The New Straits Times Online......

Friday, January 09, 2009, 01.07 AM

ROSLI ZAKARIA/Run-Up to Umno General Assembly: Rift puts party's fate on the line

Leaders are worried that the state Umno remains divided over the appointment of Kijal state assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Said as menteri besar following the general election.

They hope that the divisional elections will put an end to the months of politicking, much to the glee of their real political enemies -- Pas and, to a lesser extent, Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

"For the past nine months, the political play among Umno members was more intense than efforts to ward off the threat from the opposition. This was reflected in the contest for the top post in five of the eight divisions.

"The people are watching because they gave their mandate to a party which they hoped would look after the interest of the masses and not of their (Umno) members.

"Since the last general election, they have seen little proof that their welfare is being looked into," said a political observer.

Preoccupation with Umno politics has left Ahmad with too little time to carry out social and economic programmes for the people.

"It is frustrating and annoying. We know the Malays as a people who respect leaders and support fair administration. This is not the case any more as we have become a people who blatantly ignore the sanctity of unity and harmony," said Ahmad.

"The political circumstances have made my job a lot harder. I have to put the house in order, politically and administratively."

Ahmad warned that if the bickering continued, the people would suffer and Umno would feel the effects when the 13th general election came round.

"This is my biggest concern now. If all Umno members are aware of this threat, we will not squabble for positions but, instead, work to find the right combination to tackle the problems that will also affect their future if BN loses in the next general election.

"Now that the divisional elections are over, we need to focus on winning the 13th general election. The contestants have to accept that there will be winners and losers in any contest," he said.

Of the eight divisions in Terengganu, Kemaman, Kuala Terengganu and Besut returned their leaders without a contest. Kuala Nerus saw a three-cornered fight for the top post, while the other divisions saw straight fights.

All the winners spoke about forgetting and forgiving the things said in the heat of contest.

However, Ahmad and all the other divisional chiefs are worried that supporters of the defeated challengers may not be ready to give them their full support.

They fear that these supporters will take their revenge against the elected divisional chiefs in the next general election by working against the party.

"It has happened before and it can happen again. Protest votes are a curse for Umno and the BN, and the protestors do not care if BN loses as long as they get their revenge. So you see, Umno elections are more important than the general election," said Mohamed Abu Bakar, an Umno veteran.

Other Umno veterans share Mohamed's worry.

"These are not men and women of Umno who fight with their heart and soul for the party. These are traitors, not only to the party but also to the people.

"Haven't they tasted the pain and misery of defeat in the 1999 general election and how the people suffered under Pas rule?" said a former state assemblyman who wanted to remain anonymous.

Already, coffeeshop talk is rife that the days of BN rule in Terengganu are numbered, with the people comparing the unity in Umno and Pas.

"The people have alternatives. If Umno ignores the signals and continues squabbling, I fear the worst for the party in Terengganu," said the former state assemblyman.

Unless Umno members in Terengganu accept his leadership and that of the newly elected division chiefs, and focus on helping him to steer the BN to victory, Umno's fate is sealed because the comeback road after the 13th general election will be a lost cause.

"We only have to look at Kelantan Umno. It is in disarray because of internal bickering and power struggles. They are attracting the people's attention for the wrong reason," said Mohamed.

"It is now up to Umno members whether they want to end up winners or losers in the next general election."