Umno's representation in the cabinet emerged unscathed.
According to a Putrajaya source, this is an indication that all is not well for Najib in Umno, where the decible level of the voices of discontent is said to be rising by the day."In and out of Umno, Malays are becoming increasingly uneasy with some of the policies introduced by Najib's administration.
"They feel that he is concentrating too much on playing the role of prime minister and BN chairman instead of being the Umno president," he said.
Stiff opposition towards NEM
The source pointed out that Najib also did not expect the high degree of objection and alarm over his brainchild, the New Economic Model (NEM).Malay groups are concerned that NEM, with its inclusive growth goal and approach, would pose a danger to their claim over the economic pie.
Despite Najib repeatedly stressing that the time has come for the Malays to learn how to play on a level field and exposing the abuses of the previous New Economic Policy (NEP), the critics refuse to back down.
Even his mentor, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had panned the NEM, urging the cabinet to review it while the recent Bumiputera Economic Congress witnessed heated debates on the matter.
Buckling under pressure, Najib said the NEM was still in the proposal stages and has not been finalised. To pacify the detractors, he was also forced to rope in his late father Tun Abdul Razak, saying that as the son of the NEP's architect, he would not betray the Malays.The source said since the onset, Najib's all-inclusive policies such as his "1Malaysia" theme have not gone down well with the Malays and same Umno factions.
Mahathir also issued a stern warning, telling his protege that in his overzealousness to win over the non-Malays, especially the Chinese, Najib could risk alienating the Malays.Putting it bluntly as he always does, the former premier said the Malays feel that Umno is incapable of protecting them from the attacks of the "extremist Chinese" and are compelled to form their own line of defence with the likes of Perkasa.
"The water is boiling," an Umno source told FMT when quizzed on the reshuffle. "And Najib's camp is worried that it might just spill over." However, the source refused to lend creedence to the rumours of a "mutiny" brewing in the party."Mutiny is a very strong a word. I prefer the term disaffection. But one thing is certain, creating more fissures now would be disastrous for Najib.
"He cannot afford to stoke further tension in Umno by dropping big names from the cabinet. He knows who are the non-performers and he is aware of those who are a liability to his cause, but his hands are tied for now," added the source.
What to do with Khairy?
Meanwhile, the Putrajaya source claimed that Najib is also in a dilemma over what to do with Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin."The PM ignored him once, he cannot ignore him again. But bringing him into the fold would be at the risk of seeing Mahathir's nostrils flare up," he said.After last year's Umno elections, Najib raised eyebrows when he picked Mahathir's son Mukhriz as a deputy minister while sidelining Khairy, despite the latter having defeated Mukhriz in the contest for the Umno Youth chief post.
The fingers immediately pointed at Mahathir as it is an open secret that the former premier blames the 34-year-old Oxford graduate for dismantling his 22-year legacy within a short span of five years.
Khairy, the son-in-law of Mahathir's sucessor and Najib's predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, was once touted as the most powerful man in the country.
His detractors had claimed that it was Khairy, and not his wife's father, who was running the nation, a period which saw the brakes being applied on many projects mooted by the Mahathir administration."Mahathir loathes Khairy more than Abdullah. He knows Abdullah could not have done those things on his own and it was Khairy and the fourth-floor boys who ran the show," said the source.What infuriates Mahathir even more, noted the source, is that Khairy has proven himself to be a political survivor and has managed to build up on his grassroots support.Many thought his political career would end after his father-in-law was ousted. But he proved the critics wrong; he bounced back and managed to carve a name for himself.
"Khairy is an ambitious young man, who wants to be prime minister one day. He is pushing the right buttons. For the Malays, he takes to the streets to protest, burns flags and shouts slogans. In Parliament, he is vocal and keeps himself in the limelight. On other ocassions, he portrays himself as a sensible and modern leader to the non-Malays," he said.Like Khairy, the source said Mahathir is also ambitious. "He wants his son Mukhriz to be prime minister and Khairy is standing in the way." "If Najib names the Umno Youth chief, in line with convention, as a minister, he would outrank Mukhriz," he added.
As for Najib, the source said the prime minister's respect and sense of gratitude for Mahathir far outweighs the affection, if any, he might have for Khairy. Concurring with this assessment, the Umno source however warned that Najib cannot ignore political reality as well."Khairy has become a popular figure in Umno Youth; he has the support of the grassroots. If you notice, there are many bloggers who also back him. He is a smart player."Mukhriz, on the other hand, is relying on his father's name to propel him. So leaving Khairy out might please Mahathir but it would create more unhappiness towards Najib," he said.
According to the Putrajaya source, Najib hopes to set everything in order by the end of the year, and he would most probably make a major revamp to the cabinet line-up next January."The PM also hopes to settle the issues plaguing component parties such as (MIC president S) Samy Vellu's retirement. By then, he (Samy Vellu) would most probably be given other roles to play as part of a trade-off," he said.
Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/
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