Opinion: The wish list is ready, now for the choosing 15 Oct 2006
ABDUL RAZAK AHMAD

With four weeks to go to Umno’s general assembly, ABDUL RAZAK AHMAD looks at what party delegates plan to tell their leaders, and what they’ll be asking for from the party and government.

UMNO’S wish list for the year is contained in thick stacks of documents that now lie at the party’s Kuala Lumpur headquarters.

They hold suggestions and views that represent the party’s three million members on a range of issues. One calls for safeguards for Malay interests in the major cities. Another laments weaknesses in the implementation of development projects. Also included are expressions of undivided support for the party leadership. And dire warnings to those who’ve questioned the social contract.

These are among the grassroots’ many missives included in the proposed motions which Umno divisions nationwide submitted to the party headquarters ahead of the assembly between Nov 13 and 17.

Some of the proposals will be rejected, others endorsed by a special central committee. The remainder will be tabled and debated at the assembly. Those adopted will affect both party and government policies. They are in essence what the Umno rank and file want for the year, and it’s not been a dull year to begin with.

So, what will the grassroots pick up on? For starters, expect delegates to serve a possibly painful reality check on how they believe the Ninth Malaysia Plan is rolling out.

Party figures say an unvarnished status report from the grassroots on the implementation of the 9MP will be a key feature of this year’s assembly.

Some party leaders, seen to have not done enough, along with agencies and government-linked companies still not adequately "helpful" to the 9MP, will be placed in the firing line.

"Some ministers are going to get grilled. They will be told, ‘You have spoken so much about the 9MP, now let us tell you what’s actually happening on the ground’," says Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Datuk Mohamad Norza Zakaria.

Shortcomings hampering Malays on the economic front, says Pahang’s Bera Umno division chief Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob, aren’t new.

"Many feel that what the government wants to achieve is good. But at the grassroots level, there’s also a sense that not enough has been done."

Persistent problems, he says, include red tape and issues in getting access to loans. He expects much of the debate on the economy to focus on this area:

"They are the things we keep complaining about year after year that still haven’t been properly addressed."

Ismail senses frustration on the ground over cases of Malays eager to take up the economic opportunities on offer, such as in small businesses and agriculture, but who end up getting fouled up by implementing agencies and over-conservative banks.

These are people who may turn against the party, which is why the stakes are high. A successful implementation of the 9MP is important for a major win in the next general election, due in less than three years.

"There’s also the question of time. The 9MP was launched this year and will only go into full swing next year," says political analyst Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak from Universiti Utara Malaysia. "There’s a sense of urgency that this is something that needs to be done right on the first go."

The assembly will also provide interesting sideshows from some of the states.

The one to look out for will be from Johor, one of the party’s powerhouses. As in the past, it will target bilateral issues with Singapore.

Pulai division chief Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed says Johor Umno will demonstrate at the assembly that Johor does not aim to be dependent on Singapore for investments. It will emphasise that future growth can succeed with an enlarged investor portfolio.

"This is not in retaliation for what Lee Kuan Yew (Singapore Minister Mentor) said, but because we feel projects such as the South Johor Economic Region (SJER) can invite investment also from the Middle East and other non-traditional sources. The state delegates will adopt a very tough stand on this," says Jazlan.

The state Umno, he adds, will also ask the government to make sure that the interests of the Bumiputera are taken into account in the SJER.

"We want safeguards to help preserve a Malay presence in the city areas. If Malays end up unable to afford housing in Johor Baru, for example, there will be doubts," adds Jazlan.

Another state to look out for will be the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. The FT Umno has long been on a mission to gain greater say in the management of the city.

Assemblies in the past 15 years have heard repeated calls for greater control of Kuala Lumpur’s administration vis-a- vis the re-establishment of the Federal Territories Ministry.

Its latest cause — for the next Kuala Lumpur Datuk Bandar to be a politician — will likely resurface at the coming assembly. The fact that the tenure of the current Datuk Bandar, Datuk Ruslin Hasan, will expire soon after the assembly is not lost on party officials.

"It will be raised. We want the Datuk Bandar to be a politician," says Seputeh division chief Hisham Abd Majid.

Many will also be looking at how party delegates will react to numerous incidents in the past year that have raised difficult questions on very touchy issues, like the position of the Bumiputera and Islam.

Party officials cite the three leading "hot" topics many in the Umno grassroots have very strong feelings about.

First comes developments over the proposed Inter-faith Commission. Second is the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) report, which says that Bumiputera equity ownership in public-listed companies may be as high as 45 per cent, over double the government’s figure.

And the third is the reported call by the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce to abolish the 30 per cent Bumiputera quota in housing and commercial projects.

"There are very heated sentiments on the ground over these matters, especially on the issue of religion. I believe party headquarters will discuss these matters in advance to see how the delegates should approach this," says Ismail.

There will likely be strong words used by some delegates. But many express confidence that it won’t overshadow the larger issues.

"Grassroots concerns are mainly more direct such as, ‘How much am I earning?’ ‘Are the relevant agencies playing their role to help me?’, rather than how to calculate percentages of equity ownership," says Hisham.

Which leaves the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad poser. How big a mark will his attacks have on the party and the administration of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi?

There is admittedly a level of concern in the party. But it’s also understood that many divisions submitted motions expressing support for the leadership of Abdullah and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

That is being read as one sign that the criticisms the former leader raised will most likely not lead to anywhere significant.

"But I think the even bigger task for the party in the assembly is to show that Umno is not divided on the potentially divisive issues raised," says Mustafa.

"They need to make sure that support for the leadership is strong. Abdullah will need it for the many future decisions he will make to see his development plans though.

"If Umno can square this off in its assembly, then it can expect smooth waters to the next general election," he adds.
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