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‘BN’s clear and present danger’

Syed Jaymal Zahiid | May 23, 2012
Free Malaysia Today

Barisan Nasional leaders say they may lose out in the election if internal sabotage is not contained.

KUALA LUMPUR: A divided Barisan Nasional may spell the end of Prime Minister’s Najib Tun Razak reign in Putrajaya.

And this warning to the Barisan Nasional comes from non-other than Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia.

The paper quoting party leaders says sabotage is a very clear and present danger and could lead to the BN losing more seats than in 2008.

At the Umno’s 66th anniversary two weeks ago, Najib put on a brave face and touched on the gathering as a show of support that the party is not divided and that they are ready to face the elections.

Some 60,000 members had congregated at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium here in the gathering which party sources said was meant as a “loyalty test” apart from propping up the party’s machinery and mobilisation strength.

Najib joked that the display of unity gave him enough confidence to hold elections sooner than expected.

Threat real

But Abdul Aziz Rahman, the president of the former BN Lawmakers Council, said the threat of internal sabotages is real and the ruling coalition could see itself battered if the problem is not contained.

“This election is momentous time for BN. If party members are not united then we will see the black episode (of 2008) repeating itself.

“BN’s victory will depend on the unity of all members and component party members,” he was quoted by Utusan Malaysia today.

Internal power tussle was one of the major factors that led to the ruling coalition’s loss of its customary two-thirds Parliamentary majority in the 12th general election. It also lost five states to the opposition.

Then premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s effort to consolidate his position by replacing majority of the candidates with his men, sidelining powerful “warlords” along the way, saw Umno members protesting by voting for the opposition.

Abdul Aziz said BN could see a similar recurrence where candidates left out by Najib may sabotage the ruling coalition’s campaign .

Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had warned yesterday that the prospect of a repeat is there.

BN may not only see a repeat but could also see more states falling into opposition hands, Zahid added. The Defence Minister also did not discount the possibility of losing federal power.

Meanwhile Umno veteran Aziz Shamsuddin told Utusan Malaysia that the party leadership must be quick to act and contain the division.

A repeat of 2008 will see Najib’s future in Umno hanging by a thread, observers predict.

He is now facing stiff opposition to his economic liberalisation plans and political reforms from within his own party.

10 Replies to “‘BN’s clear and present danger’”

  2. UmnoB n Perkosa must b very proud of d outstanding achievements of d Sekinchan man n fellow Malay traders who paid RM5K 4 a lot on d road in front of some1’s house
    Now d Sekinchan man offered 2 luxury cars in a lucky draw – syabas!

  4. //Then premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s effort to consolidate his position by replacing majority of the candidates with his men, sidelining powerful “warlords” along the way,//

    Come to think of it, we used to hear the term “hadhali” everyday during Badawi’s time. Now all we hear is “1this” and “1that”

  6. Ah Moo, please answer all the qustions posed below—

    http://malaysiakini.com/letters/198788

    At Independence we had 1350 Chinese primary schools, more than 800 Tamil primary schools and 78 Chinese secondary schools.

    Today, with our population doubled, there are only 1285 Chinese primary schools, 550 or so Tamil primary schools and 60 MalaysianIndependent Chinese Secondary Schools

  7. Oh come come. Tell me. Tell us whether Jib – yeah the man himself – whether he is a winnable candidate?

    To my mind BN is long gone. That is why I rarely mention BN. For all practical purposes BN now is nothing but umno. The coming GE will put the final seal on this practical reality. That is to say, BN has lost its original significance. BN is no longer a multi-racial political body. Since it is controlled by umno and umno in turn is controlled by those wannabe-bumi mamaks, BN effectively is a mamak (of the wannabe-bumi variety) body. The present umno described by CrazyO’Mamak as “baru” has no link with the past umno and BN.

    So it is right and proper for voters to reject BN and umno. It is perfectly OK for voters to do so in GE13.

    ABU.

  9. BN has long lost confidence in Najib’s leadership. Only UMNO had put faith in him but is now highly conflicted. Mahathir re-active involvement to prop up Najib & UMNO clearly reflect UMNO is close to giving up on him too. They would have if not for the fact, they have no replacement, the alternative even worst..

    The many different parts of UMNO are now taking matters in their own hand clearly in conflict with expensively paid PR campaigns that Najib has put together. Najib has completely lost control over these groups to carve a consistent message – the result being an image and message that confuses even the heartland.

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