TH, Felda issues will dent Umno’s credibility but impact will vary, analyst says

 Ilham Centre's Hisommudin Bakar says age will be a factor in how these controversies shape the public's perception of the party.

The controversies surrounding Tabung Haji and Felda will impact those in their 40s more than the younger groups, said Ilham Centre CEO Hisommudin Bakar.

PETALING JAYA:

An analyst believes that the recent declassification of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) report into Tabung Haji (TH) and the alleged irregularities plaguing Felda will dent Umno’s credibility, although the impact will vary across different age groups.

Ilham Centre’s Hisommudin Bakar said those aged 40 and above would readily grasp the issues and their ramifications, which could revive negative perceptions of Umno.

“Those above 40 would have followed the chronology of these cases, while the young have no direct political memory of the controversies,” the think tank’s CEO told FMT.

Hisommudin said unless complex controversies, especially those from the past, are explained to the youth in a simple and coherent manner, along with their relevance to the future, these matters would have little bearing on their political views.

“They (the younger generation) may not outright reject Umno, but these disclosures reinforce the perception that the party remains burdened by its past,” he said.

The RCI report on the pilgrims’ fund, made public in July, concluded that a combination of excessive hibah commitments, questionable accounting practices, weak oversight, ambitious investment strategies and rising subsidy obligations placed significant financial pressure on TH between 2014 and 2020.

Authorities are also looking into alleged irregularities, abuse of power and corruption involving Felda and its subsidiaries.

Hisommudin said the party should not blindly defend its old guard regarding these issues, but use the renewed scrutiny to demand answers instead.

“They should ask not only what happened in the past, but how far Felda and Tabung Haji have recovered under the Madani government,” he said.

“Have governance reforms been implemented? Has their financial position genuinely improved? Are the interests of settlers and depositors now better protected?”

‘Youths want action against individuals’

Fazreen Fauzi, president of student group Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung, said young Malays were less concerned about which party was implicated than whether action was taken against those responsible.

“Youths do not look at the party. If someone has done wrong, they want action to be taken,” Fazreen said.

He said based on what he had observed on social media, the controversies surrounding TH and Felda resonated more strongly with youths whose families had ties to Felda or savings with TH.

He said a failure to act against wrongdoers would breed cynicism among youths towards the government, which they expect to “do its job and run the country well”.

‘Timing could work in Umno’s favour’

Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the timing of these cases could work in Umno’s favour, given its improving ties with PAS and its upcoming general assembly.

Awang Azman said members could ask why these controversies were resurfacing now despite Umno being part of the unity government since 2022.

He also said youths were likely to view the cases as being revisited to pressure Umno rather than a pursuit of accountability, which could end up boosting support for Umno and amplifying calls for Malay-Muslim political unity. - FMT