Political Casablanca

Political Casablanca

By Tay Tian Yan Sin Chew Daily Updated:2006-05-08 17:00:53 MYT

The old and young in politics are beginning to creep into action.

Former Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Junid is almost forgotten by those in the inner political circle, although the political circle has not been forgotten by him, apparently.

Last week, he teamed up with another ex-politician, also in the veteran category, former NST chief Abdullah Ahmad, to stage a political show in JB to wax lyrical of Mahathir's great achievements, including his effort to build the Scenic Bridge.

However, the focus of the evening's talk was not around these two veterans, but Mukhriz Mahathir, the senior Mahathir's only son in politics, currently an UMNO Youth exco.

Mukhriz not only feels that the bridge project must go ahead, he even thinks that the issue should be brought to the attention of the international court. His line is in perfect consistence with that of his father.

But, UMNO deputy chairman Khairy Jamaluddin begs to differ. Khairy issued a statement almost immediately dismissing that as the stand of UMNO Youth, which was not in conformity to the Youth's earlier decision to support the halting of the bridge project.

Such disagreement is natural, but also unusual.

Natural, because Mukhriz has an obligation to support his father's ideas while Khairy is bound to defend the decision made by his father-in-law. It entails not only politics, but family too, and is therefore unable to be solved within the UMNO Youth framework.

Unusual, because a great majority of problems have been settled in private in UMNO Youth's history. Anything which could be solved should be solved in private; otherwise, it should be swept under the carpet in its entirety. The apparent solidarity and strength of UMNO Youth have emerged largely in this way.

In the last party election for instance, despite the intense competition between Khairy and Mukhriz over the post of deputy chairman, agreement was somewhat reached in private so that the seat could go to Khairy uncontested.

But the bridge issue this time round is beyond the scope of internal compromise, and the conflicts between Khairy and Mukhriz once again come to the surface.

It should be noted that even though Mukhriz has in any way breached the disciplines of UMNO Youth, the most appropriate person to take the lead in rectifying the impasse should be Youth chief Hishamuddin. However, Hishamuddin's muted response shows that he may have his own worries.

Sanusi and Abdullah Ahmad were key figures reminiscent of the past administration. While the former was once the party's chief secretary during the Mahathir era, the latter assumed the defensive role for Mahathir in media until his dismissal by Abdullah Badawi after the change of guards.

Despite their unyielding fighting spirit, these two veteran politicians remain icons of a bygone era, unable to create waves in today's political scene.

Nevertheless, another UMNO veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is also trying to steal the limelight by planning a bridge talk in JB this weekend. At such a sensitive time, Ku Li's motives are questionable by planting a foot on the most sensitive issue.

Of course, Ku Li's position is different from that of Sanusi or Abdullah Ahmad. Although his influences are no longer as significant today, at a time when various factions within UMNO are attempting to amass their respective strengths, Ku Li's moves remain something to watch out for.

Mahathir's gunfire is getting increasingly powerful, and his loyal supporters are already taking up positions. It is very likely that the Scenic Bridge issue will continue to swing the pendulum in next year's party elections.

Although it is still too early to predict what kind of situation will prevail in party central, at least tough rivalries are anticipated in the youth wing. The conflicts between Khairy and Mukhriz, both rising political stars, are now out of the bag. While Khairy is seen to keep up his momentum to pursue his ends, there is no turning back for Mukhriz. Heads-on clash is almost inevitable.

And JB today is not unlike Casablanca during WWII, with all the factions setting up agencies to launch one after another round of duels, openly or in secret.