news analysis

Umno elections is the best time to test if one is still wanted or to see how stubborn one could remain. In fact, victories by younger challengers in the recently concluded Umno branch and divisional elections have left defeated incumbents red-faced. As a result, there are several 'odd couples' pairing in the divisional leadership.

Several others have survived a series of scares, but a number of party incumbents are all in danger of making embarrassing exits in future branch and divisional elections. The bulk of members in key positions school teachers, clerks, penghulus or village headmen are being replaced by graduates, academicians, businessmen and corporate figures.

The replacements are the product of the New Economic Policy (NEP). They are radical in their thinking and have a vision for themselves, party and nation. They have their own political agenda and are keen for someone of their generation to lead the party into the next century.

It must be accepted that changes in political leadership of parties, is a natural process and inevitable, unless time stands still. It is both exciting and frightening. These younger generation leaders in Umno have never been afraid to speak their mind but their sincerity has given them all sorts of problems.

This has proved that their speech can be dangerous, but obviously the victim is themselves. Politicians call it 'the law of unintended consequences'.

Writing on the wall

This has greatly affected Umno Youth which now appears to have lost its sense of direction, as if a line has been drawn which make any youth leader think many times before crossing. They seem to be blocked at every turn.

This gesture marks a radical departure from the previous Umno Youth political tradition. The toughest challenge facing Umno Youth leaders now will be finding a formula to restore its image as an effective and respectable movement in Umno and Barisan Nasional.

While some Umno Youth leaders claim that members approve for its non-confrontational stance, assessments were mixed. The writing began to appear on the wall when new faces, like the current movement's head, Hishammuddin Hussein Onn, suddenly wielded unprecedented power despite their lack of experience in national politics.

It is time Umno Youth faced up to the implications of these trends. Above all, they must learn to take responsibility to maintain unity and credibility, without looking reflexively to the top party leadership as a provider and a path-pointer.

Instead of responding to agendas set by the Supreme Council, the movement should begin setting them. And then translate the words into action.

It must learn to listen to criticism which show the kind of affection the members and people have for the movement. The coming Umno General Assembly beginning this Thursday is a good beginning.

They should be mature enough now to do so. And to do so effectively, the movement's leadership will need to resist the temptation to play off against each other. Senior political analysts believe that some Umno members failed to express their true concerns previously and are only now doing so.

"If you don't listen to every one's view, then you risk taking Umno Youth where members don't want to go," they added.

Heaped plate

Previously, Umno Youth was a force of its own, firmly anchored by its sense of identity and national unity. Only few in Umno command the respect that its leaders do. They always used their considerable talents to thwart whatever they saw as detrimental to the party and the nation.

The contrasts between the current and the previous Umno Youth leaders are striking. They have been prominent in national politics for years. They were also powerful orators. Hishammuddin has until the next party elections to prove what he could do. He can read the signs as well as anyone else.

Hishamuddin has been leading a more official life. He reportedly has received good marks for the work he has done at the Youth and Sports Ministry, especially in relation to Malaysia's effort to promote Malaysia as the international sporting avenue.

But as Umno Youth chief, it is thought, Hishammuddin may have too much on his plate to run the movement effectively.

For the movement leaders, the problem means relearning some history lessons. This frustration is shared by some members of the movement. Apparently, says a senior Umno member, everyone is so busy that nobody thought to ask an obvious question: Could this movement keep up the pace?

The new fear is that if the drifting is not arrested soon, the ties that link the movement to its traditional values may snap. He says the movement has been 'useful' so far, but would probably offer diminishing returns with every annual meeting.

And a senior party veteran isn't laughing. The movement, he says bluntly, has entered an era of political stagnation. Some think that time had sapped their courage, dulled their political instincts and blunted their popular appeal.

They do appear uncertain about how to carry on the struggle. Some of them are neither the leader type nor are they independent politically. Like other previous youth leaders, most of them will eventually fade into obscurity when they reach the age limit of 40.

Dinosaurs around

The movement is also having trouble attracting students who should be its major supporters. One fact is becoming inescapable: More often than not, it is complacency that characterises today's young leaders. And that may be a key reason for the drift.

Many observers say everything will have to be rethought. They are calling for a radical restructuring of the movement. That will only become politically possible, they say, when younger politicians representing urban and rural voters push out the 'dinosaurs' now in the movement.

The restructuring will be massive and complex, but there are synergies that can be harnessed. This includes the setting up of an independent committee to expand the spectrum of views represented in the society. The positions should be filled on the basis of different types of expertises such as law or business - with no party affiliation.

Without constituencies or party responsibility, they can bring up issues with less hesitation. This will also provide the movement leaders with some 'sparring partners' so that they cannot turn their back on the very principles they were elected to uphold.

Local issues are more important in every election. Certainly, those would be steps in the right direction. Many observers agree that there is a need for more checks and balances 'as long as they are legitimate and constructive'.

Wake-up call

In fact, the Umno leaders seem to have acknowledged as much. Party president, Dr Mahathir Mohamad's words, when he directed Umno Youth to set up election centres and to recruit new members, is a wake-up call for the movement.

Dr Mahathir apparently aims to put more pressure on the movement's leadership. And that would be a strong signal that the top leadership may be changing its attitude toward the movement.

Few insiders are betting that the Umno top leadership is ready to do so. And until it recovers that backbone, Umno Youth will not be taken seriously as a strong force in the party.

NASH RAHMAN is former chief news editor of Berita Harian , former editor of the now defunct daily Watan and former associate editor of The Sun .