Leadership change will not disrupt policies, says Muhyiddin

Bernama

THAILAND, FRI:

Policies and plans that have been drawnup to mitigate the global economic crisis will remain intact despite the leadership change in Malaysia next month, International Trade and IndustryMinister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

“As far as Malaysia is concerned, it is not a change of government but leadership. It is the same party that rules. God willing, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will take over from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"What has been planned to address the crisis will be continued and whatever that needs to be done after that," he told CNBC in a live interview.

Muhyiddin is here for the 14th Asean Summit.
As for leadership changes in other countries in the region, especially in Indonesia, he hoped any leadership change would not affect the priority issues to deal with the crisis.

HISHAMMUDDIN: Leadership transition between PM, DPM should serve as a guide for UMNO members

KUALA LUMPUR, FRI:

The smooth leadership transition between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak should serve as a guide for all Umno members, said Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

He said if Umno members adhered to the same practice in succession planning, it would help further strengthen the party.

“The decision by the Prime Minister to hand over the leadership clearly shows he is not a person intent on holding on to power,” he said in a statement here today.

On Wednesday, Abdullah announced he would not be defending the Umno president post at the party’s polls in March and named Najib as his sucessor.

Hishammuddin also said he held in high esteem the maturity and unwavering support of Najib to Abdullah and placing party interest before self in facing the current political leadership scenario.
“His readiness in respecting the wishes of the grassroots is an important criteria in being the leader of the nation and party,” he said.

According to Hishammuddin, he was confident the Deputy Prime Minister would be able the shoulder the responisbility of leading the nation based on his vast leadership experience at the state, federal and international levels.

“Personally, I will continue to give my full suport to Datuk Seri Abdullah and place full faith in Datuk Seri Najib to plan the best economic, political and social agendas for the country,” he added.

Thorough leadership change awaits for a defensive UMNO

By Ooi Kee Beng

The best form of defence is a good offence. Judging from the bad shape the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) is in despite having had seven months to control the damage done to it and its allies by voters on March 8 this year, perhaps opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been smarter than assumed.

The writer is a Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

His failure to topple the government on 16 September is seen by many as a brash move by an otherwise masterful political strategist. Indeed, his apparent urgency to become prime minister has been criticized by friends and foes alike as being indicative of his major failing – impatience.

Many would have preferred to see him concentrate on consolidating the position of the component parties of his coalition, the Pakatan Rakyat, and of being an effective opposition leader in parliament. Some of his critics have seen his battering of the Abdullah administration over the last few months as a move unbecoming of a man aiming to occupy the country's most powerful office.

But as a PR insider recently mentioned to me, "16 September is not a date, but a concept". To understand this point, in place of "concept", one should perhaps read "strategy".

It is natural to assume that consolidation after a victory requires fortifying boundaries and digging trenches, etc., in order for one to be in a position to beat back any attack from the enemy. However, in certain situations, and especially when the retreating enemy has suffered a particularly bad thrashing, one can actually have one's cake and eat it too.

One can continue harassing the enemy while consolidating one's position. The harassing itself makes the consolidating all the more effective.

Is this what Anwar has been doing?

It certainly looks that way if we consider how badly UMNO and the Barisan Nasional have been in regrouping their troops into a useable formation. The BN has not arrived at any new plan of action to reinvent itself. UMNO failed to get rid of a party leadership that was not only responsible for the coalition's electoral shame, but that has also lost credibility to such an extent that all announcements made by it today are disbelieved, ridiculed, and then ignored.

Abdullah's assurance to Malaysians in the wake of Zaid Ibrahim's resignation as de facto law minister over the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) that he would keep his four-year-old promise to reform the judiciary now rings more hollow than ever.

While its allies look to it for inspiration, UMNO is unsure of its own direction. With party elections now postponed till March next year, three more months is added to the period of uncertainty that has left the BN mired in its own lack of imagination. The BN is restless.

Whatever is happening to UMNO and its allies, it is not rejuvenation. And if it is, it will not have an impact any time soon.

The sniping between the BN and the PR has had certain results that bode well for the country as a whole, though. For example, the administration's ill-advised use of the ISA last month against star blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, opposition politician Teresa Kok and journalist Tan Hoon Cheng has backfired and given enormous impetus to the anti-ISA movement.

Second, Malaysians were treated to an unforgettable confirmation of how rural Malays can indeed vote for a multiracial party, and one led by a man facing a charge of sodomy at that, when Anwar Ibrahim won the Permatang Pauh by-election in August. His victory margin was bigger than anyone had imagined. This bodes ill for UMNO, a party dependent on rural votes.

What is also upsetting the ruling coalition is the fact that the opposition parties seem to be settling in very well in the northern states that they now control. Furthermore, the unholy alliance of the "social-democratic" Democratic Action Party, the Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia and the multiracial Parti KeAdilan Rakyat, has been able to work together even after the elections.

Apart from the smart move by UMNO to try to split the PR by holding talks with PAS on the issue of "protecting Malay interest", no PR split large enough to raise BN spirits has appeared. The recent destruction of an Indian temple in Selangor did prompt an Indian PKR leader to threaten to resign, and a Malay PKR leader did play a major role in the disruption of a lawful conference on Muslim conversions organized by the Malaysian Bar Council; but these have not developed into life-or-death issues for the coalition.

Meanwhile, Anwar got the whole nation fixated on 16 September being D-Day for the government. It is true that he did not topple the government, but he did force UMNO to dislodge Abdullah as prime minister much earlier than it had at first planned.

Now with no two-year transition plan to stabilize it, as had been originally hoped, UMNO must go through a much more thorough change of leadership than it would wish for at this time. The internal skirmishes of the coming elections threaten to scar the party deeply.

Perceived this way, Anwar's "16 September offensive" is not a failure. It has thrown UMNO's ranks into great disarray, and put that stronger party – and not Anwar's own – on the defensive.

- The Malaysian Insider

Thorough leadership change awaits for a defensive UMNO

By Ooi Kee Beng

The best form of defence is a good offence. Judging from the bad shape the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) is in despite having had seven months to control the damage done to it and its allies by voters on March 8 this year, perhaps opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been smarter than assumed.

The writer is a Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

His failure to topple the government on 16 September is seen by many as a brash move by an otherwise masterful political strategist. Indeed, his apparent urgency to become prime minister has been criticized by friends and foes alike as being indicative of his major failing – impatience.

Many would have preferred to see him concentrate on consolidating the position of the component parties of his coalition, the Pakatan Rakyat, and of being an effective opposition leader in parliament. Some of his critics have seen his battering of the Abdullah administration over the last few months as a move unbecoming of a man aiming to occupy the country's most powerful office.

But as a PR insider recently mentioned to me, "16 September is not a date, but a concept". To understand this point, in place of "concept", one should perhaps read "strategy".

It is natural to assume that consolidation after a victory requires fortifying boundaries and digging trenches, etc., in order for one to be in a position to beat back any attack from the enemy. However, in certain situations, and especially when the retreating enemy has suffered a particularly bad thrashing, one can actually have one's cake and eat it too.

One can continue harassing the enemy while consolidating one's position. The harassing itself makes the consolidating all the more effective.

Is this what Anwar has been doing?

It certainly looks that way if we consider how badly UMNO and the Barisan Nasional have been in regrouping their troops into a useable formation. The BN has not arrived at any new plan of action to reinvent itself. UMNO failed to get rid of a party leadership that was not only responsible for the coalition's electoral shame, but that has also lost credibility to such an extent that all announcements made by it today are disbelieved, ridiculed, and then ignored.

Abdullah's assurance to Malaysians in the wake of Zaid Ibrahim's resignation as de facto law minister over the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) that he would keep his four-year-old promise to reform the judiciary now rings more hollow than ever.

While its allies look to it for inspiration, UMNO is unsure of its own direction. With party elections now postponed till March next year, three more months is added to the period of uncertainty that has left the BN mired in its own lack of imagination. The BN is restless.

Whatever is happening to UMNO and its allies, it is not rejuvenation. And if it is, it will not have an impact any time soon.

The sniping between the BN and the PR has had certain results that bode well for the country as a whole, though. For example, the administration's ill-advised use of the ISA last month against star blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, opposition politician Teresa Kok and journalist Tan Hoon Cheng has backfired and given enormous impetus to the anti-ISA movement.

Second, Malaysians were treated to an unforgettable confirmation of how rural Malays can indeed vote for a multiracial party, and one led by a man facing a charge of sodomy at that, when Anwar Ibrahim won the Permatang Pauh by-election in August. His victory margin was bigger than anyone had imagined. This bodes ill for UMNO, a party dependent on rural votes.

What is also upsetting the ruling coalition is the fact that the opposition parties seem to be settling in very well in the northern states that they now control. Furthermore, the unholy alliance of the "social-democratic" Democratic Action Party, the Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia and the multiracial Parti KeAdilan Rakyat, has been able to work together even after the elections.

Apart from the smart move by UMNO to try to split the PR by holding talks with PAS on the issue of "protecting Malay interest", no PR split large enough to raise BN spirits has appeared. The recent destruction of an Indian temple in Selangor did prompt an Indian PKR leader to threaten to resign, and a Malay PKR leader did play a major role in the disruption of a lawful conference on Muslim conversions organized by the Malaysian Bar Council; but these have not developed into life-or-death issues for the coalition.

Meanwhile, Anwar got the whole nation fixated on 16 September being D-Day for the government. It is true that he did not topple the government, but he did force UMNO to dislodge Abdullah as prime minister much earlier than it had at first planned.

Now with no two-year transition plan to stabilize it, as had been originally hoped, UMNO must go through a much more thorough change of leadership than it would wish for at this time. The internal skirmishes of the coming elections threaten to scar the party deeply.

Perceived this way, Anwar's "16 September offensive" is not a failure. It has thrown UMNO's ranks into great disarray, and put that stronger party – and not Anwar's own – on the defensive.

- The Malaysian Insider

MCA leadership race begins

KUALA LUMPUR, Sun: MCA leaders look all set to make their respective bids for party national positions, kicking-off their campaign rounds and criss-crossing the nation to garner votes for the election slated for Oct 18.

And like the US presidential race, which had now reached a feverish pitch after both democracts and republicians picked their respective candidates, aspirants of the second largest Barisan Nasional component party are expected to follow a similar path, announcing the posts they would like to contest.

To date, only three candidates — MCA vice-president and Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat, MCA Youth secretary-general Wee Ka Siong and Deputy Wanita chief Datuk Paduka Chew Mei Fun have announced their bid.

The others have decided to play the waiting game.

For the time being, Ong seems to be the lone candidate for the presidency of the party which consists of some one million members. Wee wants to be Youth chief and Chew intends to go for the Wanita head post.
The position of Youth chief fell vacant, following a decision by Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, who is also health minister, to go for the parent body position.

The Wanita chief post has also seen a vacancy with incumbent and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen wanting to have a shot at one of MCA’s top three posts.

However, this calm setting is about to change in days to come, as indications are that after testing the ground, other leaders are expected to announce their intention on the positions they would like to contests at the MCA polls.

Wanting maximum media coverage, leaders like Home Affairs Deputy Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung and Federal Territory MCA chief Datuk Tan Chai Ho are expected to announce their candidancy for the MCA vice presidency on Monday, knowing very well that newspapers would be hunting for stories to fill their pages during the three-day Merdeka holidays.

“I will announce my decision on Monday (Sept 1) in Alor Setar after the state liaison committee meeting,” Chor told Bernama when asked if he would go for the vice presidency.

Other MCA leaders like secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan and vice-president Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai, who are likely to square-off for the MCA deputy presidency are expected to follow suit in the “very near future.” Ong, the younger brother of outgoing president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, had indirectly hinted that he would go for the party’s second post, after three MCA divisions in Perak announced that they supported him for the number two post two days ago.

While Lim has not made any comments on the post he wants to contest, ardent supporters of the former deputy tourism minister reveal that the “boss” would also go for the deputy presidency.

“I will announce my decision after the state MCA Youth and Wanita elections,” he said. The state MCA Youth and Wanita polls will be held simultaneously nationwide on Sept 6.

Another heavyweight, Dr Ng, is also expected to announce her bid in the next few days, possibly Monday, and talk is that the Iron Lady of MCA will fight for one of the four vice-president posts in the MCA. Sources also reveal that the outspoken Wanita leader will join the crowded veep race.

Liow, who is not defending his MCA Youth chief post, is expected to make his announcement on Wednesday. He is likely to be another vice-president candidate.

Other leaders likely to join in the fray are Higher Education Deputy Minister Dr Hou Kok Chung; former Penang exco Datuk Koay Kar Huah; former Perlis exco Loh Yoon Foo; former Negeri Sembilan exco Datuk Yeow Chai Tiam; and former Sabah MCA chief Datuk Chau Tet Onn.

However, the bulk of party leaders are expected to fight for the 25 MCA Central Committee (CC) positions, which would be up for grabs.

Several Chinese-based newspapers have put the CC aspirants to as high as 126, with some divisions having up to three members wanting to go for the CC post.

“These people have expressed their intentions, but this does not neccessarily mean that they will file their nomination papers. As in the past, at least half will pull out,” said a party insider.

This time around, the party polls will see several “big” names missing such as OngKa Ting, deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, treasurer-general Tan Sri Lau Yin Pin and organising secretary and former deputy education minister Datuk Hon Choon Kim.

Others who will not be contesting are MCA publicity chief Datuk Fu Ah Kiow and former culture, arts and heritage deputy minister Datuk Wong Kam Hoong.

These leaders have either decided not to seek re-election or will retire from active politics.

However, the question frequently asked about this MCA polls remains unanswered. Who will take on Ong Tee Keat for the party’s number one post?

Party insiders reveal that the contender could be either MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn or former MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. But these two leaders could form a pact and battle it out on who should go for the top post.

“However, until now, we are still in the dark. Dr Chua wants the top post,” a party insider close to the two leaders told Bernama.

Dr Chua seems to be a clear candidate, trading barbs with Ong Tee Keat in cybespace via blogs and this is viewed by many educated MCA delegates as a good avenue to get to know the two leaders.

“It is as good as their manifesto. For Dr Chua, it shows that he is preparing to contest,” an aide to a MCA minister said.

In his blog, Dr Chua projects himself as choice to revive the MCA which received a massive blow at the March 8 general election, while Ong portrays himself as a consistent leader “without any moral issue.” However, should Dr Chua, the former health minister, opt to go for the party’s top post, the issue of morality due to his previous sex scandal will definitely haunt him during the campaign.

While these two leaders seem to be locked in battle, former health minister and veteran MCA leader Datuk Chua Jui Meng is the dark horse as he too, is said to be “eyeing” the MCA top post.

The path is clear for Chua after he retained the Bakri (Johor) MCA division head post and “he is likely to announce his decision next week,” an aide to Chua told Bernama when asked to comment.

The next few weeks seem to be exciting times for the MCA.

Besides winning positions, party leaders know that a bigger battle awaits them. And that is to the hearts and minds of the Malaysian Chinese who deserted the party at the recent general election. — BERNAMA