KUALA LUMPUR: The return of familiar faces, deemed veterans to some and 'warlords' to others, in the Umno elections has sparked a debate over the direction of the country's oldest political party, especially following its dismal performance in the 15th General Election (GE15) last year.
Some believe that the veterans, including the likes of former deputy defence minister Datuk Seri Johari Baharum, ex-Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, could provide a steadying influence and guidance for Umno as it gears up for the coming state elections.
Their detractors, however, have labelled their return as a possible stumbling block for the party in its bid to restore support, especially from the younger generation.
After announcing her retirement some five years ago, Shahrizat is attempting a political comeback by challenging her successor and incumbent Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad in the March 18 polls.
Johari, who is the former Kubang Pasu member of parliament, is among 95 candidates vying for one of the 25 seats in the Umno Supreme Council. Joining him as a candidate is Khir, who is also bidding for the Sungai Besar division chief post.
Political analyst Mujibu Abdul Muis believed that the overall list of 381 candidates jostling for positions in the Umno supreme council and the party's Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings showed that Umno was still dominated by "old and established" warlords.
The lack of more new faces contesting in the party polls, he said, may strengthen the perception that Umno is stuck in its old ways and remains an unchanged, feudal and conservative party.
"Following the resolution approved during the 2022 Umno General Assembly in January that allowed the party president (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) and his deputy (Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan) to keep their respective posts for another term, this election was supposed to outline a clear direction of Umno's effort to reform and rejuvenate the party.
"The final list of candidates, however, proved otherwise. This has placed the grassroots in a dilemma since they are given limited options at a time when the party needs to recover from its lacklustre performance in GE15 and face the upcoming state elections.
"The return of these old faces is not what Umno needs to send the right signal that the party is moving forward," said Mujibu, who is a fellow at the Institution of Malay Rulers Chair, Universiti Teknologi Mara.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said this development underscored his previous theories about the existence of three factions within the party, despite Zahid's insistence of only "one camp".
"This is what you see from the candidates' lists for the vice-presidential race and supreme council as well as the party wings," he said.
Another political analyst, Dr Ainul Adzellie Hasnul, however, argued that a mix of old and new faces could help Umno produce future leaders.
"There must be a combination of old and new faces in the Umno Supreme Council line-up.
"Senior Umno leaders can help groom new faces to lead the party. Young leaders, on the other hand, will breathe fresh air and new ideas into the party's efforts to restore support from the people," he said.
Ainul, however, stressed that new and young leaders have to make up the bulk of those helming top positions.
He said Umno needed to ensure that the party's aspirations resonated with that of the younger generation as they would represent the majority of voters in the state elections and the next general election, thus determining the party's political survival.
Azmi said the outcome of the Umno polls would determine the perception of voters in the state elections.
"The unity government is closely watching the Umno election.
"Within the unity government, Umno has the best chance of stopping the Perikatan Nasional or Pas from amassing the Malay votes.
"However, this will depend on which group wins the party polls. If the candidates from the neutral group are able to fill up more important posts, then it will give a new lease of life to the party."
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