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Najib to stress grassroots loyalty at annual Umno assembly

KUALA LUMPUR — Having consolidated his political position in recent months, Prime Minister Najib Razak is expected to rally for Malay grassroots support and party unity at the five-day United Malays National Organisation (Umno) General Assembly opening today, said party members and experts.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak addresses delegates during his speech at the Malaysia's ruling party United Malays National Organization's (UMNO) anniversary celebration in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Monday, May 11, 2015. Photo: AP

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak addresses delegates during his speech at the Malaysia's ruling party United Malays National Organization's (UMNO) anniversary celebration in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Monday, May 11, 2015. Photo: AP

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KUALA LUMPUR — Having consolidated his political position in recent months, Prime Minister Najib Razak is expected to rally for Malay grassroots support and party unity at the five-day United Malays National Organisation (Umno) General Assembly opening today, said party members and experts.

The annual meeting, to be attended by over 3,200 delegates, takes on additional significance as it is expected to be the last one before general election, which has to be called by 2018.

“Najib as the president would most likely touch on the importance of strengthening the party,” Umno Youth information chief Jamawi Jaafar told TODAY.

“He would also call for the division and branch leaders to ensure the unity among rank-and-file members before the next general election.”

Analysts add that Mr Najib will also deliver his usual message to party members on the importance of safeguarding Malay supremacy as a precursor to national unity and address grassroots concerns such as rising costs of living.

But the mood is a far cry from a year ago, when the party was in turmoil and the assembly closely watched for signs of any revolt against its leader.

Members were confused and demoralised over the controversies surrounding state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) — a brainchild of Mr Najib — as well as a large political donation found in the Prime Minister’s bank accounts.

The scandals piled pressure on Mr Najib to quit, with the fiercest criticisms coming from those close to him, including his then deputy Muhyiddin Yassin and former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Fast-forward a year, and Mr Najib has put the biggest challenge to his 40-year political career behind him to emerge stronger than ever. Denying any wrongdoing, he has sacked his critics, including Mr Muhyiddin, stacked his Cabinet with loyalists, and secured the backing of powerful Umno division chiefs.

“Najib himself seems confident of his position. His confidence is not unfounded, considering the victories in the Sarawak state elections and the two by-elections this year,” said Mr Rashaad Ali, a research analyst at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies’ Malaysia Programme, adding that the assembly could help Mr Najib consolidate his power.

“(The Umno assembly) is likely to be a show of support for the PM, and a chance for fence-sitters to pledge their allegiance.”

Dr Oh Ei Sun, a former political aide to Mr Najib, agreed, telling TODAY that, with all of the Premier’s detractors out of Umno, “no divisive issue is expected” at this week’s gathering.

With his efforts to unseat Mr Najib failing to gain traction within the party, Dr Mahathir, who was Prime Minister from 1981 to 2003, quit Umno earlier this year and subsequently joined hands with Mr Muhyiddin to form Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM). Aligned with the opposition bloc, it is made up mostly of former Umno members dissatisfied with Mr Najib.

Umno Federal Territories youth chief Razlan Rafii told TODAY that the departures of established leaders like Dr Mahathir and Mr Muhyiddin are not a big loss for Umno.

‘This is just a small issue. Losing them has no big impact on us. In fact, I think we will be more united ... we will (work to) strengthen our machinery for the coming election,” he said.

Still, analysts said Umno leaders will likely condemn PPBM, which competes for the same support base as Umno’s, during this week’s meeting.

“Umno delegates would use the general assembly as an opportunity to attack Dr Mahathir by calling him a traitor for joining hands with the opposition to attack Umno,” said Mr James Chin, director of the Asia Institute at Australia’s University of Tasmania.

Mr Rashaad of RSIS added that a recurring theme for the ruling party will be distancing itself from Dr Mahathir and ‘‘his Umno’’.

“References have been made to the period when Umno split into Semangat 46 and Umno Baru, and reusing this image now is to evoke the same desire to break away from a ‘lost’ Umno,” he said.

Semangat 46 was formed in 1988 by, among others, Kelantan Prince Razaleigh Hamzah after a bruising fight with Dr Mahathir for the leadership of Umno. Semangat 46 was dissolved in 1996 and many of its members, including Mr Razaleigh, were reabsorbed into Umno.

This year’s Umno assembly will also shine the spotlight on vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is taking on the duties of the deputy president following Mr Muhyiddin’s sacking. He will open the assemblies of the Youth, Women and Young Women’s wings.

Observers said Mr Zahid is expected to show that he is the undisputed No 2 by displaying his allegiance to Mr Najib, as evident in his recent interview with national news agency Bernama, where he declared that he is “101 per cent” loyal to his boss.

“His role as No 2 is already unchallenged. He will play a balancing game between being his own man, and being loyal to Najib.

“He should perform well enough ... keeping internal conflicts to a minimum will be important to him,” said Mr Ooi Kee Beng, deputy director of the Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute.

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