theSun | TUESDAY MARCH 24 2009
news without borders
Stop dirty tactics,
says Abdullah
KUWAIT CITY: Datuk Seri Abdul-
lah Ahmad Badawi has called for
a stop to the use of dirty tactics,
including circulating libellous
SMS messages as well as defam-
ing people, in the run-up to the
Umno elections this week.
The prime minister and Umno
president said this should not be
the way to defeat any candidate
of the party elections.
“Those who have become vic-
tims of such tactics can report to
the police for action to be taken,”
he told Malaysian journalists cov-
ering his official visit to Kuwait,
here on Sunday night.
Among those said to have
become targets of such tactics is
Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah
Aziz who had expressed disap-
pointment with the widespread
circulation of libellous SMS mes-
sages in the run-up to the wing’s
elections on Wednesday.
Rafidah was reported to have
said the SMS alleged money poli-
tics had taken place, linking her
with several of her supporters.
“These dirty tactics should
be avoided. Defaming and slan-
dering friends are not the way
to garner votes and defeat any
candidate in the (party) elec-
tions,” Abdullah said.
He felt that Umno members
would make their choice based
on how well they knew candi-
Making sure things go
without a hitch
by Tim Leonard
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: Putra World Trade
Centre – the venue of the Umno General
Assembly, the country’s biggest political
gathering that kicks off today – was yes-
terday the scene of last-minute tweaking
and fine-tuning to ensure all proceedings
go without a hitch.
Datuk Yaakob Mohammad, chief
executive officer of Putrade Property
Management Sdn Bhd, the building man-
agers, said he had met Tenaga Nasional
Bhd officials to ensure there are no
blackouts or power disruptions during
the proceedings.
“We have also stationed 1,200 se-
curity personnel throughout PWTC to
ensure no untoward incidents happen,”
he said.
He said 920 workers have been
involved in preparations for this annual
event that draws thousands, including
some 2,500 delegates, from all over the
country.
These are the statistics:
» FOOD: Some 100,500 servings will be
dished out for delegates; 113,750 sets of
cutlery to be used.
dates, their capability to be lead-
ers and the roles they had played
over the last several years.
Said Abdullah: “I hope that
when the time comes for vot-
ing, matters such as commo-
tions, ridicule, slander, sending
of libellous SMS messages and
absurd talk would not be taken
into account. What they should
consider is whom they regarded
as the best of the candidates
and who could lead the party
... who could be in the top party
leadership.”
Abdullah said he believed
that Umno delegates would not
be influenced by money in arriv-
ing at their decisions. “I know. I
have been long in this party.”
Abdullah was asked to
comment on the statement by
Umno deputy president Datuk
Seri Najib Tun Razak on Sunday
which implied that the party
constitution might be amended
as one of several important
strategies for Umno’s renewal
and rehabilitation.
“It’s good. Many things have
to be done for Umno. So long as
what’s to be done is beneficial
for the party. I believe all quarters
will extend their support.”
Workers
Najib said, among other
moving a
things, that change must take
place in Umno to erase the nega- billboard
tive perception the people had at Dewan
of the party. – Bernama Merdeka.
» VENDORS: Some 400 stalls and booths
will be operating at the concourse area
of PWTC throughout the five-day event.
“We will also be monitoring outside
traders and businesspeople and pre-
venting them from entering. Previously,
we used to have a problem whereby
outsiders would come in and ply their
trade, claiming that they are also Umno
members,” said Yaakob.
» SIGNAGES: Seven backdrops and 120
signboards will be placed at the venue,
which includes Dewan Merdeka, Dewan
Tun Dr Ismail, and Dewan Tun Hussein
Onn.
» MEDICAL AID: Three doctors and 25
medical assistants will be stationed at
Level Three to provide first aid. There will
also be six ambulances on standby.
» TOILETS: A total of 120 workers will be
stationed at 36 toilets to ensure a clean
environment.
Today, Umno president Datuk Seri
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will brief
delegates at a pre-council meeting at
3.30pm at Dewan Merdeka, followed by
the opening of the Youth, Wanita and
Puteri wings’ AGM by his deputy Datuk
Seri Najib Abdul Razak at 8pm.
Workers
putting
the final
touches on
the Umno
logo ahead
of the party
general
assembly
yesterday.
3
RUN-UP TO
UMNO elections
2008/2011
What next for a
much-bruised Umno?
Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib
after Malacca Chief Minister Datuk
Seri Mohd Ali Rustam was barred
from contesting for having violated
the party’s code of ethics.
The senator may just benefit from
the so-called backlash to the decision
to bar Mohd Ali and also from those
out to spoil Muhyiddin’s chances to
become deputy president and the
country’s deputy prime minister.
Of the three vice-president slots,
Minister in the Prime Minister’s De-
partment Datuk Seri Dr Zahid Hamidi
seems the favourite to fill one of
them. The other seven hopefuls are
Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, Datuk Seri
Rais Yatim, Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad,
Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Datuk
Mohamed Khalid Nordin, Datuk Seri
Rahim Thamby Chik and Datuk Seri
Hishammuddin Hussein.
Shafie, a Sabahan, hopes to sail
into the second slot with solid sup-
port from Sabah and his friends from
the other states who want East Ma-
comment by Zainon Ahmad them well? Or will they be swayed laysia to be represented at the top if
newsdesk@thesundaily.com by emotion and vote in people with- Foreign Minister Rais, a former Negri
out regard to their capabilities and Sembilan mentri besar, is unable to
NEVER before will a speech by an leadership qualities? get solid backing from his state and
Umno deputy president be so closely No doubt, times being hard and elsewhere.
scrutinised as when Datuk Seri Najib with so much money in circulation, it It has happened before but it is
Abdul Razak speaks at the joint open- must have been difficult for some to unlikely to happen this time that two
ing of the Wanita, Youth and Puteri reject them. Still, according to many hopefuls, much less three, from one
assemblies tonight. Umno members, there is nothing to
As the incoming president of a prevent them from joining those who
once powerful party but which was had refused inducements of any kind
state – this time, Johor – become vice-
presidents. Thus, the third slot could
be filled by one of the two young
much-bruised, factionalised and ma- to vote with their head.
ministers, Khalid (higher education)
ligned following the March 8 general These loyal diehard Umno mem- and Hishammuddin (education), or a
election last year, his speech is likely bers know the party needs fixing senior one, Syed Hamid (home).
to give some hints of the prescrip- and they realise that only a strong A total of 51 hopefuls, including
tions he has in mind to cure Umno in supreme council, filled with men nine ministers, nine deputy ministers,
time for the next general election. and women of integrity with strong five mentris besar, an array of former
It may also indicate who he wants resolve to reform and strengthen the ministers, deputy ministers, mentri
as members of his team to help him party, will be able to do it. besar and has-beens with varying
rally Umno, win back those Malays Najib needs a strong panel of degree of credibility problems – if
who had deserted it and make leaders to counsel and guide him they matter at all to the delegates
changes to attract those young and to debate with him so that the – are vying for the 25 ordinary council
people who are policies that emerge seats.
not too enchanted These loyal diehard will be those that According to some delegates,
with the party at will benefit Umno, most of the ministers, especially the
the moment. Umno members know the Barisan Nasional younger ones, and some popular
He is banking the party needs fixing and everyone in the seniors like Domestic Trade and
on this team to country. Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk
help him write new and they realise that Never has it been Seri Shahrir Samad and Agriculture
approaches to win only a strong supreme so important for and Agro-based Industries Minister
back the non-Ma-
council, filled with men Umno to come out Datuk Mustapa Mohamed stand a
lays, who for a long with policies that good chance of being elected and to
time until the great and women of integrity are popular, accept- be part of Najib’s cabinet.
victory of 2004 had with strong resolve to able and effective Also, according to them, Datuk
trusted the party to win back public Seri Shahrizat Jalil may just be suc-
with the national reform and strengthen confidence in it so cessful in edging out Tan Sri Rafidah
stewardship of the party, will be able to that with time, much Aziz, who has been Wanita chief for
the country, and of the negativity that most of the last two decades, while
to prevent Umno do it. surrounds the party Datuk Mukriz Mahathir may be hailed
from sliding into and its new leader as the new Youth leader.
total oblivion. will eventually be eclipsed by a sense But last-minute surges in fortunes
While conceding that Najib has to of achievement, goodwill and trust. can take place as everything is still in
say what he has to say, some Umno Thus, to these Umno loyalists, a state of flux in view of rivalling loy-
members are hoping that it will not whether the party rises again or be alties and resentment against the lat-
steal too much thunder away from relegated to the junk heap of history est decisions of the party disciplinary
outgoing president Datuk Seri Abdul- will depend on the delegates – regard- board, especially after supporters of
lah Ahmad Badawi when opening the less of whether they have accepted those disciplined say that they are
main party’s meeting on Thursday. money or not – rising above petty campaigning for delegates to reject
In his sixth and final opening loyalties to vote with their head. candidates favoured by the top.
speech, Abdullah is expected to International Trade and Industry As to whether the hints pro-
defend his record of achievements, Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin vided by the leaders in their opening
such as it is, and dole out some ad- has been for a long time seen as speeches could actually help the can-
vice but he may have some pointers the natural choice for delegates to didates, one of the delegates recalled
of his own too for the delegates who choose to be deputy president and what happened in 1981 when finance
will vote shortly after the ceremony. deputy prime minister to comple- minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah,
The campaigning by the 63 candi- ment Najib. an expected shoo-in, was challenged
dates for the various positions in the After all, reasoned some Umno by Education Minister Datuk Musa
party’s supreme council is still in full members, he could have been cho- Hitam for the deputy presidency.
swing as most of the delegates have sen to be deputy prime minister in Such was the stress on education
already arrived in the city and the 2004 instead of Najib. But whether it that out-going president Tun Hussein
horse trading is expected to continue was to raise his profile that he asked Onn made in his address that Kelan-
till the very last minute. Abdullah to step down or he genu- tan delegates looked crestfallen and
Uppermost in the minds of inely believes that Abdullah is not the upset as they walked out of the Hilton
Umno members are who the 2,500 man to reform and strengthen Umno, ballroom after the opening shortly
delegates will vote into their party’s attempts to oust him were soon in before they even cast their votes.
supreme council on Thursday. Will place. One of them remarked: “It’s over,
they vote in those who have paid It is now either him or Senator Musa has already won.”