Next Umno president faces uphill task in reviving party

PETALING JAYA: The winner of the Umno presidency in the upcoming party polls post will face an uphill task in reviving Umno as many people see it as being allegedly tainted by corruption, money politics and the 1MDB issue.
The expected seven-cornered fight may not materialise as three of the candidates are unknown politicians who have not held senior party positions.
Umno executive secretary Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusof declined to reveal the names of the candidates but said the party constitution only allows those who have held positions in the supreme council or at division level for at least one term to contest the president's post.
The top post will see a fight between Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is acting president, Gua Musang Umno division chief Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and businessman and blogger Rahmat Azim Abdul Aziz.
Also throwing their hats into the ring are Rosile Saat, Mohamad Iqbal Maricair and Yusof Musa.
The challengers will have to prove to the grassroots that they will be able to reform the party and take it forward by making it relevant to Malaysians.
The problem Ahmad Zahid faces is that he was part of the losing team in the 14th General Election and also his failure to speak out about the 1MDB issue.
"He became acting deputy president after the sacking of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who had expressed his unhappiness over 1MDB and it was affecting the people's perception of the government," a party source said.
The source said Tengku Razaleigh, who is better known as Ku Li, while hinting that 1MDB and the cost of living were problems but he was never really outspoken on the issues.
"Ku Li, who is now 81, will have to show Umno members that he has the ability to reform and change the party. Issues that had caused the party to lose support must be dealt with urgently," the source said, adding that age could be a factor against the party stalwart.
This will be the second time Ku Li will be going for the top post, as he had previously challenged Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1987 and lost.
He said Khairy who is also contesting the top post will have an uphill task in winning as he lacks the grassroots support Ahmad Zahid and Ku Li enjoy.
He said although many members may see him as a very smart leader but his lack of grassroots support will see him only as a vote spoiler in the upcoming elections.
The source said the other contestants are unknowns who will find it extremely difficult to challenge the well known Umno leaders.
He said the contest for the presidency will likely be a two-horse race, Ahmad Zahid against Ku Li, with Khairy being a vote spoiler who could harm Ku Li's chances of winning.