JOHOR POLLS | The events of the ongoing Johor state election are setting the stage for Umno's annual general assembly, which will take place very shortly after the election concludes.
Four days after Johoreans decide on their new state government on March 12, Umno delegates from across the country will convene in Kuala Lumpur for their annual general assembly.
The forthcoming gathering was supposed to be held at the end of last year but was postponed amid the Malacca polls last November and also the Covid-19 pandemic.
The outcome of the Johor polls is expected to dominate the conversation but another topic of interest will likely be Umno's future relationship with PAS.
It was only in 2018, and at the same avenue, that Umno delegates decided to pursue their political marriage with PAS, which was ”solemnised” with the formation of the Muafakat Nasional pact a year later.
But Umno's resurgence and desire to regain dominance has strained its relationship with PAS that continued to deteriorate election after election as Umno sought to keep the lion's share of electoral seats while PAS was outraged at being offered scraps.
Possible divorce
Now, there is talk of bringing the possible divorce from PAS for discussion at the Umno general assembly.
Saarani Mohamad (above), who is an Umno supreme council member by virtue of his position as the Perak menteri besar, said whether the issue will be debated among Umno members depends very much on the party's supreme council.
"Normally, the Umno supreme council determines the motions ahead of time.
"Because the formation of Muafakat Nasional was based on the Umno supreme council's decision and was endorsed by the Umno general assembly, a dissolution of the pact would likewise go through a similar process," Saarani told journalists during an interview in northern Johor.
Perak Umno, under Saarani's leadership, has been tasked to oversee the party's campaign efforts for the state seats of Pagoh and Ledang.
Saarani said there was no need to beat around the bush that Muafakat Nasional is dead.
"The unity was meant for mutual support and strength but if it is about taking another party's seats, then what is this?
"It was the same in the Malacca polls. We offered PAS five winnable seats and with the support of Umno in Malacca, they would be able to win the five as they cannot win on their own.
"But they refused and wanted more than five," he said.
BN, including Umno, won a landslide victory in the Malacca polls, with PAS winning none.
Dislodging Muhyiddin
In a reflection of how far apart Umno and PAS have drifted apart since their "marriage". PAS is contesting in the Johor polls under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner, together with Bersatu and Gerakan, facing off against BN comprising Umno, MCA and MIC.
Saarani said he is confident Umno can dislodge PN chairperson and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin's influence in his traditional foothold of Pagoh.
He said Umno's core voters remained intact and the party would only need to swing a portion of non-Umno voters to secure victory.
"There is no need to keep up with pretences. PN was assigned Pagoh because Muhyiddin was the division leader there when he was in Umno.
"We have surveyed the people of Pagoh without being disrespectful to Muhyiddin and they remain loyal to Umno and BN.
He said Bukit Pasir and Bukit Kepong, both state seats under the Pagoh parliamentary seat, of which Muhyiddin is the MP, as well as the state seat of Gambir which Muhyiddin is the incumbent but is not defending, are key for Umno.
"These three seats are crucial and I have seen a major shift in attitude... the people will give their vote to BN to build a strong and stable government," Saarani said.
Muhyiddin is trying to position PN as a viable replacement for BN and the Johor polls will be a litmus test on his ability to realise that goal.
Asked if, after the Johor polls, Umno will consider triggering more state polls to build its electoral momentum, Saarani assured it won't happen in Perak, stressing that his state has a strong majority.
He said while pundits may speculate state polls in Perak, it was within his authority as the Perak menteri besar to advise the Perak sultan on the dissolution of the state government.
"I as the menteri besar have said no such thing," he said. Saarani added that he wants to focus on his road map for Perak, dubbed as Perak Sejahtera 2030.
Campaigning for the Johor election started last Saturday (Feb 26).
Johoreans will go to the polls on March 12. - Mkini
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