How will UMNO, under Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, do this time around?

Producer: Imelda Saad
First broadcast: 8 March 04, News Radio 93.8

Malaysia will go to the polls in about 2 weeks.

The widely anticipated election will be closely watched, given that there's a new man leading the ruling coalition.

Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, with just about four months in office, needs a strong mandate to emerge from the shadows of his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad.

Political reporter Imelda Saad with the first of a 3-part series leading up to the elections.

Then, they had to grapple with discontent arising from the arrest and detention of former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

A charismatic leader who had a huge following among the Malays, Anwar's detention led to a massive fallout between ruling party UMNO and its Malay voters.

The electorate were increasingly frustrated with what they deemed as excesses within the Mahathir administration.

Corruption and croynism became the buzzwords.

In its worst ever defeat, the National Front lost one more state - Trengganu - to the hardline Islamic party, PAS.

Today, it seems to be a different story for the ruling coalition and UMNO.

Political observers say it's all thanks to newly appointed Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.

In a bid to clean up his team, he's embarked on an anti-corruption campaign, and a call for ethical governance.

Only last month, a government minister was arrested and charged with corruption.

Political observer at the University of Malaya, Professor Khoo Kay Khim reckons the opposition has run out of issues to criticize the government, "There is really no weakness for them to pick on. Even the rocket, the DAP, lately said good things about the new prime minister. Athough they dont want to admit that the prime minister has done that much."

Observers say that will be the tactic employed by the opposition.

Sure, the new prime minister may have initiated some changes, but his actions are merely surface reforms, they'll say.

Dr Joseph Liow from the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies elaborates, "They think that number 1, the prime minister is not really clamping down on the big fish, the second one is they are suggesting that the prime minister is fighting the battle alone. I also dont know to what extent that is true but nevertheless what is important is the fact that the prime minister has embarked on this very high profile crusade against corruption will certainly have an impact on the electorate no matter what PAS or Keadilan tries to say about that. Of course the question is to what extent can this war on corruption be sustained without Abdullah jepordising his own position but that is a longer term issue."

Beyond lofty issues like democracy and corruption, observers say most voters will be interested in bread and butter issues like jobs and money in their pockets.

And Mr Abdullah knows this.

He's made it a point to introduce pro-agricultural policies to help rural farmers.

And the recently launched 89-million-dollar tuition scheme voucher seeks to help poor students with their education.

This "people emphasis" seems to be reaping results for Mr Abdullah.

Professor Khoo says there's widespread support for the new PM.

6.07 because he has been talking to the people. And people are like that. When the prime minister shows so much attention to them, they're happy! They sometimes feel that they are being neglected and marginalised and only certain people are given favours.

For political observer Seah Chiang Nee, the hot topic this time round is religion, "With PAS revealing its Islamic blueprint for Kelantan and Treggannu - states that are under its control, debate is rife about who - PAS or UMNO - has the right interpretation of Islam. I notice there's alot of debate in the chat sites between the UMNO and the PAS people over Islam. They disagree very very strongly and very heatedly. Even to the extent of chanllenging each other to fight so it's very dangerous."

But those I spoke to are confident that Mr Abdullah will be able to stem the PAS tide.

Having a degree in Islamic studies, he comes with good religious credentials and is said to be able to quote the Quran as well as any PAS leader.

Adding to this, Mr Abdullah's vision of an Islamic state is alot more appealing to many Malaysians, says Professor Shamsul Amri Baharrudin from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, "The issue is quite straight forward. If PAS talks about Islamic state and Hudud laws, then Abdullah introduce the ruling - that in the schools , the muslim boys and girls will receive the basic Islamic education in schools and they will finish their study of the Quran in the schools. Suddenly the PAS idea of an Islamic state and Hudud law is too lofty, too high. So abstract. So Abdullah has now introduced the members of the Ulamas who can make an Islamic state. So it is ironic that he is introducing something very positive for a Islamic state and yet PAS is trying to introduce some of this Hudud laws which include cutting of hands and all those negative things. So I think these things have got into the minds of the people and they say, perhaps this is what we should do, and Abdullah is going to implement it in schools so therefore people would like to believe that - why don't we give him a chance?"

It seems that the Malaysian Prime Minister is doing just that - banking on his amiable personality and the fact that he is new to the post.

The UMNO machinery is working the ground, saying that if the people love Mr Abdullah, they should vote for him, and that, however sentimental it may seem, may just work.

Professor Shamsul's response to this, "The biggest drawcard is we have a new prime minister who's willing to do all of these things so I want you to see how we'll perform so you give me a chance and we'll do it! And I think this is the line that they're gonna take, you must give this new prime minister a chance. See what he has already done in less than 100 days, he's done what Anwar Ibrahim cannot do in 12 years!"

Part II >>>