INTENSE factionalism in Terengganu Umno has resurfaced, this time involving four elected representatives from the party’s Setiu division.
The four assemblymen, two of them state executive councillors, went “AWOL” from the divisional meeting last week “just to show dissatisfaction over several unresolved issues”, an action that had raised the question of disrespect to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who officiated the event.
Their action was frowned upon as being unacceptable. Local party leaders, although surprised by what they described as a “bold act”, shrugged it off as “one of those things” supporters of rival camps would resort to in a game to portray political dominance.
There were expressions of shock and disappointment over their action to stay away from the meeting, which unfortunately was the second time. They had also stayed away from last year’s meeting which was officiated by party vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and from divisional committee meetings.
Many had nodded in agreement when Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, the Umno vice-president entrusted by the party to consolidate the fractious Terengganu Umno — one faction led by former menteri besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, the other by his successor Datuk Ahmad Said — called the action of the four assemblymen disrespectful.
It has jeopardised the party. The image of Terengganu Umno and that of Setiu division had been tarnished.
The least the four — Asha’ari Idris (Langkap) and Khazan Che Mat (Batu Rakit), both state executive councillors and Ramlan Ali (Jabi) and Abd Halim Jusoh (Permaisuri) — could do was to show some respect to Muhyiddin, who is Umno deputy president, by just turning up.
Sending text phone messages to inform Muhyiddin that they would be absent due to their disappointment over many unresolved issues for too long, even if true, would not right a wrong in the eyes of party members and voters.
People in Setiu are now talking about the unbecoming act of their wakil rakyat; even the division chief, Datuk Mohd Jidin, did not expect them to snub the No. 2 Umno man.
But there have been initiatives to call for a special meeting tomorrow to discuss this unfortunate episode; the move is laudable and reflects political maturity of those responsible in trying to do damage control.
The division is likely to record its disappointment over the lawmakers’ absence and a letter of apology to Muhyiddin should follow suit. The Setiu division is expected to categorically emphasise that such attitude was not reflective of the division or its members.
The four assemblymen do not consider their action as being disrespectful; if not they would not have done what they did. One of them said he was merely openly stating his disappointment as no amicable solution was in sight to the many problems in the division, one of the contentious issues being the position of state constituency coordinators being decided by the division chief instead of the assemblymen. This had created intense animosity between supporters of Ahmad and Idris in the division.
Its an open secret that supporters of the two leaders are doing things that are causing further divisions. Since taking over from Idris, Ahmad has been facing countless “attacks” from his detractors especially among fellow assemblymen. This, say political watchers, was why the menteri besar chose to sideline the elected representatives in favour of the divisional warlords when making political appointments; the division leaders are said to be solidly behind Ahmad despite him being demoted from state Umno chief last year to deputy (to Hishammuddin).
Concentrating on his duties as menteri besar has also not been easy for Ahmad; often he has to deal with strong criticism from Umno assemblymen instead of the opposition’s.
Still the Setiu episode is an interesting case study if Umno seriously wants to resolve the many festering issues that have become a liability to Barisan Nasional.
State Umno leaders had admitted that the problem in Setiu is just the tip of the iceberg. Other divisions are facing equally serious problems as supporters of the rival camps continue trading all sorts of accusations. If left unchecked, the malaise could end up favouring Pas in the next general election.
This threat is real; an independent survey conducted last February showed that BN’s popularity in Terengganu stands at 48 per cent.-NST
