Zahid popular choice, but Ku Li right one: Analysts
PETALING JAYA: Never has an Umno election carried so much weight in the 62 years of its existence and the outcome of this Saturday’s polls will be one that may make or break the party as it welcomes a new chapter.
Umno heads into the elections on the back of its firstever defeat in a general election and amid investigations of corruption into its former president, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, that has largely tainted the party’s image.
It is now up to either Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah or Khairy Jamaluddin to pull the party back from the brink of extinction.
And while Ahmad Zahid would be seen as the more popular choice among its grassroots and division leaders, is he the right person to lead Umno into the new era?
Political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Jeniri Amir said voting Ahmad Zahid in will not augur well for Umno’s revival, considering his alignment to Najib, and that the acting chief cannot bring much to the table.
“This is no longer a question of who’s more popular, but of survival. I think Tengku Razaleigh would be the best bet for Umno, which needs someone with credibility, influence and leadership on par with (Pakatan Harapan chairman) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“He also knows how to be an opposition member as he’s been in and out of Umno before. He challenged Mahathir in 1987 for the presidency, losing only by a slim margin, and eventually set up Semangat 46,” he told theSun.
Tengku Razaleigh, also known as Ku Li, had said he would only hold the position for one term (three years) and pass it on to the younger generation, should he be elected.
This could pave the way for Khairy, whom Jeniri described as having “all the time in the world and has lots to learn”, to take over the post later.
As commissioner James Gordon from The Dark Knight put it: “Batman is the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now.”
This sentiment can well be applied to Khairy in Umno.
Tengku Razaleigh can also take comfort in seeing Umno’s wings being won by nonmainstream candidates.
Analyst Prof Madya Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani also agreed Tengku Razaleigh is the front-runner for the top post, alongside Khairy, as they would bring something fresh to Umno.
“The problem with Ahmad Zahid is he was close to Najib, and people would be afraid that he would bring with him the same kind of politics.
“Khairy, on the other hand, brings youthfulness to the party and has a strong appeal to voters outside Umno, while Ku Li is a very respected figure in Umno whom people believe can save the party,” he said. – by Amar Shah Mohsen
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