Hmmmm ....

So now how? The anti-corruption drive losing steam soon?

The Straits Times SEPT 25, 2004
Why did Abdullah's men lose?
Shock election results for top party posts could be reaction from members against him and his campaign against money politics

By Reme Ahmad
KUALA LUMPUR - A day after the dramatic turn of events that shocked Umno, its leaders began searching for answers to questions on how candidates regarded widely as the 'Prime Minister's men' came to be defeated.

Party members and analysts are asking whether the results - which saw two unlikely contenders ushered into the important vice-presidential posts - were a setback for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Had he failed to convince the members of the dangers of 'money politics'?

Was the voting trend by the delegates a signal of opposition to him and some of the measures he has been pushing to clean up the system?

Indeed, just how could he fight corruption in the country if his own backyard is seen to be tainted?

A closer look at just who won and lost makes clear the extent of the shock that was delivered on Thursday night.

Agriculture Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the favourite for the post of vice-president and preferred by the Prime Minister himself, was nudged into the last slot.

Kelantan chieftain Mustapa Mohamed, also thought to be favoured by Datuk Seri Abdullah, failed to make the cut.

Another loser was former Selangor Menteri Besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib, who was said to have a more than even chance of winning.

Just as shocking were the results for the 25 seats in the Supreme Council, Umno's powerful decision-making body. A total of 51 candidates contested.

Some leaders won unexpectedly, while six ministers and deputy ministers lost. Half the 20 incumbents who tried to get re-elected were shown the door.

The vice-presidents and Supreme Council chiefs were chosen by 2,520 voting delegates picked from Umno's 190 divisions throughout the country.

Although there was no evidence that funds changed hands in the run-up to the polls, the widespread speculation that money still talks came as a big blow to Datuk Seri Abdullah.

After all, he had cracked down hard on such tactics in the campaigning, hauling up more than a dozen leaders.

And since taking office 11 months ago, he has been trying to rid the country of graft.

A surprise winner was Tan Sri Isa Samad - the Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan for 22 years, and the Federal Territories Minister for the past six months.

On Thursday, the 55-year-old former teacher threw Umno into a tizzy when he was chosen vice-president with the highest number of votes, putting him within striking distance of being deputy prime minister.

His win, along with that of Malacca Chief Minister Ali Rustam, who came in second, caused a mad scramble for answers within the party.

Almost immediately, the two men faced accusations of having bought votes in the seven-way race. Both denied playing dirty.

'I may not be the media's favourite, but I am a favourite among party members,' said Tan Sri Isa, who added that he had found strong support when he was campaigning.

Datuk Seri Ali said he was helped by his wide network in the youth movements. He leads the 4B Youth Movement, the Malaysian Youth Council and the World Youth Assembly, which have hundreds of thousands of members in total.

'Money politics must be rejected 100 per cent,' Datuk Seri Ali said yesterday.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, when asked whether money politics skewed the results, said: 'I do not know, there are rumours...(but) look at it as a mandate from the party.'

Both Tan Sri Isa and Datuk Seri Ali do have their plus points.

'The members want someone who they can approach. Both these two are very approachable,' said Terengganu MP Shabery Ahmad Chik.

But others viewed the results as a setback for Datuk Seri Abdullah and his reform agenda.

Said Mr Lim Guan Eng, secretary-general of opposition Democratic Action Party: 'The election of new leaders at all levels, from the vice-presidents to the Supreme Council members who have not been at the forefront of the fight against money politics and corruption, can be read as a reaction in Umno against the Prime Minister.'