thugs.

It is also interesting to note that by then Muhyiddin was as powerless as any ordinary UMNO member because he did not have the backing from the grass roots and the other UMNO leaders, not even from his home state of Johore. He was on his own and had to find supporters, if not followers.

Muhyiddin was not promoted by Badawi and son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin when Badawi was PM because there was Khairy to be groomed into power. So, it was that Muhyiddin was left on the fringes although not totally in the wilderness. It was then that Muhyiddin learnt how to survive on his own, even though he was never alone.

The desire to hold the top post is still burning strong in Muhyiddin and more so now, because of his age and as opportunity knocks. Najib is weak, torn apart by the myriad of problems and dilemmas nagging him 24/7.

But how sincere is Muhyiddin when he only said that he is the most loyal deputy? Did he promise not to challenge for the presidency? Will Muhyiddin just lie down and let Najib steamroll over him?

Disunity

Actually, Muhyiddin has already launched several maneuvers with his advisors and small group of supporters. Despite their huge handicap, we can still feel the impact when he questioned the 1Malaysia concept as soon as Najib announced it.

Muhyiddin then showed his confidence when he declared he was Malay first and Malaysian next. Muhyiddin even defied Mahathir when he committed himself to teaching mathematics and science in Bahasa Melayu instead of English, which had been implemented by Mahathir.

It is clear Muhyiddin is trying to be his own man and garner more grass root support for his impending revolt against Najib at the eleventh hour. That’s right. Say what he will during his ‘loyalty’ pledge to the UMNO assembly, but Muhyiddin is bound to go neck to neck with Najib for president’s seat. Same as Najib would if the shoe was on the other foot. Really, Muhyiddin has got nothing to lose.

To win, Muhyiddin does not need to get 100% support from those in UMNO and he knows it. All he needs to do is to harp on the various scenarios that threaten the unity in UMNO, and Najib and his band of sycophants will be forced to heel.

The pressure is already massive for Najib to step down if he wants to save UMNO from another split, more so with the next General Election or GE-13 nearing.

Sycophants surround the vain Najib

Muhyiddin also knows that Najib’s people are also on the lookout for themselves. They too understand how fragile Najib’s position is, with the economy stagnating, the political scenario fragile and a strong opposition becoming more popular by the day. It won’t take much to entice these blow-with-the-wind types. Moreover Muhyiddin has far less scandals then Najib and has shown that he has guts.

Many may say that Muhyiddin is a bit too little and too late, but all he really needs to do is to pull his efforts together and focus on how to garner the support of the grass roots and those UMNO leaders who are unhappy with Najib.

The PM is too busy to focus on anything at all! There are just too many overseas trips and vacations scheduled. Indeed, there are many UMNO leaders who are not happy with Najib. It is also obvious that Najib is now rushing to put his own people as potential candidates in Johore and other states so as to retard the advances made by Muhyiddin.

People may think that Mahathir has already given the thumbs up for Najib but Mahathir has not put his all bets on Najib yet. He did that in 2008 but Najib failed to deliver. Chances are Mahathir will pick a different horse in 2012, which is when the UMNO polls will be held.

At 86, Mahathir is still wily. He won’t show his hand so soon, not until the situation is very clear for all to see. Mahathir cannot back just anyone. He needs to ensure the political future and eventual financial advancement of his sons and grandchildren. In other words, he hasn’t made up his mind on who to support to be the next UMNO president, and he won’t until he gets clearer signs.

Clearer signs

From Muhyiddin, Mahathir wants to see more conviction and loyalty – at the moment, Muhyiddin has displayed an independent streak that scares the daylights out of the authoritarian Mahathir.

Najib is only acceptable to Mahathir so long as Mahathir is still alive and kicking. Mahathir can always be sure he can control Najib, who – sad to say – is quite hopeless.

But once Mahathir passes on, Najib could be anybody’s knight! Then what would happen to Mahathir’s sons and grandsons? Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor is sure to smile if she reads this.

Apart from the shadow-boxing between the No. 1 and No. 2, many other UMNO chieftains are busy cooking up a storm for the party’s 2012 internal polls, which is poised to be one of most fiercely fought ever.