Voting changes put Umno at risk of money politics, says analyst

 

Curbing money politics in a party like Umno depends on the determination and commitment of its members and leaders, says a political analyst.

PETALING JAYA: 

Umno’s proposal to raise the Puteri wing’s age limit to 40 and revert to the delegate voting system reflects a lack of trust in its younger leaders and risks reviving money politics, a political analyst said.

Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia told FMT such a move would be regressive and questionable, and showed the party’s unwillingness to place hope on new and upcoming leaders.

Syaza Shukri.

“It’s about maintaining the places of those within the power structure. There is a lack of trust in the ability of the younger ones to lead the party,” she said.

Syaza’s comments come after Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin recently said the party was considering whether to raise the age limit on Puteri members to 40 from the current 35. Also under consideration were amendments to the party’s election regulations.

Last July, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party was prepared to look into proposals to amend the party’s election regulations, following questions on whether Umno was planning to revert to its previous system where delegates chose the party’s top office bearers.

Lau Zhe Wei.

Lau Zhe Wei of International Islamic University Malaysia said while Umno’s current electoral college system allowed more people to take part in the voting process, it also made it harder for new or less established leaders to rise, as the system favoured those already in power.

“In the first election in 2018 using this system, we saw Khairy Jamaluddin, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah contesting top party leadership posts.

“Zahid’s win was not necessarily due to Khairy’s lack of grassroots support, but because acting presidents and state communications chiefs had significant influence over division leaders, who could in turn put pressure on branch leaders,” he said.

Lau said this was because the electoral college had issues with transparency, as candidates could identify which branches voted for them, leading to direct pressure and manipulation.

However, he said that under the delegate system, candidates only needed to influence a small group of people – just over 2,000 delegates from 191 divisions nationwide.

“It is easier to buy votes even with limited resources,” he said, adding that money politics had contributed to the party’s downfall in the 2018 general election, which led to the loss of public confidence in the party.

Stern measures needed

Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said curbing money politics in a party like Umno was challenging because it depended on the determination and commitment of its members and leaders to genuinely keep the party clean.

Awang Azman Pawi.

“If they are determined to stop money politics, then Umno can be reformed. But if the leaders themselves continue to practice it, the problem will persist,” he told FMT.

“The party must instil strong discipline among its members, enforce stricter regulations, and establish a monitoring committee under the party headquarters.

“Members found guilty of involvement should be immediately suspended to send a clear message to the party members, leaders and the public that the party is serious about fighting money politics.” - FMT