ADUN SPEAKS | Last week, Malaysia witnessed the exodus of 10 MPs and nine assemblypersons from the once mighty Umno. These moves were followed by other former leaders as well as scores of ordinary members. The reason given was that they had lost the confidence in the leadership of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

These MPs and assemblypersons have declared themselves independent and sworn their new allegiance to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Pakatan Harapan government. They had also stated they are still considering their options regarding which party they would be joining later.

However, it was widely assumed that most, if not all, will be joining Bersatu. This had evoked widespread anxiety and protests from the ordinary Malaysians as well as other component parties.

PKR and DAP stated that these political defectors would not be accepted into their parties. Whereas PPBM and Amanah were open to those that are clean from corruption and wrongdoings. The president of Bersatu Muhyiddin Yassin had in fact asked the MACC and police to help screen the ex-UMNO leaders applying to become members.

Ironically, the Bersatu’s leaders, MPs, ADUNs and its members are the ones that stand to lose the most from taking in large number of these ex-Umno members, even if they are found to be “clean”.

First, Bersatu was established because these ex-Umno members refused to heed their warnings that the mega scandal of 1MDB and Najib’s RM 2.6 billion “donation” were going to be the downfall of Umno and BN. 

In fact, together with Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin and Mohd Shafie Apdal, they were labelled as traitors to the party and Malay race. Many were unceremoniously sacked and removed from their party positions. There was no sympathy or support but sneers from those who chose to stay in Umno until now.

Even up to the time of quitting Umno, none of them had admitted to their mistake in covering up the fact that Najib and 1MDB had brought shame onto Malaysia as the biggest kleptocracy country in the world. There were no apologies, regret or remorse expressed. 

They even claimed with straight faces their moves were to help theirs constituencies and to “stabilise” the Harapan government to gain the trust of the foreign investors.

To accept these opportunistic people into Bersatu will make Bersatu appears to be a party that of no principles, and thus lose the trust of the voters who supported the party.

Second, and more importantly for the existing Bersatu members, is the fact that the “new” members will be fighting for everything they can lay their hands on once they are admitted into the party. 

They may even start to seize control of the party's branches, divisions as well as leadership positions by their sheer numbers. What appeared to be “prize catches” for Bersatu will turn out to be the proverbial Trojan horse. 

If overwhelming numbers of elected reps of up to 40 MPs and their followers join Bersatu, Mahathir, Muhyiddin and Mukhriz Mahathir would have to take notice of their demands for ministerial posts and agenda or risked ousted from their own party.

All the ex-Umno leaders did not get to where they were by being nice and generous. They were well known to so territorial in protecting their tufts that more qualified people would be refused memberships. The warlords with sheepskins are political predators. They will start to bare their fangs as soon as it is necessary to fight for their shares of spoils and rewards in the new party and government. 

They will go after cabinet minister positions, money allocations, contracts, candidacies and all the trappings of power. The first people that will be brushed aside will be the original members who sacrificed and risked their livelihoods fighting against the previous BN/Umno government from before GE14. 

After that, the current MPs and Ministers will be elbowed aside to make way for the new breed of more aggressive race and religion “warriors”. A perfect resurrection will emerge once the “reverse takeover” of Bersatu by Umno is complete.

As a finale, the payback time and those who once “betrayed” Umno resulting in its downfall will be selected out for persecution or ostracised. Anybody who disagreed will be labelled as “traitors” against the New Malaysia.

All these can be avoided if Bersatu does not take in many ex-Umno warlords, leaders and members. Only accept the minimum number of those that can help with pushing through the legislative reforms. Otherwise Umno may well have the last laugh.

KO CHUNG SEN is the Kepayang assemblyperson.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.