Changing of the guards in Bersatu

Can Bersatu’s presumptive deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin measure up to the role of Perikatan’s prime minister candidate?

THE “dream team” envisaged by Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be unveiled at the party election next week.

Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin has won the deputy president's post uncontested, but with six candidates going for the three vice-president (VP) seats, there is no guarantee that the trio Muhyiddin has in mind to complete the “dream team” will make it.

The former Prime Minister is grateful that Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu has made way for Hamzah to become the next deputy president.

During a session in Chemor, Perak, where delegates met those contesting posts, Muhyiddin said it is rare for anyone to make such an “immense sacrifice” and urged the delegates to show their support for Ahmad Faizal who is contesting the VP post.

Ahmad Faizal is the sacrificial lamb but he is likely to sail through going by the loud applause for him at similar events in other states.

Muhyiddin feared that a high level contest would split the party and he did not want to lose either one of the two leaders. Besides, Hamzah was the logical choice given that he is the Larut MP whereas Ahmad Faizal lost in the general election.

On his part, Ahmad Faizal spent the last couple of months explaining to his supporters that he was not arm-twisted into the decision, although it is known that the former Perak Mentri Besar does not have the sort of war chest needed to fight Hamzah.

Nevertheless, a contest would have given the winner legitimacy and clout over the party.

It is no secret that Hamzah has his own cabal of loyalists who often convene at his bungalow office in Taman Tunku and which is dubbed the “White House”.

Sources said Muhyiddin has asked Hamzah to reciprocate the sacrifice made and to ensure that Ahmad Faizal fares well.

The other VP candidates are incumbents Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee and Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin, Terengganu state exco member Datuk Razali Idris, Kuang assemblyman Rafiq Abdullah and Batu Kawan division chief Aziss Zainal Abiddin. It is a tight race where only Ahmad Faizal and Aziss are non-YBs.

“It has been harmonious, there aren’t personal attacks and we try to maintain decorum,” said Taman Medan assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin, who is among the 87 candidates vying for the 20 seats in the leadership council.

The wings will hold their respective annual assemblies and elections this weekend.

Masjid Tanah MP and lawyer Mas Ermieyati Samsudin has won the Wanita leadership unopposed and all eyes will be on the contest for the Armada leadership between Gombak Setia assemblyman Hilman Idham and incumbent Armada permanent chairman Zahin Zainal.

“I think the grassroots have taken note of what the president is saying because almost 70% of the division chiefs won without a contest,” said an aide to a top leader.

Political commentator Khaw Veon Szu said the next general election will determine if the party survives or fades away.

“The fact that Umno has stabilised means that Bersatu has limited space to manoeuvre and they might have problems recruiting new blood,” he said.

Khaw said that although Bersatu is basically a Malay-centric party, it has many leaders who are well-educated, speak English and are in touch with west coast sentiments. They are not the madrasah-schooled type of politicians associated with PAS.

For instance, after Dr Afif was interviewed on a popular radio show, some commentators on social media expressed surprise that he speaks fluent English.

However, this party seems to be in the crosshairs of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Muhyiddin is fighting graft charges, his son-in-law is a fugitive and he is also facing sedition charges for his comments about the role played by the palace in the formation of the government.

The personal bank accounts of Hamzah and wife are still frozen by the authorities while his son is facing a bribery charge.

More recently, there has been a hue and cry over money found in “safehouses” and several persons were arrested in an ongoing corruption probe involving the Selangor Mentri Besar Incorporated.

Speculation is rife about the Mentri Besar figure although the MACC has not named names.

People in the party have decried it as political persecution and an attempt to harass and embarrass their party.

But what goes around, comes around. Bersatu had done the same when it was part of Pakatan Harapan after the 2018 general election. They had also used the instruments of state to go on a witch-hunt of Umno leaders.

Has all this affected the image of the party? Yes and no in the sense that those who support Perikatan Nasional will continue to rally behind Bersatu while those who do not will continue to believe everything bad about the party.

In the final analysis, what is at stake could be the reputation of the MACC.

Meanwhile, it will be a momentous time for Hamzah when he takes centerstage as Bersatu’s new deputy president next week.

Hamzah is already the Opposition Leader and with Muhyiddin unlikely to contest the next general election, the silver-haired politician with the boyish smile is poised to be Perikatan’s prime minister candidate.

Hamzah has upped his game in recent years, breathing fire and brimstone at Parliament sittings but falling short of depth when it comes to policy.

There are also doubts that he can match up to Muhyiddin who was the unifying figure in Perikatan and who is respected by top PAS leaders.

“He will need to rethink how to project himself as a PM candidate,” said Khaw.