Infighting and public interest

Personnel disputes are inevitable for all organisations and the problem is even more serious in political parties because of power and interests. Both the ruling and alternative parties are recently facing infighting problems. I believe that the problems will be solved before the next general election. However, the nature of the problems has reflected their political cultures.

Umno has unfortunately involved in corruption scandals and the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) issue has brought pressure to the party. Therefore, Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, members of the Parliament and grassroots leaders have asked for the resignation of Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. Once she leaves the office or not being fielded in the next general election, the party can then draw a line with the issue.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) passed the NFC case to the police earlier, believing that no corruption was involved. However, the commission has recently announced a special team headed by director of investigations Datuk Mustafa Ali to investigate the allegations. It has also raided the office of the NFC and detained a Datuk when he tried to bribe several commercial crimes investigations department (CCID) officers with about RM1.7mil to avert arrest.

The MACC has taken actions and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that he will respond to the issue when the time comes, showing that it is not something impossible if Shahrizat temporarily leaves the office or takes leave.

At the same time, Former Selangor Mentri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo was found guilty by the High Court of knowingly purchasing two pieces of land and a bungalow at a much lower price than its original value in 2007. It is expected to weaken Khir's influence in Selangor and help in paving the way to regain Selangor in the next general election.

Umno must strengthen its forces and deter other leaders involving in corruption from contesting in the next general election, to avoid becoming an election issue and affecting the odds.

Meanwhile, the infighting of PAS might be settled after party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang met three leaders, following Datuk Dr Hasan Ali's apology.

Hasan Ali initially planned to stage a showdown but when he found that no one was actually supporting him, including former PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, he softened his attitude. Also, party Secretary-General Datuk Mustafa Ali revealed that Hasan had secretly met three people in a hotel, showing signs of having evidence to support his allegations against Hasan. Therefore, the game is ending quickly.

The Majlis Syura Ulama PAS and Dewan Pemuda did not interfere this time, failing the provocation attempt of the Utusan Malaysia. It is mainly because the political culture of PAS has put the party's lofty goals above personal and factional interests. For now, the most important thing is the next general election and winning the central power is essential to achieve its goals of welfare state and hudud law.

Such a value has made party members cast away political frogs and thus, we can seldom see party hoping in the party. After the 2004 general election, the Kelantan state government did not collapse even it won the state with only one majority vote.

As for the DAP, factional problems are serious since they do not have such a deep cognition. After the dispute between party chairman Karpal Singh and deputy secretary-general Dr P. Ramasamy was settled by a mediation, Karpal again lashed out after Ramasamy made "inappropriate remarks" on a newspaper, revealing the great scores between the two.

Meanwhile, Perak DAP deputy chairman M. Kulasegaran urged an explanation from state DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming over the contract of suits. It is another thorny factional problem and the MCA is now waiting for the fight.

Internal frictions are inevitable in all organisations but the reason of fighting is important. Why engage in an infighting since it brings no good to the party?

-Sin Chew Daily