Parties that remain in office for lengthy periods often become subject to factionalism. This is because as the party's capacity to control public appointments and direct state contracting becomes ever more deeply entrenched, the power of party notables as patrons become more pronounced too.

Yet, while factionalism within Unmo is much remarked upon, it is rarely analysed by academics.

Although specialists on Malaysian politics generally agree that factions do exist in Umno, indeed in other ethnic political parties too, no attempts have been made to explain the origin or circumstances of factionalism within the context of Malaysia. Nor has there been any attempts to distinguish factionalism from mere cliquish political behaviour.

Every organisation, and certainly every political party, contains organised power groupings. Umno is no exception.

The difference that separates Umno, from say, the Labor Party in Australia which also has its factions, is the manner in which factions resolve their 'within group' conflicts.