Pak Lah On Last Leg?

Pak Lah On Last Leg?

Posted by labisman
Saturday, 15 March 2008,MT

Nazry Bahrawi

(TODAYonline):ITS TOP leadership may be projecting a united front following its embarrassing performance at the recent general election, but cracks are already beginning to appear within the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) over one crucial issue - the continued leadership of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Barely a week since the polls results were announced, several notable Umno leaders have already urged Pak Lah to step down.

If the move gains momentum, it could lead to a forceful ejection, rather than a graceful exit, for Malaysia's embattled Prime Minister.

The evidence is piling up that this may be the eventuality, with the first salvo being fired - to no one's surprise - by his predecessor and staunchest critic Dr Mahathir Mohamad who urged him to "accept full responsibility" for the ruling coalition's disastrous performance just a few hours after the results were announced.

More startlingly, Umno stalwart Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah alluded to Pak Lah's resignation in a press statement later that same day: "The leadership team must wake from its slumber, face the truth and accept full responsibility for this debacle".

This week, a popular website widely read by Umno members, mounted an online campaign for Pak Lah's resignation from his posts of Prime Minister and party president.

The most explicit message came on Friday when Mukhriz Mahathir – Dr Mahathir's son - became the first Umno parliamentarian to publicly call for Pak Lah to step down.

In an open letter to Pak Lah posted on a website closely aligned to his father, Mr Mukhriz said the polls results "sent a sufficiently clear message regarding the people's rejection of (you) as the country's leader".

Some even believe the two rallies by Umno members on Friday in the opposition-controlled states of Penang and Selangor are linked to this issue, although the opposition's plans of abolishing the pro-Malay New Economic Policy (NEP) were cited as official reasons.

A Keadilan statesman in Penang said: "Mr Abdullah is on his last leg.

The pressure for him to resign is tremendous, and he is losing grip. The protests are a way by supporters from Abdullah's camp to divert public attention away from his resignation."

But Umno member Zaid Ibrahim, known for his critical stance against some Umno policies, disagrees. He told Today: "I see the rallies as an expression of Umno people being disappointed with the results of the election more than a politically motivated rally."

But can Pak Lah ward off a seemingly concerted effort from within Umno to oust him?

Dr Farish A Noor of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies believes that Mr Abdullah can only hold on to power until the next Umno General Assembly due later this year He told Today: "This has happened twice after Barisan Nasional's poor showing at the polls - once in 1969 when Tunku Abdul Rahman announced he is stepping down, and then in 1999 when Dr Mahathir announced his resignation. We are seeing a familiar pattern develop here."