20 May, 2008
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim might manage to fulfill his long-standing wish to occupy the prime minister's seat, as soon as Malaysia Day (September 16). That would herald the first alternation of power in Malaysia's post-independence history.
On Monday, Anwar's estranged former mentor, Mahathir Mohamad, unintentionally helped strengthen his hand by announcing he was quitting the ruling party, the United Malays National Organization, which Mahathir had led for 22 years before his retirement from politics in 2003. Despite his growing unpopularity within the country, Mahathir, at 82, still commands the loyalty of many UMNO members, perhaps as much as half of its ranks, so his decision would likely hasten the decline of the party.
Mahathir's break with UMNO demonstrates his determination to settle scores with his handpicked successor as prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, whom he suspected of leaking a 2001 videotape, known as the Lingam video, to Anwar, for him to pass along for publication last September by Malaysia's top English-language newspaper, the Star. Featuring a conversation between a power broker, V. K. Lingam, and Ahmad Fairuz, then the country's third-ranking judge, who later become chief justice of the country's Supreme Court, boasting how the appointments of top judges were fixed. The videotape triggered an inquiry into corruption charges, which culminated three days ago in a government order to investigate Mahathir, Lingam and Fairuz, as well as two other former chief justices and Malaysian gaming tycoon Vincent Tan.
The Star's online edition said that Mahathir was resigning because of a lack of confidence in the current party leadership. He told an audience of about 1,000 people on Monday, "I will write a letter to UMNO headquarters to inform that I have quit the party." He called for other party members to join him in order to force Abdullah into resigning from his post.
UMNO, composed of an ethnic Malay political elite, has ruled the country in coalition with parties representing Chinese and Indian Malaysians and others uninterruptedly since 1957, when the peninsular portion of the country, known as Malaya, won its independence from Britain. A split in UMNO is sure to prompt more defections to Anwar's opposition party, Pakatan Rakyat. Over the weekend, Anwar reiterated his prediction that he would be poised to form a new government on September 16, the anniversary of the Malaysian Federation's formation--out of the states of Malaya plus Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah--in 1963. "I have enough lawmakers in my hand now to form the new government. I stand by that date," he told reporters.
Pakatan Rakyat is a marriage of convenience, a loose grouping of Anwar's followers with an Islamist party and a dissident ethnic Chinese party. Its rise started with general elections in March, when it won in slightly less than half of the vote, which translated into 82 seats in the 222-member lower house. The UMNO coalition still controls the other 140 seats.
Pakatan Rakyat could obtain a simple majority by winning the defection of 30 members from UMNO, but Anwar said he was aiming for more, in part by offering incentives to politicians from the two resource-rich states on the island of Borneo, Sabah and Sarawak. He is pledging that the states can retain a 20% share of petroleum royalties, up from the current 5%. Sabah and Sarawak represent about a quarter of seats in the national parliament.
Shu-Ching Jean Chen
Forbes.com
More Umno big-wigs to follow Dr MAHIRUDIN ATTAN
20 May, 2008
my paper
MALAYSIAN politics descended into chaos yesterday when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced he was quitting Umno after he had been challenged to a "dare" to do so at a forum.
Immediately after his decision, several party big-wigs said they were following suit. They included Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, the former Menteri Besar of Kedah.
Tun Dr Mahathir's move is worrying for the Umno leadership.
The Barisan Nasional ruling coalition led by the party has 140 of 222 seats in Parliament, with the rest held by the opposition.
With Sabah members of Parliament rumoured to be defecting to the opposition, an exodus of Umno leaders and members in the other states could wreck the BN.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Umno president, said he was shocked by his predecessor's move, but maintained that he would not quit.
Tun Dr Mahathir, 82, dropped his latest bombshell at a forum, "Future of the Malays after the 12th General Election", in Alor Star, Kedah. According to those who were present, the announcement left many in the 1,500-strong audience visibly shaken.
The New Straits Times said his decision to quit was made after a "dare" by a member of the audience.
Before that, Tun Dr Mahathir was goading Umno members to resign as a gesture of protest against Datuk Seri Abdullah.
Those close to Tun Dr Mahathir's camp, however, are saying that their man would not do something "on impulse".
Political analysts say his decision is linked to the order given by the Malaysian cabinet to investigate him on charges of judicial corruption.
Tuesday May 20, 2008
Mahathir’s decision a blessing, says Musa
KUALA LUMPUR: The decision of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to quit Umno is upsetting but it may actually be a blessing in disguise because a "thorn in the flesh" has been removed from the party, said his former deputy Tun Musa Hitam.“The news of Dr Mahathir’s decision is indeed upsetting, especially now when Umno is facing challenging times,” said Musa in a press statement.
“However, Umno members should accept his decision calmly and with an open mind,” Musa added.
He felt that the Umno leadership should instead focus on accepting the fact that the party was no longer as powerful as it used to be. Furthermore, Umno is not as widely accepted, especially by the Malays, as it once was.
The Umno leaders should also accept that the concept of “Mahathirism” is outdated. They instead should return to the concept of “Bersih, cekap, amanah” which was positively received by the nation in the 1980s.
Party members ought to reflect on recent events. Musa felt that Umno has strayed from its purpose and should take this opportunity to return to its roots.
“Umno is a party which is firmly grounded and does not forget to realise its promises to the people,” he said.
Umno veteran and stalwart Tan Sri Aziz Tapa, 85, said that he was shocked at the news and was lost for words.
“How can it be when he (Mahathir) says that he loves Umno? I met him only few days ago in Johor and everything seemed okay. What he is doing is not right,” he said when contacted here yesterday.
Umno supreme council member Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik also could not come to terms with the news.
“It's shocking news to me. If true, then I would say that it is an interesting yet tragic development for the party,” he said yesterday.
However, both men said they were unable to comment much on the matter until a clearer picture emerged.
Tuesday May 20, 2008PAS man lit the ‘resignation’ fuse
ALOR STAR: The man who challenged Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to quit Umno is actually PAS member Ismail Wan Teh.Ismail was wearing a non-governmental organisation’s hat when he asked Dr Mahathir if he would be willing to quit Umno as a sign of protest against Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s leadership.
Ismail, the Kedah Citizens’ Action Group deputy chairman, asked the question based on Dr Mahathir’s call to Umno members to resign en masse as a show of no-confidence in Abdullah.
Ismail asked if Dr Mahathir were willing to quit, as it would have a major impact on Umno.
Dr Mahathir who was probably not aware that Ismail was a PAS member, said it sounded like a challenge.
“I will leave Umno until Abdullah’s leadership is ended,” he said.
Dr Mahathir, who is Umno member number 000 0001, told a press conference later that he would rejoin Umno after Abdullah had stepped down.
Ismail contested and lost the Kota Siputeh state seat in Jerlun in the recent general election.
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