Q&A: Musa on corruption, politics and leadership styles

comments     Yap Mun Ching and Steven Gan     Published     Updated

In his last major address to Johor Umno members in 2000, veteran leader Musa Hitam chided his audience at length for the " sokong dan setuju " (support and agree) syndrome afflicting the party.

Three years later, malaysiakini catches up with Musa - a former deputy premier and deputy Umno president - to see if anything has changed in order to improve the party's image in time for the next general election.

Malaysiakini: You were previously quite critical of the situation within Umno, such as the problem of money politics and the "sokong dan setuju" syndrome. Do you think Umno has mended itself?

Musa Hitam

: Well, I've said my piece then. Let's see what is coming. If I start repeating it again before the poor fellow (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) takes over, I would be saying all the things that can be misinterpreted.

I would give some time for things to settle down under the new leadership. It could do worse or it could do better, whatever 'better' means. We hope (Umno issues) are not going to be the order of the day under the Abdullah regime.

Can he bring about some kind of reform in Umno?

Reform is a dirty word. Maybe change. The point is that it will be an Abdullah government. (Outgoing Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) had his 2020 vision and he has got his pet projects, big projects which have made Malaysia known. Abdullah may have different priorities.

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