UMNO- The Day After

Before I comment on the verdict by the disciplinary board on KJ, I shall say a few things on what has happened to Ali Rustam. I was travelling just now and wasn't able to catch up with the latest news. Accordingly I can give no more than a cursory view of the proceedings.

4 years ago, to borrow the expression given by a commentator at my blog, Ali crashed the red lights. But he wasn't caught. Isa Samad, the man who told everyone who got his money but did not vote him, that they shall be held accountable at Padang Mahshar, wasn't that lucky. He was stopped by the traffic policemen in the form of Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen.

Today, Ali Rustam got his comeuppance. The last time he wasn't caught, he grew emboldened. He thinks he can do anything and he is untouchable. He thought he had the Tameng Sari keris with him. Well today, the D Board has caught up with him. The traffic policeman may have aged by 4 years, but is still up and about.

Isa Samad, the man who was severely punished 4 years ago, must be a puzzled man. He went on TV saying that UMNO shouldn't have any more money politics. If he was the only one caught and punished and that he represented the sum total of all corrupt practices and that he has been severed, UMNO should by definition, be pristine. It must be wholesome.

But it is not. If UMNO is not cleansed, it can only mean one thing. UMNO ITSELF should be dismembered. It is the one that is corrupt. It seems I am not the only one coming to this conclusion.

Unbeknownst to me, I am only repeating what Tun Mahathir said this afternoon. "Today the problem with UMNO is that people see it as a corrupt party and it has no credibility and they really look down on UMNO as being irrelevant."

By banning Ali Rustam from contesting, the board clears the way for Muhyidin Yassin and M2Taib. Odds are that, MY will win hands down.

But wait, Tan Sri. If it was true that, DS Najib made appeals to Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen to be restrained on Ali Rustam, that is something you must carefully ponder. You may not have it plain sailing after all. It may not be a walk in the woods for you. Here is my take.

• By telling everyone that Najib needs a strong deputy, you are arrogating upon yourself that quality. You are saying, you are the chosen one for Najib.
  
• Your rivals, both M2 Taib and Ali Rustam the vanquished, will say they are not exactly chopped liver. What is it that you can do, they cannot and wouldn't do? Conferring upon you that attribute may only make that attribute an overrated one. One becomes strong with the office one holds.
  
• Musa Hitam was strong. Anwar Ibrahim was strong. But they didn't last with Tun Mahathir proving that the PM does not need a strong deputy. It is an essential attribute but not determining one.
  
• By saying that Najib needs a strong deputy, you are indirectly suggesting that Najib is a weak leader. The message that goes down the line with UMNO people is, that MY will dominate. That kind of message will not be well received.
  

Unlike KJ who is being made to pay dearly for saying he wants to be PM by 40, Muhyiddin is a real contender for Najib's post. He does not exactly fit well in the mould of Tun Dr Ismail. TDI was a strong deputy in the pattern that Muhyiddin wishes himself to be in. But TDI had the discipline to play a complimentary role to Tun Razak. Muhyiddin on the other hand, is sending mixed signals. All his talks about Najib needing a strong deputy suggest a desire to play a dominant role.

The more essential attribute at this level of the playing field is compatibility. The question people will evaluate is, is Muhyiddin compatible with Najib?

They will evaluate the significance of Najib's attempts to intercede for Ali Rustam. What is the significance of Najib's attempts to intercede on behalf of Ali Rustam? That action, despite appearing desperate, strongly suggests that Ali Rustam is the preferred candidate as Najib's deputy. Najib's willingness to take the risk of appearing bias, would fortify this proposition.

Only the strong will of the self respecting Tunku Ahmad Rithaudeen prevented a reversal of the board's decision.

Ali will not be enamoured with Muhyiddin's patronising request for him to accept the decision of the board with an open heart. Indeed Ali will be crying foul. It will not be unexpected if Ali decides to turn his support for M2 Taib. Right now, Ali has his bazookas aimed at Muhyiddin.