The second week.

18.10.2008.

We're well into the second week of the UMNO divisional elections, and there are some movements already.

The "pro-old camp" still has its hand on the mike, as it were. The "pro-new camp" is no less assertive, especially after scoring the biggest point so far. Some divisional meetings are already being referred to the HQ. There used to be a Monitoring Committee at the State Liason level, but that doesn't exist now.  The key word is "grassroots". How much this word would be banged around remains to be seen.

The spin doctors are still at it, apparently. The psy-war on "underdogs" and "toothless lions" are some of the animal-kingdom characters being pulled out from the heap pile of battles of old. And they might still carry effect yet. The sms and blogs are having a field day. And the snake oil peddlar is still making his rounds.

I met a member of the Disciplinary Committee recently and plainly told him that if that Committee isn't blind and deaf then it should know that the Mother of All Money Politics is about to happen. The President has unconsitutionally delayed the General Assembly to March next year. After the completion of the divisional meetings next month, everybody running for anything would have more than 100 days to pick up any or all of the 2000 plus delegates. I said the Disciplinary Committee can preempt this and recommend to the Supreme Council to hold the General Assembly  this year.

Muhyiddin has already openly objected to the March delay. Others should support him, and the sooner the better. If Najib speaks for it now, the President is bound to agree, but the whole Supreme Council should go for it.

In a playout of the Malay "sandiwara", those with little chance of winning should know it already and should graciously withdraw and throw their support behind the more likely candidates. For some it's a question of proper ascension. For others it's a question of timing. For one in particular, it's a question of learning not "to sit before stretching the legs". Just try it. You'll hit  the hard cement !

My unsolicited comment at this juncture is: give fair representation to geography, religious knowledge, business acumen, experience and inclination for change. Give no place for family-ties, business ties, under-performance records and  loyalty doubts. That's asking for the moon. But UMNO must get its act together, now.  

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