‘I REALLY RESPECT HIM’: EVEN AN UMNO WARLORD AS TERRIBLE AS SYED ALI KNOWS HOW TO SALUTE MAHATHIR, TELLS MALAYSIANS ‘TO BE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS OLD MAN WHO WANTS TO REPAY FOR HIS PAST MISTAKES’

What Umno needs are strong characters in its new leadership lineup for the party to make a comeback, believes Cheras Umno chief Syed Ali Alhabshee.

In an interview with Malaysiakini, Syed Ali said that prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who once led Umno for two decades, was a “good example” of strong character.

Does the party currently has someone like Mahathir in their ranks? “Not that I know of,” he said.

Nevertheless, he insists that Umno does have several standout leaders, like acting president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and supreme council member Johari Abdul Ghani.

Acknowledging that more of such leaders are needed to make the party a viable option at the polls again, he also pointed to Pakatan Harapan’s efforts to groom new leaders.

“There are a lot of them who can speak and debate. On that note I admire them. Why? You give them (new leaders) freedom, you don’t control them, let them speak out.

“Of course they make mistakes, but this is normal, as human beings tend to make mistakes. Give them a chance and let them speak up,” he said.

Party polls looming

Following Umno’s devastating rout at the May 9 polls, and the subsequent resignation of Najib Abdul Razak as president, the party will need to select a new lineup of leaders on June 30 to spearhead its 15th general election charge.

Nomination for the long-delayed party election has been fixed from June 1 to 17.

Thus far, only a handful of figures have announced their intentions to vie for the top posts in the party.

Besides Zahid wanting to make his acting president post permanent, former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan is eyeing the post of deputy.

Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is considering making a bid for the presidency as well.

As for the three slots for vice-president, Khairy has made his intentions to contest known, as have former ministers Mustapa Mohamed, Mahdzir Khalid, Johari Abdul Ghani, and Ismail Sabri Yaakob, former menteri besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin, and former deputy minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

Syed Ali, who is also Federal Territories Umno secretary, said he and his division members will see who else offers themselves up for nomination before deciding on a candidate to back.

He acknowledged that in the past, contenders tended to form groups or factions to lend each other support – but advised that nominees stop the practice, as it is to the detriment of the party.

“We have been doing this for quite some time. Please be on your own and let the members decide,” he said, adding he would advise his division members against voting along factional lines.

Grouping may lead to the split of the party, he cautioned. “When you have grouping, the party will not be strong.”

Out with the old ways

Syed Ali also wants to put a stop to the previous practice of leaving top posts uncontested, believing it to be unhealthy.

He noted that this is among the reasons he has remained Cheras division chief for 20 years.

“Enough is enough. I don’t want to block anymore, last time I followed the trend of ‘no contesting’.

“I am going to offer some guidance to my division members and let them choose the leadership they want,” he said.

Syed Ali himself, who has been in Umno for close to four decades, said he would only defend his division post in the upcoming polls.

He said that prior to May 9, he had initially planned to make way for other leaders to helm the division, citing family and health reasons.

“But, seeing that Umno lost in general election, it’s not fair for me to leave now. If the members still want me, I will carry on.”

Syed Ali believes that Umno is in need of a revamp, particularly in terms of getting rid of the ‘warlord’ culture and its label as a racist party.

He added that it should also be a party that allows its members to criticise the leader.

This process, he predicted, can be carried out over the next two years, leaving time for Umno and its BN allies to recapture Putrajaya by the next polls.

‘Pity the old man’

Getting back to the subject of Mahathir, Syed Ali said he both respected and pitied the prime minister.

“Pity the old man, it is not an easy task. He needs to appoint another 13 to 14 ministers and later deputy ministers, when there is infighting (in Harapan parties) and those lobbying for ministerial posts.

“He is very good for the country. I salute him. Malaysians have to be really grateful of this old man. He wants to repay for his (past) mistakes.

“Even though all sort of allegations were made against him when he was the premier then (1981-2003), but he is one of the characters that I really respect,” he added.

Syed Ali also confirmed that he has stepped down as chairperson of Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (PNS) and executive director of Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan on May 31.

“My term in PNS was supposed to end in 2019, but I just resigned. Why should I stay on? Am I mad or so shameless? Be a gentleman and give way lah,” he said, adding he advised other appointees in PNS to quit as well.

Harapan decided to terminate the contracts of 17,000 political appointees after taking over Putrajaya.

– M’kini