How Umno’s gravy train hindered reforms

Future leaders must change this unspoken tradition of personal interests in order to reform the party, says political analyst.

Umno holds party elections this month, but an analyst says ‘personal interest’ caused the rot. (AFP pic)

PETALING JAYA: One reason for Umno’s downfall was that many people had taken advantage of the party as a ‘profit making’ platform, according to a political analyst.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya said future party leaders must change this mindset which had contributed to the deterioration of the party.

“You may wonder why not many people have the will to reform the party. This is because there is an unspoken tradition inherited within the party, where people join the party to fulfil ‘personal interests’.

“This element is stronger than members who actually believe that the party exists to champion people’s needs. They need to get rid of such mindsets,” he said.

Based on observations, Awang Azman said that members viewed Umno’s defeat in the general election as a loss of a source of ‘income’ as well. “So they don’t see a need to fight for the party any more. For many, Umno has become a party that existed to channel ‘business dealings’,” he said.

When asked why not many had come forward to challenge for the party’s top posts, Awang Azman said current party leaders were seen to be linked with the problems that caused the party’s downfall, and also linked to corruption problems in the country.

“The only ones brave enough to come forward now are those not linked with this ‘baggage’. Umno cannot afford to be led by these leaders any more if they want a full reform of the party.

“They need more people like former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Mohamad Hasan to lead the change. He does not carry any baggage,” said Awang Azman.

Mohamad Hasan who is Negeri Sembilan Umno chairman will contest for the Umno deputy president’s post.

Awang Azman said members like Sungai Besar Umno division leader Jamal Yunos should not be given a chance to contest.

“Don’t you think it’s funny that a person who is already in exile, he still comes forward to say he wants to contest in the coming polls.

“And in Perlis, where until now they are unable to solve state matters, yet Shahidan Kassim (state Umno leader) is talking about Umno reforms to begin from Perlis,” he said.

It was people like Shahidan, deemed by some to be ‘opportunists’, that the public was rejecting Umno.

“When several Umno seats fell in the northern region, they tried to join PPBM, but PPBM chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad put a stop to it. These are opportunists only interested to protect their ‘jobs’ rather than pledge loyalty to the party,” he said.

Umno holds elections to the party’s Supreme Council on June 30. -FMT