A coup within a coup?


FIVE days after Muhyiddin Yassin announced his cabinet line-up on March 9, Najib Razak explicitly said Umno’s support for Perikatan Nasional was only guaranteed until the 15th general election. He clearly wasn’t joking.

Earlier this week, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s Facebook post on Umno’s readiness to face GE15 has stirred much talk in the country about the party triggering snap polls. Of course, Zahid isn’t the only one openly declaring Umno’s readiness. 

This stance has also been echoed by the party vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who commented that both Umno and PAS through Muafakat Nasional are ready to take on the next election should it be held in the near future. The battle lines have been drawn, and Umno has officially sounded the trumpets of war.

What is remarkable about this unfolding of events is that Umno has not even bothered concealing the fact that it is deliberately leaving Bersatu out of the equation. Its brazenness only makes one thing clear – Umno has absolutely no intention of ever treating Bersatu as an equal coalition partner. 

And why would it? Bersatu is a breakaway party of Umno, and it was established for the very purpose of being Umno’s contender in all Umno seats. The overlap of their interests is irreconcilable as both parties would not give the other any political leeway, let alone an easy pass to federal power. 

Bersatu’s mere existence challenges Umno’s very pride and ego. Even though the former has often been labelled a “mosquito party” and certainly pales in terms of numbers when compared to Umno, its stubborn refusal to kowtow to Umno leadership threatens the latter’s territory and dominance. 

As we all know too well by now, Umno despises being challenged and will never accept playing sidekick to anyone. And certainly not to another party that blatantly defied it in the past. Time does not heal all wounds, and some hatchets can never be truly buried. 

Moreover, Muhyiddin simply doesn’t command the same kind of blind devotion and support from Bersatu members the way Najib still does from the Umno base. The Bersatu president has never been seen as a force to be reckoned with, and this is further proven by his inability to keep a rein on his own cabinet. He is afraid of stirring the hornet’s nest, and there is nothing Umno bloodhounds thrive on more than fear.    

On the other hand, while Zahid may be president of Umno, the truth is that Najib is still able to twist him around his little finger. Despite not holding any position within Umno or the PN government itself, the disgraced ex-prime minister still easily overshadows Muhyiddin anytime.

Umno has always been the main character in its story, and all other characters will either conform to its narrative or be blotted out completely. Hence, while it is undeniable that it has repeatedly stated that PAS is an ally, don’t be fooled as there is nothing equal about this so-called partnership. 

The only reason PAS is even able to strike such a deal with Umno is simply because it is willing to accept that Umno will always lord over it. But the moment PAS even attempts to deviate from the path Umno has carved out, Umno will not hesitate to decimate it.     

Therefore, the fact that both Umno and Bersatu are now in the same coalition stands for nothing. It is simply a matter of time before Umno brings down Bersatu the way Bersatu brought down Pakatan Harapan. For Umno, it is do that or die trying.  – June 7, 2020.

* Lara Ling reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.


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Comments


  • the writer of this article must be a PH diehard fan.

    Posted 3 years ago by Noor Azhar Kamaruddin · Reply

  • Yes she maybe a PH fan but there are truth in what were presented.

    Posted 3 years ago by Adrian Tan · Reply

  • nothing much can be done to those Umno guards above 50 yrs old. Most if not all have benefitted one way or another from BN. The truth is while a minority Malays have enriched themselves but the majority remain struggling without financial freedom or sustainable income. This leads to insecurity of the young geneartions if all races and background. A legacy left behind by a corrupted govt is none other than a country full of debt/liability and weak economy and damaged financial positions like currency exchange and high property prices versus earning power. Its the young voters would determine what sort if govt they want, what type of MPs they would vote? The young generation owe nothing to the govt and have every reason to vote in a clean and competent govt to safeguard their LONG future. THINK ABOUT THIS, young men and women.

    Posted 3 years ago by James Wong · Reply

    • Compare apples with apples.

      The Malaysian Malays (under UMNO) and Singaporean Malays (under PAP).

      Then in 1965 when both were having the same standard of living and now.

      Proved that meritocracy triumphed over discriminatory and racist policies ..... despite..... in 1965 Malaysia having petroleum, tin and timber natural resources and land planted with oil palm, rubber and vegetables and fruits and Singapore was just a swampy island!!!

      How had Malaysia failed!!!!

      Posted 3 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • To save itself, Bersatu should merge with UMNO (like Semangat 46) ........ and Mahathir and Mukriz left with nothing!!

    So are Azmin and his supporters!

    Posted 3 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • Moo is blinded by the greed for power! He doesn't care about what's going to happen to his party and the country as a whole in the future so long as he gets to sit in the PM office while he's able to. He probably thinks he may not last for 3 years and why not make hay while the sun shines.
    As for Assmin, he probably thinks he may make it to the PM chair soon but the reality is that he will never make it. He's too big headed and the Sheraton moves will be his Waterloo in politics.

    Posted 3 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • PAS may just turn the table on UMNO by working with Bersatu if the carrot dangling in front of them is too sweet to refuse. Muhyddin is the PM. PAS will give in to temptations if the price is right.

    Posted 3 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply