In Ahmad Said, Umno shows its dysfunctional self
Datuk Seri Ahmad Said's stint as Terengganu menteri besar since 2008 has always been symptomatic of Umno – the belief that they are bigger than the people.
He took office over Umno's choice Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh as menteri besar and last night, quit the party after being forced to resign from the post a year after a slim electoral victory.
His reason for leaving the party? That Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak could not even wait five days for the two-term menteri besar to host his daughter's wedding feast on Saturday.
His anger over Umno forcing his resignation has now made the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) state administration a minority government as two other Umno assemblymen have turned independent with him.
New Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, who was sworn in last night, has practically lost the confidence of the 32-seat state assembly now that BN has only 14 seats.
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) holds 15 seats while the rest are independents.
There is talk that more Umno assemblymen might also quit and create a bigger political headache for Najib, who has just seen political foes PR squirm over the hudud issue.
But for the trio that just left Umno, Ahmad Said's loss of face over being shown the door in the state government is a bigger issue than the party and the administration.
This is no different than Umno when getting the state apparatus, such as RTM to restrict coverage of opposition news or the police to crack down on dissent.
For Umno and its warlords are bigger than the state or the country, and thus must be appeased at the expense of the people or for the sake of renewal.
Ahmad Said's anger at being dropped and replaced, and by a politician much younger than him, also reveals the extent of the warlord culture in Umno that has prevented younger political talent from entering the party.
It also undermines Najib's political transformation plans for the party that includes reaching out to urban and younger voters, which he said over the weekend when commemorating Umno's 68th anniversary.
But Najib's problems are bigger than just fishing for the young vote. The usually cautious prime minister and party president has to decide on his strategy for Terengganu – call a snap election or appease Ahmad Said.
Either way, this Terengganu episode shows the Umno dysfunction – the need to keep power at all expense. – May 13, 2014.
