A possible new UMNO tag team of Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Khairy Jamaluddin is in the making, according to veteran journalist Datuk A. Kadir Jasin.
The convincing wins by both leaders places them as leaders next in line after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, especially for Zahid, said the former group editor-in-chief of New Straits Times in his blog The Scribe today.
Zahid is currently Home Minister while Khairy is the Youth and Sports Minister. Both won the party vice-president and the UMNO youth chief respectively with the most votes.
Kadir said Ahmad Zahid, who may get more votes from the Youth block if he works with Khairy, needs to look past Shafie and Hishammuddin to move forward and tackle future challenges.
“The combination of Ahmad Zahid-Khairy is needed and relevant looking at their respective background, education, exposure and approach that are different,” said Kadir.
Kadir said that Ahmad Zahid can act as the Malay champion within the country, while Khairy can be the spokesperson outside of Malaysia.
“As a global country, Malaysia needs leaders who has a global personality. Being just a jaguh kampong (village champion) is not enough,” he added.
Kadir said that both leaders should also rope in the Puteri movement into the mainstream politics and administration of the country, expressing confidence in the new Puteri chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.
Kadir said that with the votes from the UMNO delegates, Zahid’s position now was very firm given that he received the most votes, followed by Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
“It is not impossible that he would transform himself from a loyal supporter to become a challenger for the top positions in the future,” he said.
In his opinion piece, Kadir wrote that Ahmad Zahid evokes a stern personality compared to Hishammuddin, the previous Home Minister.
"His firm stance on crime and national security differentiates him from the liberalism of Najib,” he said.
Kadir said that Najib’s rushed abolishment of the Internal Security Act(ISA) and Emergency Ordinance, which resulted in a spike in crime.
“Zahid’s stance and approach since becoming minister clearly differentiates himself from the liberalism and openness of Najib, which is unpopular among the Malays, especially Umno members, "added Kadir.
However, Kadir also expressed that the new voting power giving to UMNO members at the grassroots after the 2009 Constitutional amendment, did not bring about any big change or shift or a set of convincing new leaders.
"There is no firm indication that UMNO is younger, fresher and is lined up with a new generation except for a few who won normal seats in the supreme council,” he said.
He said that it was unhealthy to vote in so many ministers and deputy ministers as that would weaken the council’s voice to speak up for the Malays.
“There are only a handful who do not hold positions in the supreme council who can be the voice of the Malays and bumiputera if they wish so and are bold enough,” he said.
Kadir warned that there will now be only those who act as "yes men and women" to the party president.
This, he wrote, clearly distinguished UMNO from PKR, PAS and DAP which have many young leaders as well as a second echelon who are well-grounded in research and debate.
Kadir expressed concern that such a situation would bring UMNO to its doom, likening it to a dodo bird which will soon go extinct.
Astro Awani
Sun Oct 20 2013
Bintang TikTok Iraq, Umm Fahad ditembak mati di luar rumah
Pihak berkuasa Iraq umum penubuhan "jawatankuasa siasatan khas- untuk menjejaki pembunuh yang tidak dikenali itu.
PM Anwar tiba di Riyadh untuk hadiri Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Sedunia
Perdana Menteri Anwar tiba di Riyadh dalam rangka lawatan tiga hari bagi menghadiri Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Sedunia (WEF).
Jemputan peribadi ke Mesyuarat Khas WEF bukti keakraban Putera Mahkota Mohammed, PM
Ini merupakan lawatan keempat Anwar ke Arab Saudi sejak dilantik sebagai Perdana Menteri.
Kerajaan Pusat peruntuk RM1.59 bilion untuk pembangunan fizikal di Terengganu
Peruntukan tersebut melibatkan 99 projek baharu dan 296 projek sambungan di bawah Rolling Plan 4 (RP4) Rancangan Malaysia ke-12 (RMK12).
Pahang rancang wujudkan zon perindustrian di setiap daerah
Kerajaan Pahang rancang wujudkan zon perindustrian di kesemua 11 daerah di negeri ini bagi menggalakkan kemasukan lebih banyak pelaburan asing khususnya dari China.
Kertas kabinet wujud sektor sukan dibentang dalam tempoh sebulan - Hannah
Hannah berkata dengan data yang lebih menyeluruh melibatkan sektor industri sukan nanti, pihaknya akan mampu merangsang pertumbuhan sukan di negara ini dengan lebih baik.
Tiga Syarikat Semikonduktor umum melabur di Pulau Pinang - Kon Yeow
Tiga syarikat semikonduktor dari China menyatakan komitmen untuk membuat pelaburan baharu di Pulau Pinang.
Pindaan garis panduan lawatan: Sekolah diharap susun semula program - Fadhlina
Semua sekolah diharap dapat menyusun semula program lawatan masing-masing berikutan pindaan Garis Panduan Lawatan Murid Sekolah pada tahun lepas bagi mengukuhkan pembelajaran di luar kelas, kata Menteri Pendidikan, Fadhlina Sidek.
Kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak dijaga sehingga tamat sekolah - KPM
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia akan memastikan kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak 10 pegawai dan anggota Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia yang terkorban dalam nahas helikopter di Lumut, Perak, terus dijaga sehingga mereka tamat persekolahan.
Chegubard ditahan polis berkaitan hantaran mengenai kasino di Forest City
Chegubard ditahan di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Dang Wangi di sini berkaitan hantaran mengenai pengoperasian kasino di Forest City pada Sabtu.
Kes saman Ahmad Zahid terhadap Muhyiddin selesai secara baik
Kes saman yang difailkan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi terhadap bekas Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, selesai secara baik di Mahkamah Tinggi hari ini.
GiatMARA Bagan Datuk dinaik taraf sebagai Malaysia-China Institute
Pada peringkat awal, pusat itu akan melatih 2,000 tenaga TVET yang mendapat tajaan latihan ke negara berkenaan.
Tahun Baharu Tamil, Hari Vishu diharap bawa permulaan hidup harmoni - Ahmad Zahid
Ahmad Zahid berkata kedua-dua sambutan itu mempunyai keunikan budaya dan sejarahnya yang tersendiri.
RM57.15 juta untuk tingkat pengeluaran getah asli negara melalui Petara - Zahid
KKDW melalui RISDA memperuntukkan RM57.15 juta sebagai permulaan usaha meningkatkan pengeluaran hasil getah asli negara, melalui program Petara.
TPM, Jemaah Menteri ucap selamat menyambut Nuzul al-Quran
Ahmad Zahid berkata, al-Quran adalah petunjuk dan membimbing manusia ke arah kebaikan dan kebenaran serta meningkatkan keimanan.
KEDA perlu utamakan keberkesanan projek dilaksanakan - Ahmad Zahid
Peruntukan besar yang disalurkan kerajaan Persekutuan kepada Lembaga Kemajuan Wilayah Kedah (KEDA) harus disusuli dengan keberhasilan dan keberkesanan projek yang dilaksanakan.
Stoking tertera kalimah Allah: Ahmad Zahid minta semua pihak patuhi titah Agong
Ahmad Zahid menegaskan isu tersebut harus diselesaikan dengan sebaiknya supaya tidak timbul sebarang permasalahan, apatah lagi dikaitkan dengan sentimen 3R.
Bukan UMNO runtuhkan Muafakat Nasional - Ahmad Zahid
Presiden UMNO Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hari ini menegaskan bahawa bukan parti itu yang meruntuhkan Muafakat Nasional (MN).
22 juta umat Islam belanja RM5.4 bilion di bazar Ramadan - Ahmad Zahid
Justeru, Ahmad Zahid mengingatkan kepada umat Islam agar bersederhana ketika berbelanja pada bulan puasa dan mengelak pembaziran.
Presiden UMNO adakan pertemuan tertutup bersama 14 ketua bahagian di Kelantan
Presiden UMNO Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hari ini mengadakan perjumpaan tertutup bersama 14 Ketua UMNO Bahagian Negeri Kelantan.