Smarter voters, factionalism hobbling Umno’s push for Selangor, say analysts. BY EILEEN NG 3 November 2014 Factionalism in Selangor Umno, weak Barisan Nasional (BN) allies and urbanised voters loyal to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) are among the reasons crippling Datuk Seri Najib Razaks coalition pacts aim to win back Selangor at the next elections, say analysts and politicians. Despite the prime ministers tough talk to his Umno party to galvanise its plans to recapture the state, observers believe Malaysias wealthiest state will still be with PR at the next general election, which must be called by 2018. Selangor Umno is filled with warlords who cannot see eye-to-eye and this has severely weakened the Malay party in what was once its fortress, Professor James Chin of Monash University Malaysia said. At the same time, voters are not gravitating towards Umno’s allies in BN, MCA and Gerakan. He also said that unlike other states, Selangor is highly urbanised and voters are still firmly behind the PR parties, especially DAP. PR currently holds 44 seats in the 56-seat assembly, while BN, through its lynchpin, Umno, has 12. PAS and DAP each have 15 seats, while PKR has 13, after former MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim become an Independent representative following his sacking from the multi-racial party. It is not possible for Umno or BN to win Selangor at the next general election because the urbanites are firmly behind PR parties like DAP and PKR. They might stand a chance only if their partners, MCA and Gerakan, can regain some seats, said the political analyst. Embarrassed that BN is the opposition in Selangor, Najib on Saturday directed Selangor Umno to ramp up its effort to recapture the state from PR. The Umno president said now was a good time for Selangor Umno and BN to capitalise on PRs recent problems, which revealed its weaknesses. I feel so tired. It is such a big embarrassment when BN is mentioned as the opposition,” he said at the Selangor Umno convention over the weekend. Independent analyst Khoo Kay Peng said Najib has to look beyond Umno and address the concerns of the urban lower and middle classes if he had any hopes of his coalition regaining a foothold in the state. These include rising cost of living, reduced fuel subsidies, corruption and the contentious Goods and Services Tax (GST) which Putrajaya will roll out next April. Urbanites are affected by the decisions made by the government so he should look into governance. He has to do more than make such speeches, said Khoo. Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua said Umno has a next-to-nothing chance of getting back Selangor since it refused to recognise that the state’s residents wanted and believed in good governance, democracy and progressive ideals. The people of Selangor understand and believe that their interests are best served when the government is not corrupt and does not abuse race and religion to mask their abuse of power and protect their own narrow political interest, he said. He said to recover from their current weak state, the state Umno must drop their single-minded philosophy of ketuanan Melayu or Malay supremacy. The people are able to see through Umno’s race rhetoric, which doesnt serve the interest of any race but their own leaders and cronies. In short, the rakyat does not want to see another Khir Toyo, he said in reference to former MB, Umnos Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo who was found guilty of corruption. Selangor PKR deputy chairperson Zuraida Kamaruddin said Najib was barking up the wrong tree if he thought he could recapture Selangor. She said the new Menteri Besar, Mohamed Azmin Ali, was making a good impression on the people and addressing their grouses. He is making a good impression and I believe Selangor under Pakatan can be stronger. There is no way Umno can recapture the state, she said.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 01:46:42 +0000
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