The Malaysian Insiders asked Professor Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, founding director of the Institute of Ethnic Studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia a few questions about Umno and what he thinks is the party’s way forward.
Excerpts:
Q: With all the internal bickering within Umno, what do you think is the way forward for them?
A: First of all, if there isn't any internal bickering, it wouldn't be Umno so your question is already flawed there.
You look back to the party's history. After its founding, Datuk Onn was removed from the party. Whether he was removed or he resigned, it doesn't matter. He was not wanted in the party anymore.
In 1987, there was the split (into Team A & Team B). This reduced Umno into half of what it used to be. Soon after, there was Semangat 46. But after awhile, Semangat 46 pun hilang semangat (lost its will). Then came KeADILan which splintered the party into two again.
So, Umno is built on divisiveness. And what's left of the current Umno is only a quarter of what was originally known as Umno.
What I find interesting, however, is that the Umno elections are very democratic. One reason is because the Elections Commission isn't involved and Umno made sure of that.
Just imagine: there will be 2,000 Umno delegates voting at the end of this year, who will have first say on who the party president will be. But this party president will also be the prime minister and yet, the rest of us will have no say on this matter.
Umno is a party of "contestation". And, Umno is also highly unstable “upstairs”. The top rely on the bottom to maintain stability and the top people know that they need this balance.
Excerpts:
Q: With all the internal bickering within Umno, what do you think is the way forward for them?
A: First of all, if there isn't any internal bickering, it wouldn't be Umno so your question is already flawed there.
You look back to the party's history. After its founding, Datuk Onn was removed from the party. Whether he was removed or he resigned, it doesn't matter. He was not wanted in the party anymore.
In 1987, there was the split (into Team A & Team B). This reduced Umno into half of what it used to be. Soon after, there was Semangat 46. But after awhile, Semangat 46 pun hilang semangat (lost its will). Then came KeADILan which splintered the party into two again.
So, Umno is built on divisiveness. And what's left of the current Umno is only a quarter of what was originally known as Umno.
What I find interesting, however, is that the Umno elections are very democratic. One reason is because the Elections Commission isn't involved and Umno made sure of that.
Just imagine: there will be 2,000 Umno delegates voting at the end of this year, who will have first say on who the party president will be. But this party president will also be the prime minister and yet, the rest of us will have no say on this matter.
Umno is a party of "contestation". And, Umno is also highly unstable “upstairs”. The top rely on the bottom to maintain stability and the top people know that they need this balance.
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