Is Umno imploding?
Leadership have to work to prevent an exodus of grassroots, say analysts
POLITICAL analysts say that the party, which is grappling with a severe leadership crisis, must address it to avoid an escalation of not just the top reps from leaving but also an exodus of its grassroots members.
SABAH UMNO YOUTH TELLS ZAHID: ‘JUST QUIT’
SELANGOR, KEDAH UMNO EXPECT THEIR LAWMAKERS TO REMAIN LOYAL
DAP’S RONNIE LIU, RAMKARPAL TELL BERSATU: DON’T ACCEPT UMNO ‘FROGS’
UMNO is in the throes of a severe leadership crisis and must address the matter to avoid an escalation of not just top representatives leaving, but also an exodus of its grassroots, say analysts.
Demands for Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to step down were not new — many had voiced their dissatisfaction against him and left the party, while others had taken a softer approach by asking him to go on leave until his court cases were settled. Zahid had refused to step down.
However, rumours that a mass exodus is expected to happen by Umno parliamentarians, assemblymen and division chiefs following the departure of more than 20 Sabah leaders on Wednesday, should be a wake up call not only to Zahid but everyone in the in the top leadership.
Political analyst Professor Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said the party leadership must act quickly before more members, especially its MPs, jump ship.
Aizuddin, of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), said Umno’s leadership must examine the reason given by those who left — which was the party’s lack of direction. “They keep saying that there is no direction, so chart a direction and tell them what it is.
“Giving in to what they want would probably prevent more from leaving. Listen to what they have pointed out and overcome it,” he said, adding that internal factors should be resolved.
However, he said chances of putting a halt to the movements indefinitely was difficult, especially since there is no law to stop them from leaving.
“Party members are quite fluid now. They choose their position and if they don’t feel like sticking to Umno and Barisan Nasional, especially with leadership problems and financial issues, they can choose to leave.
“As MPs, they want to protect their electorates, so it may be beneficial if they defect. The reality is tough because after being the government for more than 60 years, life could get miserable if you are on the other side.
“People are now looking at the New Malaysia and if you’re still behind, you might lose the support of the people,” said.
However, Professor Datuk Shamsul Amri Baharuddin believed that the reported exodus of Umno leaders would not be occurring soon.
He said the public should understand that the political environment in Sabah was more volatile. He said the swing factor for Sabah had always existed, and that there had always been a pattern to the movements.
Shamsul, who is the founding director of the Institute of Ethnic Studies (Kita) in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), said those analysing the situation should look beyond the surface and see what is truly at stake and part of the negotiations for the MPs, especially those who are planning to announce their departure.
The Pakatan Harapan government, he said, were no doubt keen on obtaining a two-third majority and this would come from Umno defectors.
The pattern, he said, was obvious — those from Umno would have wait and prove themselves worthy, mainly for Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.
However, he said PKR should not be ignored as they too have been fishing out old friends to join the party.