Published March 18, 2009

Muhyiddin is front-runner for Umno's No.2 post

Malacca CM is barred from contesting in next week's party polls

By S JAYASANKARAN
IN KUALA LUMPUR

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MALAYSIA'S International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has emerged as the front-runner for the deputy presidency of the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) after his main rival, Malacca Chief Minister Mohamad Ali Rustam, was barred yesterday from contesting in next week's polls.

Mr Muhyiddin: Was endorsed for Umno deputy presidency late last year

In a decision that could rock the party looking ahead, Umno's disciplinary board barred Mr Ali from standing in the elections for 'being vicariously liable for the actions of his agents'.

The head of the board, Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Ismail, a former foreign minister, did not elaborate, but it is generally understood that the offence has to do with alleged money politics. Meanwhile, Mr Ali's political secretary was suspended from the party for three years.

Khairy Jamaluddin, the son-in-law of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and a contender for the Umno Youth chief's post, was also deemed guilty of the same offence but was let off with a warning.

Meanwhile, former Selangor chief minister Khir Toyo, also an aspirant for Umno Youth chief, was cleared of all charges.

The board's action will winnow the contest for the deputy presidency to a straight fight between Mr Muhyiddin, 61, and Land and Regional Development Minister Muhammad Muhammad Taib, 59. Mr Muhammad, however, had been trailing in opinion polls behind Mr Ali, who had been the clear front-runner previously, and Mr Muhyiddin.

Speculation about Mr Ali's impending doom began circulating last week but the politician continued to appear before assembly delegates. He, however, refused to answer any questions over the allegations. Even so, he is said to be furious at the decision with some of his supporters threatening to leave the party to become independents.

As if to head off such a threat, Deputy Premier Najib Razak said yesterday Mr Ali would continue to be Malacca's chief minister, adding he hoped Mr Ali would accept the board's decision 'with an open heart'.

Mr Ali emerged as the front-runner early on because of his network of supporters among the party's grass roots and Islamic organisations. He first burst into prominence when he contested an Umno vice-presidency in 2004 for the first time and won. But he was never taken seriously before, partly because he was seen to lack the experience at the national level and partly because he lacked the necessary skills to be considered for national leadership.

Indeed, when he endorsed Mr Muhyiddin for the deputy presidency late last year, former premier Mahathir Mohamad dismissed both Mr Ali and Mr Mohamad as 'jokers'.

The danger to Mr Muhyiddin's chances now is a shift to Mr Muhammad by supporters of Mr Ali, smarting from the 'injustice' done to their man. But Mr Najib's supporters, who have come out in favour of Mr Muhyiddin, are likely to mitigate the damage.

Even so, the fallout from Mr Ali's ouster could take its time coming and some Umno partymen are worried. 'I think we are caught between a rock and a hard place,' Umno treasurer Azim Zabidi told BT.

'On the one hand, we want to purge the party of unethical practices; on the other, there could be such repercussions that we could be setting up the party's own demise,' he said.