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DATUK Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi must be in a difficult position now.
There are growing calls for the former deputy prime minister to vacate temporarily the Umno presidency, which he won in June, until the court decides on the 45 charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power involving more than RM114 million, slapped on him on Oct 19.
Umno leaders and political observers say it will be in the best interest of the party.
They voiced their concerns that if the current leadership did not make any changes, the trouble-ridden party would be unlikely to recover post-2019.
He was called in by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission several times for questioning before he was charged.
It is indeed earth-shattering in the history of Umno as it is the first time a president was arrested and charged.
This has put party members in a fix: should they rally behind their president or take the high road and distance themselves from him?
Umno Veterans Club secretary-general Datuk Mustapha Yaakub says the current happenings are causing confidence issues among members.
“Too many leaders are in the spotlight for corruption, criminal breach of trust and abuse of power. This has become a crisis and they have dragged the party’s name down with them.
He urges Umno members to refer to Article 9.12 of the party’s constitution in their bid to revive the party.
Article 9.12 states that any Supreme Council members, including the president and deputy president, can be dismissed or the Supreme Council dissolved by a special general assembly with votes of no less than two-thirds of the total number of members entitled to attend.
He says the party needs to get a new set of leaders as soon as possible despite its recent election. Those charged could return to the party if they are proven innocent.
Johor Baru Umno division chief Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad says the party is facing a problem of “willingness to be led”.
He says there is a divide in the party, and if it is not addressed soon, will lead to dire consequences.
“At the recent polls, none of the candidates (for president) obtained an absolute majority. So members are divided as to who they believe should be the president. This had led to a loyalty issue and leadership crisis.”
He describes the central leadership as “in disarray” and says the situation is tense following several incidents within the party.
“The leadership needs to realise this. (Currently), no one is taking the bull by the horns. There needs to be more devolution and decentralisation of power.
“The party needs to know how to accommodate itself to the current political scenario,” he says, claiming that the Pakatan Harapan government is “hostile and bent on destroying Umno with justification”.
Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia says Umno’s survival will be determined by its leaders’ capability to surmount the obstacles it is facing.
“With the current political scenario, the masses want to look at the moral legitimacy of the leaders. It has become the benchmark.
“If the party can show and convince members and people that they are willing to overhaul the party, then there is some room for Umno to survive. But if Umno is continuously attacked with issues that could damage its credibility and reputation, naturally, it will become irrelevant.”
He says the Supreme Council should hold an emergency meeting to get a consensus on Zahid’s status as president and that deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan, whether he likes it or not, needs to be ready to take over.
Basing his observation on a recent statement by the Youth wing on Zahid, he says Umno needs to make sure that the party’s revival starts from the leadership.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki had called for Zahid to go on leave until his court case is settled.
Sivamurugan says by doing so, it would allow the party to reform. “The party is more important than personality.”
Umno Youth deputy chief Shahril Hamdan agrees with Sivamurugan, saying that the ideal stance is to put the country and party first, not the interests of any individual.
“Members need to ask themselves two questions in a bid to reflect and reposition themselves in the eyes of the public.
“First, what is the moral and right thing to do? Secondly, what is the public’s perception? What course of action would best help claw back some trust among the electorate?
“For far too long, Umno has operated as if what Umno thinks matters more than what the public thinks. Those days are over.”
He is apologetic for being an idealist, but says “the answer lies in the plainest of considerations”.
Political commentator Professor Dr Mohd Aizuddin Mohd Sani is of the opinion that the longer Zahid stays on and the longer his case prolongs, Umno will continue to suffer as it will be associated with the party president and the criminal charges against him.
“Zahid has to choose, either to stay on, step down or take leave. If he stays on, it will affect the party, makes it difficult for Umno to move on. If he takes leave and wins in court, he can come back as president.”
Party insiders, however, say the Bagan Datuk member of parliament will not step down or take leave until his court case was over. They describe Zahid as “stubborn” and that he is determined to hold on to power for as long as he can.
“Why should Zahid succumb to these calls as he had worked so hard to be where he is now and that all the charges against him are politically motivated,” one Zahid loyalist says.
However, sources tell the NST that there are efforts in the party to topple him. Division chiefs and Wanita leaders are being rallied to speak out against Zahid.
“Do not underestimate the Wanita wing under Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad. Also, we have yet to see aggressive tactics from the Puteri wing but it may follow where the wind blows,” a party insider said.
Umno Youth has shown the path to take for the survival of Umno.
Indeed, the party’s days of blind loyalty are numbered as a slow-but-moving revolution is taking place. © New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
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