Ezam’s challenging role in Umno

Ezam’s challenging role in Umno

02-06-2008
by Pauline Puah

PETALING JAYA: Former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) strongman Ezam Mohd Nor may find himself in an awkward situation in Umno, the party that he rejoined last week. Having been very critical of Umno and its leaders in the past, Ezam could discover that a lot of Umno leaders find it hard to accept that he is now in the party.

Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, when asked on the movement’s eagerness to accept Ezam, had said: “There is no eagerness on my part. My concern is his contribution to Umno, his sincerity to our cause and the benefit to Umno.”

The former aide to PKR’s de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim not only has to prove that he is not a Trojan horse, but must also convince Umno leaders and members of his sincerity in returning to the party.

“Umno grassroot members are discussing whether he (Ezam) is a pawn in the game played out by some party leaders in their rivalry,” said MyKMU.net editor Abdul Jalil Backer.

Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had called a press conference last Wednesday specifically to announce Ezam’s return to the party. This could be seen as an indication that he wants Ezam to play a meaningful role in the party, which is facing a lot of pressure following Umno and BN’s dismal performance in the March 8 general election.

Ezam himself had said at a press conference the day after he submitted his application form to join Umno that it was Abdullah’s post-election reform agenda that had drawn him back to Umno. Abdullah announced a series of reform programmes, such as promising an independent judiciary and giving more power to the Anti-Corruption Agency, soon after the general election.

PKR strategist Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the premier’s move to rope in Ezam was “smart”.

Abdullah had endured scathing attacks by his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad when Anwar added to this anxiety by declaring that he had the required number of BN MPs to join Pakatan Rakyat to form the next federal government.

Saifuddin noted that Abdullah has used Ezam to counter Anwar’s threat.

“What’s so strange about it? Abdullah is a politician. Whatever weapon he can use to his advantage, he will use it. But whether it will be effective or not will be another thing,” he said.

Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah told The Edge Financial Daily that it was disappointing to hear that Ezam had chosen to join the party that he himself had discredited.

But Ezam is aware of his delicate position in Umno. “In politics, all of us will use people or be used by people, this is politics,” he said at the press conference last Thursday.

Ezam had campaigned for Saifuddin as well as PAS leaders such as Mahfuz Omar and Datuk Husam Musa in the recent general election.

While Saifuddin argued that Ezam’s move would not have a big impact on PKR since the latter had quit the party about two years ago, he could not deny that Ezam is a “real strategist”.

“If I say I am not sad (that Ezam has joined Umno), I would be lying to you,” said Saifuddin.

Whatever motivation Ezam has for wanting to return to Umno, he has yet to prove to many a doubter that the party is his ultimate political home, and that may not be an easy task, given the state of Umno.