Election fever grips Umno assembly

Lim Sue Goan

With the next general election widely speculated to be held sometime next year, and two by-elections just around the corner, election fever is gripping the ongoing Umno general assembly this week, with almost everyone talking about elections at the assembly venue.

Prime Minister cum Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak had earlier put forward a proposal to introduce a new political model to ensure Umno continue leading the nation. He did this during the launching of an Umno Club for retired senior government officers.

Najib is expected to explain the new political model during the opening of the Umno general assembly on Thursday 14 October 2010. Would it be related to the amendment of the BN Constitution? The Umno leadership has initiated something new at this year’s assembly by holding a pre-assembly International Forum.

The atmosphere of this year’s assembly is expected to be very intense, with heated speeches directed at the Pakatan Rakyat and PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. But no irresponsible racist remark is expected as the delegates know that a general election might be held at any time, and it is unwise to stir up sensitive issues. In fact, extreme remarks have rarely been heard during Umno general assembly in recent years.

The party president's policy speech is expected to highlight several major issues, especially the economic policies, plans, programmes, and projects. In particular, Najib is expected to touch on the New Economic Model (NEM), the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), the 10th Malaysia Plan (10Plan) and the Budget 2011, andl the role played by Bumiputeras (Malays) in these programmes?

In terms of seat allocations for the general election, there have been voices within Umno calling for the abrogation of the quota system among the BN partners.

Umno Youth chairman Khairy Jamaluddin, for example, wants the BN to consider a new scheme to allocate seats based on the support rate received by the component parties as the political scenario has undergone much changes.

Penang Umno chairman Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, a party vice-president, has said that if Gerakan has no confidence in getting back Penang it lost in the 2008 general election, it should let other component parties, which have confidence to win, to fight for it. The Penang Umno has also asked Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon to surrender his Penang BN chief post.

The Umno request seems to be reasonable as Chinese votes for the BN have been declining. In the 2008 general election, Gerakan and the MCA had contested for 13 and 10 Penang state seats respectively, but lost all of them. Umno, on the other hand, was able to win 11 seats. If Umno candidates are fielded at the next general election, perhaps they can win back the state. However, Umno leaders will not likely to agree to it as the BN partnership might break up.

It is not easy for Umno to change the existing seat allocation arrangement. Moreover, how is the BN going to face the general election as a team if there are conflicts within the coalition?

As for the economic proposal, Umno leaders might propose some plans to allow Bumiputeras to participate in the ETP to safeguard their interests.

Under the ETP, there are 131 entry point projects with business opportunities, including the Greater Kuala Lumpur project, divestment in government-linked companies (GLCs) and privatisation programme. The Umno programmes to support Bumiputera business owners will affect the fate of ETP.

This year’s assembly is of vital significance to Najib as he needs to mobilize the full support of the Umno delegates to promote the NEM and also get the party ready for the next general election. - Sin Chew