Thursday 28 Mar 2024
By
main news image

This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on February 18, 2019 - February 24, 2019

This view is not based on any detailed study or survey. With no official statistics to back it up, this is based on bits and pieces of information gathered via comments on social media and conversations with some Umno members, political observers and journalists.

Yes, there are one or two negative aspects to be concerned about, but the general opinion is that Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan is the best man to lead Umno as the party grapples with making a comeback after the disastrous 14th general election.

Whether Umno can do it is another matter, but at this point, Mohamad, or Tok Mat as he is known among party members, is said to be the right man for the job.

Everybody seems to have his or her reasons for this. And as we have heard the justifications before, I will leave it as it is. After all, Tok Mat is already helming Umno. Therefore, I ought to leave it as it is as well, but there is more to be said.

Tok Mat is leading Umno as he is carrying out the duties of the president, which were passed on to him by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. But then, Zahid, speaking at an event in his home base of Bagan Datuk on Feb 7, hinted that he would be making a comeback to lead the party once again.

When? After a peristiwa besar or big event that he expects will take place soon. Malaysiakini quoted him as saying that “according to kasyaf, that is, intuition given by God to chosen people, ulama have said something big will happen in the country and when it happens, I will return to lead Umno”.

Zahid did not elaborate on what the big event was. But I, for one, would not want to laugh it off, tempting though it may be to do so. It is not that I am being religious or have the sudden urge to believe in mystical happenings. Rather it is because of the manoeuvring that can take place in Malaysian politics. Hence, while not saying that I believe 100% in what Zahid said, I will just keep my eyes wide open and an ear to the ground.

Meanwhile, I cannot help but ask, hypothetically perhaps: If Zahid is ready for his so-called comeback, will Mohamad give way?

A close aide of Zahid tells me that in the Umno constitution, there is no clause with regard to (the president, or for that matter, any other official) taking leave from his or her duties. “That is why Tok Mat is merely carrying out the duties of the president. He is not acting president,” says the aide. He reminds me that the arrangement was endorsed by the party’s supreme council.

As such, he says, the question of Mohamad handing back the position to Zahid does not arise because he did not take the post in the first place.

According to the aide, in carrying out the duties of the president, Mohamad can call and chair supreme council meetings as stipulated in section 9.8.1.3 of the Umno constitution.

However, he cannot appoint the secretary-general, treasurer, information chief and state liaison chairmen as well as their deputies. That and the appointment of exco members are within the power of the president, as provided for by the Umno constitution.

I recall that when Zahid handed the power of president to Mohamad last year, he had referred to himself as a president who is not performing the duties of the president. When asked how long he would be away, Zahid replied, “Until or if Tok Mat does not want to carry out the duties of the president anymore.” Or when Zahid is ready to come back.

His aide tells me that when Zahid spoke in Bagan Datuk on the night of Feb 7 of the big event that would pave the way for his comeback, Mohamad and party secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa were present. The aide did not say it specifically, but to me, it sounded like he was implying that both Mohamad and Annuar did not object and, thus, agreed with Zahid. I could be wrong but that is how I read the aide’s remarks anyway.

Mohamad did not respond to my request for comments.

Perhaps for Team Zahid and maybe the man himself, the many criminal charges against him are not viewed as a hindrance for him to resume the Umno presidency.

For Mohamad, well, what do they say about there being more than one way to skin a cat?

I will stop here lest I be accused of jumping the gun or trying to pit Umno leaders against one another.

Before signing off, I will just say that for now, Mohamad’s eyes are on the federal court, which is set to hear on Feb 18 the appeal against an election court decision declaring the GE14 results for the Rantau state seat null and void and ordering a by-election to be held immediately.

The election court decision saw Mohamad losing the seat in the Negeri Sembilan state assembly he won uncontested on nomination day.

Needless to say, he would want that problem out of the way ASAP.


Mohsin Abdullah is contributing editor at The Edge. He has covered politics for over four decades.

Save by subscribing to us for your print and/or digital copy.

P/S: The Edge is also available on Apple's AppStore and Androids' Google Play.

      Print
      Text Size
      Share