The basic test of whether democratic principles are upheld or not in the spirit of Islamic values during an election can be done by asking a few basic questions:

  • Does the system give any advantage to the incumbent/s?

  • Does the system in any way put a challenger in a position of disadvantage?

  • Does the system permit the most eligible among members to contest?

  • Does the system allow voters to be informed of what is good for them and the community?

  • Does the system allow candidates to put across to the voters their individual visions and missions for contesting?

  • Are the voters able to cast their votes in confidence, without fear or favor?

  • Can the system eliminate those candidates who are not sincere but are in a position of influence and power besides having a substantial war chest?

  • Is the election conducted in a fair, transparent and orderly manner?

    • As the dominant party in the ruling coalition of the country, it is crucial that Umno set the standard for democratic practices, otherwise it would be making a mockery of our country as a democratic nation.

    As the answers to the above are too obvious, may I suggest that Umno re-embrace mainstream democratic principles and abide by the true spirit of Islamic justice and let Ku Li and other aspiring candidates contest in the party election unhindered and without any pre-condition.

    The requirement for Ku Li to garner 30 percent of the total number of nominations prior to being eligible to contest is just one of the undemocratic principles and practices inherited from the Mahathir era which Pak Lah and Najib now find expedient to use as a bulwark to lock out their former leader in Semangat 46.

    Najib is not Pak Lah's idea of the best deputy - that was why he took more than six months to announce his appointment. Again, it was done as a matter of expediency in order to prevent Umno from splitting into factions and even then, after much coaxing from Dr Mahathir.

    On the same note, from Najib's perspective, Pak Lah in not his idea of an ideal boss. But Pak Lah is good for him personally as it is becoming clear by the days that Pak Lah will not last long as a prime minister.

    So his 'waiting time' may not be long before the chair becomes his for the taking. The same may not be true if Tengku.Razaleigh were to be the prime minister.

    So the sincerity of Najib's support for Pak Lah has to be taken with a lot of salt. Finally Mahathir himself, deep in the recess of his heart and conscience is saying that Ku Li is the man for the chair if only he were to be more docile and not to be so presumptuous as to claim that the chair is his birthright

    Poor Mahathir - the persons who are most eligible to succeed him are tigers and he does not want what had happened between him and Anwar to repeat.

    So what is the best choice for Umno and the country then?

    The answer is to let the majority decision transcend above the narrow greed of personal interest and individual concern. Just vote for Ku Li. In the light of the above what can be more Islamic than that?