Muffled internal campaign reveals deep rifts in UMNO

Muffled internal campaign reveals deep rifts in UMNO

By Bill Tarrant

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad's usually boisterous political party is holding triennial
polls next month, but no one would ever know it by the campaign
so far -- or, more to the point, the lack of one.

Mahathir has decreed a total ban on campaigning, citing the
corrosive influence of "money politics", or vote buying, and the
need to maintain party unity.

Mahathir and his ambitious and charismatic deputy, Anwar
Ibrahim, have made a pact not to challenge each other at this
year's United Malays National Organization (UMNO) convention. But
that just means the battle is being fought by proxy through their
followers, analysts say.

"At UMNO election time the only issue is whether to elect
number one's men or number two's men. Other issues don't exist,"
said an academician and UMNO member who did not want to be named.

By convention, the president and deputy president also occupy
the posts of prime minister and deputy prime minister. Thus, many
political analysts view the triennial UMNO elections as more
significant than a general election.

The UMNO-dominated National Front coalition has ruled Malaysia
since independence from Britain nearly 40 years ago, and it has
won all elections since by landslides.

"While there is no contest for the top two posts, the polls
have, nonetheless, attracted interest because of the evident
tensions in the relations between the prime minister and his
deputy," said IDEA, an independent British research firm in a
commentary on the elections.

While the deputy president is the deputy prime minister and
also inherits the leadership positions, Mahathir, at 70, shows no
sign of wanting to retire.

Anwar, 49, stampeded the last UMNO election convention in
1993, ousting the previous number two, Ghafar Baba. Mahathir, to
his apparent displeasure, was left watching on the sidelines as
Anwar took control of the convention.

Mahathir wants to make sure nothing like that happens this
time around, political analysts said.

Some 200 candidates are vying for three vice presidencies, 25
positions on the Supreme Council and the heads of the youth and
women's wings of the party.

The ban on campaigning was imposed after the party leadership
caught wind of the fact that some delegates to the party general
assembly, scheduled for Oct. 9-12, were willing to sell their
votes to the candidates.

Mahathir complained last month that hotels in Kuala Lumpur
were "full of people tossing money around".

Anwar announced that those found guilty of even minor offenses
of money politics would be disqualified for contesting for
office.

The official list of confirmed candidates was due out last
week but has been delayed.

UMNO Secretary General and Information Minister Mohamed Rahmat
said the party leadership was still investigating allegations of
campaign irregularities against some candidates.

Few candidates are speaking publicly and their usual practice
of holding sponsored seminars, officiating at grand openings and
jockeying for air time on the nightly news has all but ceased.
Newspaper reporters complain they have no race to cover.

The early favorites in the vice presidential races are led by
Education Minister Najib Abdul Razak who, at 43, is considered a
rival to Anwar as the party's future leader.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi and Defence Minister Syed
Hamid Albar, both considered Mahathir's men, are also
frontrunners for the other two vice presidencies, analysts said.

The battles for the youth and women's wings will also be
watched closely. International Trade and Industry Minister
Rafidah Aziz -- another Anwar rival who was cleared in a share
allocation scandal last year -- is being challenged for the
women's top post.

Youth chairman Rahim Tamby Chik, a staunch Mahathir supporter
who was acquitted of sex and corruption charges in separate
trials last year, has several challengers.