COMMENT | How does one explain the Umno exodus and what are its implications? Most of the 17 Umno MPs who have quit the party since the 14th general election on May 9, cite the leadership’s lack of direction as the main reason for their decision.

More than a lack of direction, it is perhaps the multiple charges of corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering, among other instances of power abuse facing leaders such as the former Umno president and prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, and his then deputy and now Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, that have eroded the confidence of these legislators and other Umno personalities in the party.

When the men at the helm of an organisation are so badly tainted and tarnished with allegations of crimes of such magnitude, one should not expect the people around them to remain loyal to their authority.

There is perhaps another reason why Umno is haemorrhaging. Because Umno, the mainstay of the BN government, exercised such overwhelming power for 61 years, its present situation where it has little authority, does not occupy positions of importance in society, and does not enjoy the perks and privileges of high office, is a huge psychological setback to the party, especially its elites...