Defeated Umno will not give up Kelantan

An ex-Umno strategist says Umno's weakness continues to be its internal sabotage and the outstation voters, who have overwhelmingly voted for PAS since 1999.

KOTA BARU: State Umno liaison committee chairman Mustapa Mohamed is a stickler for time and doesn’t entertain mindless conversations.

He is a hands-on leader; punctual, polite and of late outspoken. But all his personal and professional ‘power’ couldn’t deliver Kelantan back to Umno.

He failed miserably for the second time to deliver Kelantan back to Umno.

The 13th general election was Umno’s sixth attempt at wresting Kelantan since PAS took over in 1990.

Kelantan is the only state in the country where an opposition entity has ruled longer than the federal coalition of Barisan Nasional since 1957.

Under Mustapa’s leadership, Umno was cohesive, disciplined and inspired to bring changes to Kelantan. But as the dust settles here, it is as clear as the day that the voters have again rejected Umno and its grandeur promises.

As Mustapa strolled into the state Umno building after chairing a post-mortem meeting on Monday, he looked composed and rested although he had only slept for a few hours.

He had barely survived in his own state seat of Ayer Lanas, scrapping through with a majority of 47 votes. But he did much better in Jeli, where he secured the parliamentary seat with a 5,269 vote majority.

This shows how uncertain the political outlook can be in Kelantan where 923,000 voters were eligible to vote in last Sunday’s election, but only 700,000 odd people did so.

Some 200,000 or so were believed to be outstation voters who had not returned home to vote.

Umno must fulfill promises

Asked if he will continue with his struggle, Mustapa said he left it to the Umno leadership.

He however stressed the need to fulfill promises made by Umno-BN.

As one scans around the room where the top state Umno leaders had gathered to console each other, there was not a single individual who appeared to have the mettle to take over from 63-year-old Mustapa, who is believed to be wanting to ‘retire’ from leading the Kelantan charge.

But many Umno members here are rooting for this ulama’s son from Bachok to stay and continue the fight to wrest Kelantan.

There is simply nobody else in Kelantan to lead, said Ghazali Othman, an Umno member here.

Kelantan Umno’s second echelon will likely comprise Nor Zahidi Omar, the only party leader who retained his seat the fourth term, state Umno secretary Md Alwi Che Ahmad and Annuar Musa, who made a comeback when he won the Ketereh parliamentary seat.

Annuar may be appointed a federal minister owing to his wide experience, having once served as a Youth and Sports Minister.

Others who have emerged are MPs Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub (Machang), Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah) and Abdul Aziz Yusuff who retained his Galas state seat.

While Umno won five parliament and 12 state seats, leaders such as state Umno treasurer Hanafi Mamat, have lost their zeal after losing more than once in their quest to be an elected representative.

However, the struggle goes on for them as they have also sensed that their foe is not exactly in a perfect position to defend itself.

Internal sabotage

PAS’ long serving and iconic leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has retired.

This election may also be the last for technocrats such as economist Dr Awang Adek Hussin, who lost the Bachok parliamentary seat, and Mohd Fatmi Che Salleh, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s political secretary who lost the Kota Baru parliament seat.

The election will likely also see the retirement of Malay Rights Organisation (Perkasa) founder Ibrahim Ali, who was thrashed by Nik Abdul Aziz’s son Nik Abduh in the Pasir Mas parliamentary seat.

Business tycoon Nik Sapeia Nik Yusof, who contested on a PPP ticket may also retire after losing the Guchil seat in a four-cornered fight.

Former Umno strategist Tuan Hashim Tuan Yaakob said Umno’s weakness continues to be its internal sabotage and the outstation voters, who have overwhelmingly voted for PAS since 1999.

The only exception was in 2004 when PAS lost to Umno by only two state seats.

That year, the outstation voters did not return home in droves to vote, Tuan Hashim pointed out.

“If we can resolve the outstation voters phenomenon, Umno is in the drivers’ seat to wrest back the state. Our struggle goes on,” he said.

Kelantan is a unique state. Its slow pace of development has forced a large chunk of its younger generation to seek greener pastures outside of the state.

Their entrepreneurship skills and attitude has seen them succeed in economically vibrant areas such as the Klang Valley where they have also resettled.

Loyal Kelantan voters

But Kelantanese however are mostly a parochial lot.

While they worked outside the state, these citizens prefer to vote in Kelantan.

It is this distinctive group of voters that Umno somehow cannot seem to reach out to despite its countless efforts.

Furthermore, these voters are also well-informed having access to the alternative media via the internet.

Even, veteran politician Ibrahim was taken aback with the determination of the outstation voters to support PAS.

But there is hope on the horizon, says Alwi.

He said the golden era of Nik Abdul Aziz has more or less ended with his decision to retire as Kelantan Mentri Besar. And an administrative vacuum has risen within PAS which Nik Aziz’s successor Ahmad Yakob, will not successfully fill. Ahmad is said to be no clone of the PAS spiritual adviser.

Alwi said unlike before, PAS will now have to handle issues and anxieties of a political party in public and not just as a religious organisation.

And so the Kelantan’s famed ‘wayang kulit’ continues, only this time without Nik Aziz at the state administrative helm.