If Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak wishes to hold a general election in the near future, he must first solve the BN’s internal problems, including candidate selection controversy, factional struggles and conflict of interests.
Najib has recently warned the BN component parties to stop infighting. The Prime Minister has spent much time in gaining voters’ support and it is now the time to focus on internal unity or all efforts might be in vain. Losing Kedah in the 2008 general election is indeed the best lesson.
Umno has mixed politics with interests while the central committee can do nothing to local leaders who defy orders, resulting in serious factional problems. Najib might curb money politics after reforming the party’s election system but it cannot completely eliminate factional politics.
Therefore, if Najib wants to implement the strategy of fielding candidates with the highest chances of winning, party leaders must first communicate with local leaders because some candidates with the highest chances of winning might not be the preferred candidates of district leaders.
It would be a peak period of trading behind the scene every time when the election approaches. District leaders might support the candidates preferred by the central committee but there might be conditions, including retaining the senator post or other benefits.
Umno is facing a serious factional struggle in many states. During the party election in March 2009, four Menteri Besar, namely Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu and Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, were defeated in the contest of the 25-seat Umno Supreme Council, and the results have planted the seed of internal instability.
Terengganu Umno faced an outbreak of factional struggle more than two years ago while Selangor Umno has been in a dilemma since former state chairman’s defeat in the contest of the Deputy President post. Umno have to beware of the possible betrayal from former Selangor Mentri Besar DatukmSeri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, who was accused of corruption.
As former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said, holding the election before solving Umno’s internal problems might bring a result even worse than the last election’s.
If Umno wishes to replace some Menteri Besar, it also requires a comprehensive planning or there might be confrontations among the supporters of incumbent Menteri Besar and the preferred candidates. In that case, it might benefit the Pakatan Rakyat.
In addition, the issue of cooperation among BN component parties must also be resolved. Even though a particular component party is holding the right to field candidates, it must first reach an agreement with Umno leaders, according to the tradition.
After gaining victory in the past few by-elections, the BN has eliminated the sense of crisis of local leaders and thus, there would still be a phenomenon of which canvass activities could only been seen only if lots of money is spent.
The most thorny problem is not the exchange of constituencies among BN component parties, but the dispute over the right to contest, such as after the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) officially withdrew from the BN, who should contest in its two parliamentary and four state seats?
Would there be changes after Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Peter Pang En Yin and Tanah Rata assemblyman Ho Yip Kap joined the Gerakan?
Would the five independent members of parliament and two Perak state assembly members quitted the PKR and DAP contest under the banner of the BN?
It is always easier to be said that done, including the deployment of election.
