Umno seen as stronger party if GE15 clash with Bersatu happens, but will it matter who wins?
Continuing from:
(1) UMNO versus Bersatu - the fight for Malaydom
(1) UMNO versus Bersatu - the fight for Malaydom
(2)UMNO versus Bersatu - the fight for Malaydom (Part 2)
Jayum believes coalition-building to form government will continue. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
Jayum Jawan, professor of politics and government at Universiti Putra Malaysia, noted that Bersatu is already a strong political party that has been able to bring together a larger party to support it, despite its “numerical inferiority” compared to some stronger components. “It has the advantage of patronage as the dominant partner in PN and therefore could leverage on its position to further strengthen itself.”
Noting Umno’s ultimate ambition of taking over the government as the leading party as it holds the highest number of parliamentary seats within the PN coalition, Jayum said the party is however now in “disarray, judging by the many junior-ranked leaders making contradictory statements against its central leadership”.
“This is a sign that the Umno leadership is not holding up and at this juncture, it is difficult to assess who is in command and speaks for the party. The Emergency recommendation is made by the Cabinet, and members of the Cabinet also comprise Umno people,” he said.
He also noted that the declaration of withdrawal of support made by several Umno MPs — outside of Parliament — towards the PN government is perhaps “academic” and will not have any effect except to “cast aspersion in the public mind” on the ruling government and to “further destabilise” the ruling PN government, citing the court case involving former Sarawak chief minister Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan where it was decided that a vote of confidence at the legislative assembly is required to decide support in a government.
“For now, Umno will be trying to destabilise the PN government because it feels that it has a greater mandate to lead due to its superior number of parliaments seats,” he said.
Regardless of whether Umno remains as Bersatu’s ally or decides to cut ties with it, Jayum said there will still be a likelihood of the two parties clashing in GE15, due to the desire to win more seats as the party which commands the biggest number will lead in forming the next government and will need the numbers to provide a stable leadership in a coalition government.
“In GE15, clashes between Umno and any other parties — allies or not — are inevitable because all parties would want to try to contest as many seats and hopefully win as many seats. This is important as after the elections, the number of seats each party has will determine which party will be the dominant or backbone of any coalition,” he said.
The possible impact on Malaysia if Umno and Bersatu contest against each other in GE15 is “democratisation of politics”, Jayum said, noting: “It will be a good thing. Malaysians will see that representation can come from various parties and not be confined to one only.”
But regardless of whether Umno and Bersatu clashes in GE15, Jayum said Malaysia’s political landscape has already changed as a result of GE14 “that has witnessed the need of coalition building to form a viable ruling government”, adding: “And this is a good thing so that the government formed is based on the need to take into consideration the various needs of the multi-ethnic elements in the country.”
Even without the two parties clashing in GE15, Jayum believes coalition-building to form government will continue on, saying: “I think so because it is no longer up to Umno or Bersatu to dictate the political process, even within the Malay society. The Malay society has woken up and are availing themselves to better government and leadership by having alternatives or choices. It will still be Malays that will lead Malaysia, but which Malay group and from which political party.”
Noting Umno’s ultimate ambition of taking over the government as the leading party as it holds the highest number of parliamentary seats within the PN coalition, Jayum said the party is however now in “disarray, judging by the many junior-ranked leaders making contradictory statements against its central leadership”.
“This is a sign that the Umno leadership is not holding up and at this juncture, it is difficult to assess who is in command and speaks for the party. The Emergency recommendation is made by the Cabinet, and members of the Cabinet also comprise Umno people,” he said.
He also noted that the declaration of withdrawal of support made by several Umno MPs — outside of Parliament — towards the PN government is perhaps “academic” and will not have any effect except to “cast aspersion in the public mind” on the ruling government and to “further destabilise” the ruling PN government, citing the court case involving former Sarawak chief minister Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan where it was decided that a vote of confidence at the legislative assembly is required to decide support in a government.
“For now, Umno will be trying to destabilise the PN government because it feels that it has a greater mandate to lead due to its superior number of parliaments seats,” he said.
Regardless of whether Umno remains as Bersatu’s ally or decides to cut ties with it, Jayum said there will still be a likelihood of the two parties clashing in GE15, due to the desire to win more seats as the party which commands the biggest number will lead in forming the next government and will need the numbers to provide a stable leadership in a coalition government.
“In GE15, clashes between Umno and any other parties — allies or not — are inevitable because all parties would want to try to contest as many seats and hopefully win as many seats. This is important as after the elections, the number of seats each party has will determine which party will be the dominant or backbone of any coalition,” he said.
The possible impact on Malaysia if Umno and Bersatu contest against each other in GE15 is “democratisation of politics”, Jayum said, noting: “It will be a good thing. Malaysians will see that representation can come from various parties and not be confined to one only.”
But regardless of whether Umno and Bersatu clashes in GE15, Jayum said Malaysia’s political landscape has already changed as a result of GE14 “that has witnessed the need of coalition building to form a viable ruling government”, adding: “And this is a good thing so that the government formed is based on the need to take into consideration the various needs of the multi-ethnic elements in the country.”
Even without the two parties clashing in GE15, Jayum believes coalition-building to form government will continue on, saying: “I think so because it is no longer up to Umno or Bersatu to dictate the political process, even within the Malay society. The Malay society has woken up and are availing themselves to better government and leadership by having alternatives or choices. It will still be Malays that will lead Malaysia, but which Malay group and from which political party.”
Whatever and whoever works to weaken and undermine UMNO, I sokong.
ReplyDeleteLet them fight and slug it out.
More factions, more Race and Religion Zombie parties,
We Want More !
malay society has woken up? so hilarious la tis professor.
ReplyDeleteIt has gone dumber and dumber , difficult to think it can get so, but there it is.
DeleteEvery day , morning to night thinking and talking about Race and Religion.