Hopes dimmed for Umno to retake Selangor

Like or not, the talk in Umno circles is that the Barisan Nasional (BN) is facing an uphill battle to wrest back Selangor.

The reason is simple: the state Umno, the backbone of BN, is in a “bad shape” with all the infighting going on among the leaders. Each is battling the other so as to give the impression that he is a true fighter able to destabilise the Pakatan Rakyat government.

The state Umno leaders seem to be fighting to outdo each other without synchronising their acts or realising the implications of their actions.

Re-taking Selangor is a top priority of BN chairman and Umno president, Najib Tun Razak, who has succeeded in taking back Perak.

The BN machinery is also pouring over battle plans to seize Kedah while it has given up on Penang, which it sees as an impossible target to capture.

But Selangor is the richest state and the BN is devising ways and means of undermining the administration of Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

The fall of Selangor to Pakatan in 2008 was a very painful event. But now getting it back into the Umno-BN fold is even harder, given the state of disarray in the Umno camp.

Since MCA is struggling to get its act together and MIC is seen as a “non-functional” party, it is left to Umno to carry the flag and battle to the Pakatan camp.

Three factions

Unfortunately, the state Umno is split into three factions – one is led by deputy Umno liaison chief Noh Omar, the other by state BN opposition leader Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and yet another by former Selangor strongman Muhammad Muhammad “Mike Tyson” Taib.

The biggest faction is Noh’s followed by Khir's. Muhammad has a following but it does not carry much weight in the political contest.

At present, according to some state Umno members, the internal conflict is waged mainly by Khir and Noh. Khir is seen going into overdrive to destablise and demonise Khalid, while Noh only enters the fray when it is safe to do so.

An Umno member said: “Khir is fighting a lone battle against the Pakatan government. At one stage, he was suspended from the state assembly for his efforts.”

He said Noh did not lift a finger to defend Khir although the former was the Umno deputy liaison chief.

“Noh only jumps onto the bandwagon when issues are of federal importance like illegal sand mining. Noh should join Khir and fight on other issues such as water and corruption... ”

“But Noh and his supporters are not conducting ceramah to rally Malay voters,” he said.

Right strategy

Some Umno members feel that Khir has adopted the right strategy in his efforts to topple the Pakatan government, but lack of funding is the main drawback.

They said Noh has probably got better funding from Umno headquarters but the money is not being channelled to Khir's war chest for him to organise more activities.

“I do not know how funding works in Umno. But I know for sure that the party headquarters would have allocations for such activities. Noh should channel the funds to Khir for a more effective campaign against Pakatan,” said one party member.

As for Muhammad, a member said he was “retiring” and his supporters are said to be looking for new “master”.

A party member said Muhammad is fed up of all the internal politicking and he cuts a lonely figure because no one ever sought his advice or help.

“He feels he has been abandoned... he's bitter knowing that he has contributed much to the party. Once you get into that depressing mood, you feel like you are not wanted anymore.

“So what's the point of Muhammad marching into the battlefield when all he will get for his efforts are cynical remarks.

“He told someone he would rather spent his time with his family and some business ventures than fight political battles and not being appreciated,” said the party member.

Selangor Umno is in a turmoil. Only one man can bring back unity and perhaps some sanity into the party and that is Najib himself, the state liaison chief.

courtesy of FMT