How long can Umno stand playing second fiddle?

KUALA LUMPUR – Umno may have to adopt a more muscular stance in Perikatan Nasional (PN) after giving way to Bersatu, its rival for the Malay vote, for the Sabah chief minister’s post.

Observers believe that the Barisan Nasional lynchpin, which is the country’s largest Malay political outfit, is at a crossroads as it contemplates acting on the demands of disgruntled grassroots members.

“Umno is not used to playing second fiddle, and its members are demanding that the party leadership showcase decisiveness in charting a course for Umno,” Vriens & Partners senior associate Shazwan Mustafa Kamal told The Vibes.

This is because Bersatu, led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, has been perceived as getting the lion’s share of the “war spoils” despite Umno having more seats, he said.

At the federal level, Umno is the largest party among its PN peers with 39 MPs, while in the Sabah assembly, it has 14 reps.

Despite its dominance, Umno has had to concede to the smaller and younger Bersatu when it comes to top government appointments.

For instance, Sabah’s new Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun are both from Bersatu.

Fissures between the two parties became apparent when Masidi had to swap his public works portfolio with Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, Umno’s Kinabatangan MP and Lamag assemblyman, who was initially put in charge of local government and housing.

Some Umno factions believe that conceding posts to a lesser rival may be interpreted as the party giving up its “dignity”, said Pasir Gudang Umno Youth chief Noor Azleen Ambros.

He flagged Muhyiddin’s attitude towards Umno, and said the status quo in PN may not be beneficial to the party.

“Cooperating with and giving support to PN will only further strengthen them in the future. Therefore, I urge the party leadership to act more radically.”

Noor Azleen is not the sole voice in Umno’s political wilderness. Party No. 2 Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has urged president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to draft guidelines and provide a clear direction as to the party’s working relationship with Bersatu.

Zahid is under pressure to act decisively as both parties cater to the same voter base and ideology, making it challenging for the two to coexist in the long term, said Shazwan.

“What we see now is a battle for dominance; either Umno subsumes Bersatu into its fold, or the other way around.

“What Umno members want now are fresh polls and a continuation of an alliance with PAS. Zahid needs to decide whether there is a future within PN, and if not, push for the dissolution of Parliament.”

While there is a need for Umno to make a “firm and bold decision”, it must also be tactful, said Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Awang Pawi.

Despite Muhyiddin leveraging his position to bolster his party at the cost of Umno’s subservience, said the political analyst, the latter could be branded “selfish or unrepentant” if it makes decisions “too rashly”. – The Vibes, October 2, 2020