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KEDAH: UMNO's elections in December could be a matter of life and death for the party, according to Mukhriz Mahathir – a leading contender for the top post in the party's youth wing and son of former prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He feels the election outcome will decide whether UMNO will remain relevant in Malaysia's political scene.
Mr Mukhriz – a Member of Parliament for Kedah – also thinks that it is important for MPs in Malaysia to have greater connectivity with the voters and electorate.
He said: "Right now, we are seen as an elitist party, which is strange because we used to be a party representing the grassroots, the rural areas, teachers and farmers, but now there seems to be a disconnection between (us and) the people who are supposed to be our main supporters from states which we consider our bastions. We really need to effect this change."
But Mr Mukhriz added that this is not the only area where change is needed. He has been vocal in his calls for change in Malaysia's top leadership since the poor showing of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in the March 8 elections.
He said: "My position is that he (Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi) needs to step down as soon as possible and hand over the reins to his successor, Datuk Seri Najib. If he needs some time, I hope it's not too long and I hope it happens well before we start our branch meetings in July... we don't want to get into UMNO elections with this leadership crisis not resolved."
But surprisingly, a planned action by the youth wing against Mr Mukhriz for asking PM Abdullah to step down has fizzled out.
"When I voiced my concern about this matter and asked for the prime minister to take full responsibility and resign, a lot of people felt exactly that. It has always been the case that the top leadership must be held accountable for these results.
"Due to that, I think at the UMNO Youth level, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin understood that if action were to be taken against me for my personal letter to the prime minister, it would have other negative repercussions from our own members," Mr Mukhriz said.
He also said he intends to contest the top post of UMNO Youth to help spearhead changes.
"Given time, the shock of the defeat would disappear and it's back to the same old business, and that is the worrying part. I (would) rather something happens now so that we have time to remedy the situation. If it is left to a later time, my fear is that it would be too late for us to counter the forward movement that some of the opposition parties have launched," he said.
Asked if he would follow the path of his father and become the prime minister of Malaysia some day, Mr Mukhriz said: "For now, I am ready to be a good MP and all the experience I have accumulated so far suits this particular moment. You may want to ask me that question again 20 years down the road."
In any case, what is certain is that the outcome of the UMNO Youth wing elections would be closely watched as the top winners are likely to take on bigger roles in the Malaysian government.
- CNA/so
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