Reports on Malaysiakini and MSM seems to point to a nervous UMNO, tittering on the point of implosion. Party members are nervous and given the right conditions, the herd mentality would set in and there would be resignations on an unprecedented scale.
The cracks are appearing and the only thing missing is the spark that would set the herd stampeding. Tun Mahathir and wife have left. Who would follow?
Yes, there is a crisis as Anwar Ibrahim mentioned in a Malaysiakini report.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s decision to quit as a lifetime member of Umno is an indication that the crisis within the party is worsening, said PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.
Source: Malaysiakini
UMNO has to face a new reality. The rhetorical manner of their leaders does not hold much water. During Tun's time, what he said goes and Tun pushed ahead a lot of things. What has Pak Lah done?
Pak Lah instituted the "rhetorical stance" - say anything and the party will listen even if you never carry it through; don't worry UMNO will still support you. He said it again by claiming that the 3 million members of UMNO would stay on to keep the party strong. But Pak Lah fail to realize that no-one would like to stay on board a ship destined to hit the ice-berg. People would support the party yet still leave it if it would bring about what they desire. If enough people are convince that Pak Lah is the reason for UMNO's woes then the quit-game would kick into play and I believe this will happen. Whatever Pak Lah does in the next few days would determine this.
Najib has been silent all the way through, only commenting that if Tun wanted to quit then it was his decision to do so. So Najib is playing the wait and see game and he is watching Pak Lah. In fact, we should all watch who would come along side Pak Lah. What Tun Mahathir has effectively done is to force members of UMNO to make a choice. Are you for Pak Lah or against him? Bear in mind most of the UMNO branches have voiced their unhappiness with Pak Lah, would these groups take the lead in quitting first?
The new reality for UMNO is it is no longer strong.
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The great One has left the building and folks I am not talking about Elvis (that dude's dead though he was sighted in Memphis), I'm talking about our very own, Tun Mahathir and he has left UMNO.
From Malaysiakini:
Former Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad today announced that he was quitting the party with immediate effect and urged other members to emulate him.
Source: Malaysiakini
From
The Star:
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced Monday at 12.35pm that he is quitting Umno, citing a lack of confidence in the current leadership.
He said this during a talk here on Monday.
He has been critical of his appointed successor Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, blaming the current Umno president for the party's disappointing performance in the 12th general election.
Source: The Star
Tun Mahathir has thrown down the gauntlet and I am sure this will send a strong message up the levels of UMNO. Could this indeed be the turning of the ride for Abdullah Badawi? Tun Mahathir has thrown it back to UMNO members to choose the side they wish to stand on. If they wish Abdullah Badawi to step down, then they are to quit the party and if they are for Abdullah Badawi, stay on.
In the next few days, be ready for rally calls by various leaders from within UMNO - who are expected to throw their support behind Abdullah Badawi but watch the movement by the grassroot Malays. I foresee that the leaders will be behind Abdullah Badawi but the grassroot members would quit on mass.
What good are leaders without followers?
Tun Mahathir has called upon the various ministers to also quit the party. It would be interesting to see who would actually take up that call. Would Najib take it up (I heard he's a Tun Mahathir man) or would those on the UMNO board take up the call?
Smart move Tun Mahathir but it can also be reverse on you. There is potential for the current establishment to spin the tale of a bitter former prime minister, unwilling to give his successor a chance. Would Berita Harian spin this tale (the paper is UMNO own)? Could this spell the end of UMNO? It has happened before. Kill the party and throw out the deadwood. It has worked before.
So this is an interesting turn of events, if not amusing because for the pass month; the management of this country has taken a backseat to political bickering, back-stabbing, sulking politicians and crazy statements by the guy in charge of the EC.
So where are we heading Malaysia?
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