TTF: Khairy Jamaluddin posted on Twitter today that delegates were “directed, threatened and forced to follow the warlords’ choice.” The Rembau guy attributed this as the reason Dato’ Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi won the UMNO presidency. What he failed to mention, however, was the money that flowed like water from the taps of certain UMNO leaders. These leaders told the youth to vote for Khairy and make sure that Zahid would suffer a horrible defeat.
But none of that happened.
Earlier today, I wrote (in orange):
Dato’ Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s historical win at the recently concluded UMNO election proves that the party delegates rejected Mahathirism at all cost. Zahid, who trashed youth-favourite Khairy Jamaluddin by a comfortable 42-vote margin, proved that UMNO has returned to its core struggles and rejected all manners of insolence. Khairy was the embodiment of that insolence and went against everything the Malays stood for.
He is Mahathir’s man.
The Rembau Member of Parliament waged vicious attacks against Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak despite previously conceding that the former premier was innocent. But Khairy is now saying no. He refused to defend Najib against political persecution by Mahathr despite there being lack of evidence to prove that the former premier committed a crime.
And that made party veterans angry.
So angry, they decided to teach this Rembau fellow a lesson he would never forget by whacking him stupid at the ballot box. The biggest shocker came when a fraction of the youth vote ended with Zahid. The result was a referendum on Najib’s innocence and proved that the party still valued his leadership and wanted him back.
What say you Khairy?
Could it be that UMNO delegates treated the presidential election as a referendum on Najib’s innocence? UMNO is currently a weak party. When a party is weak, it would be difficult for “warlords” to threaten delegates as delegates know that these “warlords” are weak. Under the circumstances, should you have lost to Zahid by a slim majority, I would have considered your “Warlord” theory and given you the benefit of a doubt.
But you didn’t lose by a slim majority, did you?
Zahid practically turned you into roadkill before flattening you with steamrollers and what have you. The 42-vote margin he trashed you with is proof that when a young Malay lad displays insolence, the elders will put him in his place. What the elders did yesterday was to tell you that you’re not fit to lead UMNO. Many see you as an opportunist who’s willing to go against popular Malay culture.
That, my friend, is a big no no in Malay politics.
KUALA LUMPUR – Former Malaysian youth minister Khairy Jamaluddin who lost on Saturday (June 30) in his bid to become the next president of Umno has attacked the party’s powerful ‘warlords’ for blocking its members’ wish for change.
He claimed that the electoral-college voting system adopted by Umno favoured the ‘warlords’ – referring to the 191 division chiefs – who keep a tight grip on how members voted.
He said on his Twitter page on Sunday (July 1) that many voting delegates were “directed, threatened, forced to follow the warlords’ choice”, claims that could divide the already weakened party.
Former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, 65, is the new Umno president after getting 99 out of the 191 divisional votes.
Mr Khairy was second with 61 and the third candidate.
Veteran MP Tengku Razaleigh, 81, received 30 votes. One division did not take part in the party elections.
Two other candidates for the president’s post, low ranking party members, did not get any votes.
Some 150,000 delegates voted nationwide – except in Sarawak where Umno does not have representation – with each of the 191 divisions pick one candidate for presidency.
Mr Khairy said the actual tally of the votes showed big support for him.
He said he received 32,592 votes from the delegates, against Zahid’s 39,197.
“Popular vote statistics show that majority of Umno members want change. But the ballot system is in favour of warlords who have a strong grip on their divisions,” tweeted Khairy.
“Many were ordered, threatened, and forced to support the warlords’ choice,” the 42-year old claimed.
“The majority of members want change, but the warlords are still deaf to the voice of the people,” he said, in direct reference to the powerful division chiefs.
The so-called warlords control Umno’s political direction as well as its purse strings.
Mr Khairy said: “Thank you all who supported me. Although I accept this decision with an open heart, I wanted Umno to change.”
Meanwhile, former chief the Puteri (Young Women) wing Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said she has quit the party as she is disappointed with Umno’s failure to elect fresh faces for the party leadership.
Datuk Seri Mas in a statement said that she had hoped that Umno will be steered in a “new direction” in the party elections.
“I hoped to see Umno members choose at least 70 per cent of fresh faces as leaders, but that did not happen,” she said.
“What sort of election is this, if the virus is left to spread and the medicine is too bitter to swallow,” said Ms Mas on Sunday.
She said she will continue with her role as MP for a Melaka constituency.
Source: The Straits Times
Note: If everyone who likes our content helps fund it, it would help us bring more such content in the future. For as little as RM10, you can support The Third Force, and it only takes a minute. Click the donate button on the top right or follow the link HERE if you intend to make a contribution. Thank you.
