Aiming to be a thorn to Umno

Joceline Tan, The Star

EVERYTHING looked familiar yet not so familiar at Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Pribumi) first annual general assembly (AGM) — from the personalities to the videos playing on stage.

On one level, the party is some sort of mini Umno, with a catchy party theme song to boot. Almost everyone on stage used to be somebody in Umno.

At another level, it is a party poised to be a big thorn in the side of Umno in the general election.

But it is not easy being a new party in a crowded field. There is no track record to speak of and the video on party chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad largely showcased past glories like the Proton Saga, the glittering Twin Towers and the role he had played on the global stage during his years at the top.

As the party’s Kedah information chief Datuk Azimi Daim joked, even the party colour is similar to Umno, apart from “the flower,” referring to the party logo.

There is also a sense that the AGM is about going through the motions to avoid trouble with the Registrar of Societies.

It is a one-day affair, the debate is closed-door and there is only a single motion to debate.

But there was no shortage of enthusiasm from the delegates who cheered and clapped at everything. The combined ages of the party’s top three may be more than 200 but the majority of delegates were people in their thirties and forties.

It will be an uphill task for Pribumi. But, as they say, hope springs eternal in the breast of men and many of those in the hall genuinely believe their party is on the way to replacing Umno or, as their president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin put it, to “save Malaysia”.

Delegates from Pribumi’s two frontline states, Johor and Kedah, were placed on the front rows to signal the party’s ambitions in the general election.

The stakes are high for the party. It needs to make its mark or it may not last beyond the next general election.

Muhyiddin has a rather wooden personality but the orator in him emerges when on stage. His speech was rather ceramah-like, aimed at motivating the delegates and loaded with the usual accusations of kleptocracy and corruption.

He pledged loyalty to Dr Mahathir on behalf of the party where he is still playing second fiddle.

But who can blame him? Dr Mahathir is the only person who can bring the delegates to their feet, shouting “Hidup Tun!”. He is like the sun that outshines everyone, and anyone who tries to outshine him gets scorched.

The party has pinned its hopes squarely on the former premier’s charisma and clout.

The fact that he is 92 does not in the least bother them. Neither does what people say about his past deeds matter to Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir’s speech stood out for his proposals for an independent judiciary if Pakatan is voted to power and he stressed the importance of separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judiciary.

He had a string of ideas of what he planned to do — an independent Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, quashing cronyism, balanced foreign investments, distribution of wealth and race relations.

He also regaled his audience with allegations of phantom voters in the electoral roll.

But his chief target was Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, painting him as the root of all evil. Neither did he spare those who were cooperating with Najib, calling them “sampah” or garbage.

He said he would not apologise for the name calling and although he was not specific, it was obvious that he was referring to PAS.

The delegates loved it, although it probably sounds hollow to Dr Mahathir’s critics who associate him with the very issues that he now plans to correct.

It was the speech of a man who intends to assume a leading role in Pakatan Harapan

Muhyiddin had set the tone for his party boss to be named the prime minister candidate and the delegates are likely to endorse the move by the end of the day.

Strategically speaking, the party led by the prime minister candidate will have clout in negotiating seats to contest in the general election and provide the X-factor.

The debate session in the afternoon is a closed-door affair on the grounds that some of the things said may be too sensitive for public consumption.

But the event will be reopened to the media when the winding-up speeches begin towards the end of the day.