I refer to the Malaysiakini report Khairy vs Mukhriz dan Khir Toyo .

It was a rare privilege listening and watching three Umno Youth chief aspirants ‘debate’ the future direction of Umno Youth on national television. As the dust has settled, it might be worth looking carefully at the three alternatives that presented themselves in the form of Mukriz Mahathir, Dr Khir Toyo and Khairy Jamaluddin.

Umno Youth has traditionally been the vigorous voice within Umno. It was once very much in touch with the ground and used to be composed largely of teachers and those individuals who gave selflessly to the causes that Umno championed whether that was Malay rights, national independence or affirmative action for the bumiputera.

As such, the Youth movement being a bit ‘radical’ is nothing new. It is supposed to act as a pressure group within Umno just as the respective youth movements that later developed in other BN component parties were suppose to push for their respective agendas.

If everything worked well, some form of equilibrium would be found and a political middle-ground discovered. Their zeal has always been tempered by the ‘wisdom’ of their respective party leaders.

Mukhriz Mahathir presented a very calm image arising from the believe that the BN model is still the best mechanism to manage a multi-ethnic nation like Malaysia. Provided the leadership is competent and results-oriented, that model should still be relevant.

As Umno Youth leader, he will bring stability back to the party. More importantly, the implicit message is that his father would probably be a supporter of Umno instead of its most trenchant critic.

Mohd Khir Toyo believes in a stronger and more aggressive Umno, one that does not tolerate any challenge to Malay dominance and one that does not make excuses for Malay privileges.

A demonstration of power, preferably a clamping down on alternative views about the party or its ideology, is the first step towards a return to the glory days of the BN. Khir is the most experienced of the three, having been a menteri besar appointed by Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The most inscrutable of the three candidates is Khairy Jamaluddin. He appears the most reasonable because he has crafted his message for the ears of the Malaysian middle-class. His message is that Umno must acknowledge the reality that the ground has shifted.

Malays are more Muslim and less Malay; they are more middle class than Malay and the battle for the future lies in claiming the political middle ground. All this said after the rally in Ipoh gives the impression that there are two or possibly more Khairys.

Herein lies the difficult choice for Umno. To be moderate in a political climate as charged and divisive as now is to court internal rejection. To stand on the fence and make no radical move renders one invisible.

To veer to the right might win one the post but ultimately pushes the party so far off the middle ground as to potentially lose the hearts and minds of moderate Malaysians. So it will be tough choosing from one of the three.

But the man who made the biggest impression was undoubtedly Khir Toyo. Few will be able to forget Khir Toyo's assessment of the special position of Umno within the BN coalition. Umno is clearly, to his mind, the dominant party and that is why it is ‘different from the MCA or Gerakan’.

As Khir is the most experienced and senior of the trio, he presumably understands how BN works. So, perhaps, this is the reality of the BN coalition, which is in power because Umno is able control its junior partners, give them direction and thus hold the coalition within its will.

Under Khir, the other parties must learn to live with that reality. Such a view leaves no doubt left in the minds of the ordinary Malaysian about the way the BN functions and that, at best, the MCA et al are subsidiary parties.

Undoubtedly, all three candidates have some plans of their own for Umno. Personal ambition and political survival aside, all three represent significant directions that may define where the party is going.

To some Umno members, there is too much nosing about their own affairs by outsiders. But Umno must remember that Malaysians are curious because like the US presidential elections, whoever wins the Umno Youth leadership will probably make decisions that will effect our lives.

So it is good that the party has decided to go on national television to lay down their case. Will the aspirants for Umno deputy president follow suit? It will be a free public relations exercise and even more important to the nation as the deputy president of Umno is only a heartbeat away from the premiership.

As for the Umno Youth candidates for the wing’s top post, they have nothing to worry about. We cannot determine the outcome of this internal party elections. Our votes only count come whenever there is by-election or a general election.