UMNO polls delay points to power struggle?

Umno supreme council - something's brewing

KUALA LUMPUR - UMNO's decision to delay its party polls by 18 months has raised questions over prime minister Najib Razak's confidence in retaining his post in the party.

Although analysts took the decision as the clearest sign yet of an impending general election, others are interpreting it as an acknowledgement that UMNO’s internal turbulence had yet to be settled.

“UMNO is still facing internal crisis. Najib also feels that there is no guarantee he could be re-elected as UMNO president,” said PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar, who said the decision also showed the party's fear of a split in the event of a party election.

Mahfuz pointed to what he called an 'immediate' threat on Najib from his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin, who according to him, had been portraying more ‘Malayness’ than Najib as well as embracing Perkasa, the right-wing offshoot of UMNO.

“Muhyiddin’s image and stand seem more in tune with UMNO and its members to lead the party,” said Mahfuz.

PKR's turn

Leaders from PKR, who had been target of sarcastic remarks from UMNO leaders recently over its recently-concluded noisy party polls, have now trained their guns on UMNO leaders.

“The old packs of leaders want to be (in) power longer. Scared to face its members. Only empty shouts,” posted former deputy president Dr Syed Husin Syed Ali on Twitter.

De-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim challenged Najib to announce the date of the general election earlier to prove its democratic credentials.

“I challenge Najib to show his democratic credential, and urge the Election Commission (EC) to clean the electoral roll and let the people decide.

"With UMNO’s polls postponed, I believe he will call for an early election,” said Anwar.

Communication director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad meanwhile wasted no time in giving his take on the latest decision by UMNO to postpone party polls.

“UMNO proves their democratic credentials yet again,” twitted Nik Nazmi, who had prior to this locked in a Twitter debate with UMNO youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin, who poured scorn on PKR's low turnout at its polls.

- Harakahdaily