End of the road for Hishammuddin and an Umno dynasty 

The Malaysian Insight The Malaysian Insight Updated 7 years ago · Published on 8 Jun 2018 7:00AM · 12 Comments

Hishammuddin Hussein looking at his late father’s items at the Memorial Tun Hussein Onn in Kuala Lumpur last November. The Umno scion has indicated he just wants to serve as an MP. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 8, 2018.

ONE of Malaysia’s oldest political dynasties could end today with Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein likely to announce to a decision not to contest in the upcoming party elections.

Sources said Hishammuddin has been having second thoughts about continuing in a senior position of the party of his father and grandfather following its dismal showing in the 14th general election.

The 57-year-old former defence minister is expected to announce the decision after a meeting in Johor today where he will meet with the party’s grassroots.

In recent days, he has told senior Umno leaders of his desire to just serve as an MP.‎ If he follows the heart and confirms the decision not to contest the deputy president’s post, it will be the first time in decades that Umno is not being served by one of its blue-blood families.

In the past, there was at least one leader carrying the Razak, Hussein or Mahathir name.

Hishammuddin is the son of former Umno president and prime minister Hussein Onn, who was in turn the son of its first president and co-founder Onn Jaafar.

Hishammuddin has taken on the duties of deputy president after his predecessor, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, became the interim president two weeks ago, following the resignation of party president Najib Razak, who took responsibility for Umno’s losses in GE14.

The Malay party retained only 54 out of 88 parliamentary seats it won in GE13. The Barisan Nasional coalition it led did not win enough seats to form the federal government.

The historic loss has floored the 71-year-old party and has caused soul-searching within its ranks, with some members wondering if the slate of current leaders has the charisma or ideas to revive the party.

As a result, the party’s polls this year will be the most fiercely fought as every member, from former ministers to the lowest branch members, want a shot at reviving the party.

While some leaders have openly expressed a desire to back a Zahid-Hishammuddin team-up for the top two posts, other senior leaders have already thrown their hats in the ring.

Some divisions have nominated former finance minister and Kelantan prince Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to contest the presidency, while a former Negri Sembilan menteri besar is reportedly going for the deputy’s post. – June 8, 2018.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • That's the right thing to do. Hishamuddin is the reason why UMNO is in this state. His Keris waving antique is causing BN lost all Chinese vote in 2008 Andy never come back.

    Posted 7 years ago by KK Cheong · Reply

  • Hishamuddin is quiting because he has no stomach for what it will take to turn UMNO around. He sees what his grandfather saw - the hordes are out of control but this time lost. He knows he cannot provide a shining light and to join the mess is just not worth it for him.

    Posted 7 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • Hisham made a critical life-changing decision that he will never be able to overcome - waving his kris and calling for the blood of fellow Malaysians is a career-ending move. Let this mistake be a lesson for any others wanting to run for political office in Malaysia. We are not going to stand for that kind of behavior.

    Posted 7 years ago by Market Realist · Reply

  • In any other country the keris waving intimidation act will render him months in prison but this is bolehland and DUMNO in power can see murder being condoned.

    Posted 7 years ago by KF Leong · Reply

  • Hishamuddin has never meant o be a leader. He was propped up because he is a grandson, son of UMNO past presidents, juts like Najib. With UMNO's feudalistic mindset, any cat or donkey that are sons or grandsons of last presidents would carry enormous weight in party. Hishamuddin has neither leader's quality nor charisma to lead effectively.

    Posted 7 years ago by Awang Top · Reply

  • Offcoz Malay with keris as a malay culture of tradition and UMNO put as Sacred Simbol on Keris ...
    there is nothing wrong about keris as a Malay
    part of Great History ....
    Why Cina so bias about Malay Heritage like Keris aspecially ...???
    put aside your sentiment away ...
    UMNO is Malay Party base on Race like MAC,MIC or any others ...
    Hope Hishamuddin will keep continue as Leader with strong charisma and Leadership like his Father ....

    Posted 7 years ago by Rosmadi Mamat · Reply

    • Sure Keris is part of malay culuture but when you make a speech, wave it around and look as if you want to kill somebody... it doesn't look good.

      Posted 7 years ago by Alwyn Song · Reply

    • Silly notions and stupid excuses. Ask DAP to start waving a scimitar in their annual meetings and speak the same as H2O. Will you put aside your sentiments.???????????????????

      Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

    • Waving the Keris one of the Malay heritage ways. Yes, maybe for others, it looks scary but it does not have to be questioned as it is just a Malay legacy. tradition

      Posted 7 years ago by Erine Erina · Reply

    • A kris is a beautiful object and a proud part of the Malay culture. A leader of a political party waving a kris and calling for the blood of other races in the country is treason. Let's not confuse the two issues.

      Posted 7 years ago by Market Realist · Reply

  • It's smart thing to do. Imagine going to parliament and trying to criticise the government only to have the usual refrain "so what did you do when you were in the cabinet, and on top of that his cousin?" or "so you think it's alright when you brandished the keris?" He'll let Zahid clean up the mess, and having disassociated himself from party management, he can come in as the "clean guy" later to actually reboot the party if these guys, including KJ, fails. As to whether he still has the calibre at that time, or someone else would have outmaneuvered him by then, who knows? I'm guessing he's considered that option as being better than staying in the management now. But no point feeling sad for him. He's had it made a long time ago.

    Posted 7 years ago by Quigon Bond · Reply

  • Mahathir's dynasty may have been "blue-blood" for Umno, but it was not blue-blooded for Malaysia. Whereas the Razak and Onn families were really aristocratic.

    Nonetheless, it's refreshing that these dynasties are in retreat for new ones to enter. if dynasties are inevitable (as they are in almost all other parties), then the ebbing and flowing of it is more desirable.

    Posted 7 years ago by Melvin Cheah · Reply