SPECIAL REPORT | In Umno, patronage, and politics are often intertwined. Umno warlords, through their vast resources, maintain their support by dishing out patronage.

But when an Umno warlord falls and his ability to dish out patronage diminishes, his support too evaporates.

One such former Umno warlord is Muhyiddin Yassin, who in the early months of his sacking as deputy prime minister in 2015, and later Umno deputy president in 2016, saw his Umno division deputy Ismail Mohamed openly supporting him.

Ismail, who since took over from Muhyiddin to become Pagoh Umno chief, has now chosen to be less vocal, and is touted to be among the candidates set to challenge Muhyiddin in the next general election.

Even Johor Umno chief Mohamed Khaled Nordin, when officiating the Pagoh Umno division delegates' meeting in 2016, called Muhyiddin a "comrade" and expressed his nostalgia towards the Pagoh MP.

A year later, at the Pagoh Umno division delegates' meeting last month, Khaled urged them to move on from the nostalgia.

Ismail is a Johor exco while Khaled is the Johor menteri besar. For top Umno leaders, continuing to support Muhyiddin would have meant they not only risked losing their positions, but also access and ability to dispense patronage.

The same reality is reflected at the grassroots level. However, there are some who have chosen to remain loyal to Muhyiddin, who now leads the Umno splinter Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

For these loyalists, they are already being made to pay the price for their defiance.

Among them is former Panchor Umno youth branch chief Hanafi Md Taib (photo), who has had to adjust to the new reality. Government contracts are now hard to come by.

"My company lost 30 to 40 percent of revenue when I quit Umno," said Hanafi, who runs a construction company.

Changing realities

Hanafi was also stripped of his position as local village council secretary and the respected role of mosque chairperson.

"As village council secretary, I received RM400 in allowances every month.

"As a mosque chairperson, it was also considered a big position (amongst the local community). But they (BN) appointed a new chief without even issuing a letter of termination against me," Hanafi told Malaysiakini.

Apart from losing his monthly allowance and stipend from the various positions he held due to the access he had as an Umno member, Hanafi also has had to fork out his own money for Bersatu events.

Unlike Umno events, sponsorships are rare and government machinery is out of the question.

"I have to fork out at least RM1,000 a month," said Hanafi, who has two wives and nine children.

Last month, Hanafi, who is now a Pagoh Bersatu committee member, helped put together a gathering for Muhyiddin in a Malay village in Pagoh, in open defiance of local Umno supporters.

Hanafi, beaming with pride, said he had also allowed his father's home to be used by Muhyiddin when the latter first announced the setting up of Bersatu in Pagoh last year.

"When Muhyiddin gave his speech (at my father's home), my father listened to him. After that, I saw my father changed. He understands Muhyiddin's struggle," said Hanafi, as he showed a video recording of the function on his mobile phone.

Hanafi had been a Muhyiddin's man for over 20 years, and despite the obstacles, he is facing, intends to continue supporting the Bersatu president.

Another long-time Muhyiddin supporter, 58-year-old Atiman Kadar (photo), also shared with Malaysiakini how his fortunes have quickly changed since he chose Muhyiddin over Umno.

Atiman, who was a Muar municipal councillor, had resigned before he was sacked. He knew that his position was no longer tenable after joining Bersatu. But the move also cost him RM900 in monthly stipend.

“I love Umno because I know the history of it. But we can't allow Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to continue (holding power). He did not follow the party constitution in sacking Muhyiddin.

“We can't only take care of three million Umno members but ignore 30 million Malaysians...My heart goes out to Muhyiddin,” he said at a coffee shop in Panchor, some 10km away from Pagoh town.

Prior to Atiman taking up the role as Pagoh Bersatu secretary, life had been good in Umno, then under the patronage of Muhyiddin.

Atiman was elected as Pagoh Umno committee member in his 30s.

When Muhyiddin headed the Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Cooperatives Ministry in 1999, Atiman was appointed as the Cooperative Commission Malaysia's coordinator for Pagoh.

Not a walk in the park

Due to his long history of service, including as a former local councillor, Atiman is still respected amongst the local community.

Gesturing to a spotlight at a dock near the Muar river, Atiman said getting these lights for local boatmen and villagers was his last contribution as a local councillor.

During Atiman's conversation with Malaysiakini people of various races would greet him from time to time.

However, respect for Atiman as well as the contributions he had made to the local community was not enough to make locals to flock to Bersatu's side, as many were fearful of retribution.

For the first time, Atiman said he had to fork out hundreds of ringgit every month from his own pocket to finance local events – something he never had to do in Umno.

“When I was Umno branch chief, I had many people to help. More time for travel...but now I have to work hard on the ground,” he said.

For 59-year-old ex-airman Ahmad Othman, his entry to politics came later due to restrictions in the military.

He submitted his Umno membership in 2000, as soon as he retired from the Air Force and was immediately appointed as Felda Lenga Sinar Baru branch deputy chief.

Ahmad said he had wanted to join Umno since observing Muhyiddin while he was still in military service.

So when Muhyiddin was sacked from Umno, Ahmad's choice as obvious. He led at least 150 members to quit Umno and join Bersatu, crippling the local Umno branch.

“The Umno branch here is considered closed,” he laughed.

Ahmad has not had to deal with the loss of positions or allowances, but he had lost friends.

“My pension is okay...but some people don't want to befriend me anymore, it's normal," he told Malaysiakini in Durian Chondong, a village which is about a 30km drive from Pagoh town.

Despite the obstacles, Muhyiddin's loyalists such as these have been able to chip away at Umno bit by bit, since Bersatu's founding in September last year.

However, the wider structure of Umno remains intact, and with less than a year to the general election, Muhyiddin will still need to face off with a wounded but still formidable Umno in Pagoh.

Part 1: Muhyiddin, Pagoh and the coup of Permatang Pauh

Part 2: Bersatu and its anchor for the northern Johor assault

Part 3: Muhyiddin's men and the price and pain of loyalty