THE Amanah grassroots opted for continuity over change as they endorsed almost all the party’s founders for another three-year term.

Yesterday, five of its ministers and four deputy ministers were re-elected into the 27-member central committee – the party’s highest decision-making body.

This continuity is expected to continue with the 27 likely to retain the president, deputy and three vice-presidents.

These top five posts are chosen by the central committee together with the 14 state chiefs and the heads of the wanita and youth wings.

“The delegates are satisfied with the performance of the national leadership building the party over the past four years through what has been challenging times,” says Segambut division chief Irwan Sabei.

In the last four years while the party was struggling to gain its footing, it had to face two by-elections, the Sarawak elections and the 14th general election, said Irwan.

After Amanah and its partners in Pakatan Harapan won federal power, its top leaders have to contend with the responsibility of being ministers and deputy ministers.

“So, given the challenges we’ve faced, the delegates feel satisfied with the leadership even though there are internal problems, such as building the party machinery,” said Irwan.

“We’re giving them another term to see how far they can take the party. After two terms, who knows?” Irwan told The Malaysian Insight on the sidelines of Amanah’s convention in Shah Alam last
night.

Unlike most other political parties, Amanah does not have individual contests for the top five posts. Delegates vote for a 27-member committee that then choose among themselves who to occupy the posts.

Ministers Mohamad Sabu (defence), Salahuddin Ayub (agriculture and agro-based industry), Khalid Samad (federal territories), Dr Dzulkelfy Ahmad (health) and Mujahid Yusof Rawa (Prime Minister’s Department) were joined by deputy ministers Hanipa Maidin, Dr Hatta Ramli, Mahfuz Omar and Raja Kamarul Bahrin Raja Ahmad Baharuddin.

Hanipa is in the Prime Minister’s Department, Hatta is in the Entrepreneur Development Ministry, Raja Kamarul Bahrin in Housing and Mahfuz in Human Resources.

Newly appointed central committee member Sany Hamzan said the system takes the heat and hostility out party elections when two personalities and their supporters clash for one post.

Also, the 27 can meet among themselves at any time to replace any of the five since these posts are technically chosen by the committee, said Sany.

“The re-election of these personalities (such as Khalid and Hatta) is a thumbs up for their roles as communications chief and election director,” said Kevin Shawn Gomez an Amanah youth delegate.

“The line-up is to prepare for the 15th general election, so that’s why we need people who’ve done well such as Hatta and Khalid.”

Gomez, one of the non-Muslims who made it into the national youth wing, said delegates believe that what the party needs right now is stability.

“We need to be stable to help Pakatan Harapan get through these turbulent times,” Gomez said, referring to the infighting that often crops up in and between other parties in the coalition.

PH also has to contend with declining support because of the slow pace of its reforms and the challenge of restructuring the economy while facing financial constraints. – December 7, 2019.