Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 1 PP3739/12/2003 ISSN 0127
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PP3739/12/2003 ISSN 0127 - 5127 / RM3.00 / 2003:Vol.23No.5 Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 1 COVER STORY Who Will Succeed The Successor? Reflections on the Mahathir-Abdullah transition by Khoo Boo Teik onsider the nervous out- CCC comes of the past two CC UMNO general assem- blies. June 2002: Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced his intention to retire and sent UMNO into an appar- ent fit, for who would succeed Mahathir? Over the past year, that question has been largely an- swered: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Mahathir’s fourth Deputy Prime Minister. June 2003: Mahathir reaffirmed his plan to retire in October. UMNO was left in suspense when the PM-to-be refused to name his Three of Mahathir's deputies never made it Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 2 EDITOR'S NOTE Although there has been no contest for the UMNO presidency since 1987, there has been intense jos- CONTENTS tling for other top posts. In our lead story, Khoo Boo Teik discusses the unre- COVER STORY solved struggle between the president and the party ••• Who Will Succeed The Successor? 222 over succession. In particular, Mahathir’s latest ••• Don't Cry For Me, Malaysia... 404040 annointed successor, Abdullah Badawi, will have to appoint as his new deputy someone from the three vice-presidents, who were once in Anwar’s Wawasan Team. Will Abdullah’s choice also be the FEATURES party’s? There is no guarantee. ••• Seven Burmese Workers Deported 777 Abdullah also inherits other problems as well, which ••• Creative Media For Change 121212 Anil Netto, in the back cover story, elaborates on. ••• Is Secularism Dead In India? 161616 The UMNO president may not have shed many tears ••• Why Freedom Is Good For Us 262626 this time, but future generations of Malaysians might ••• Women And Gender-Based Violence 282828 have to do so. ••• Blood Money 343434 The daunting problems confronting migrant work- ers - which came to light with the deportation of 7 Burmese workers - are highlighted. We take a care- REGULARS ful look at their oppressive wage structure, the bro- ••• Thinking Allowed 191919 ken promises and the pittance that they are forced to live on here. ••• LettersLettersLetters 232323 ••• Current Concerns 303030 Asghar Ali Engineer discusses how the rise of Hindutva in multireligious India increasingly threatens its democracy and the notion of a com- mon citizenship. Another article contributed by a OTHERSOTHERSOTHERS student talks about “Why Freedom is Good for Us”. ••• Subscription Form 383838 There are lessons here for Malaysians. ••• Poem: Here They Come 393939 We carry an interview with Tan Jo Hann of Komas, an alternative media group. Jo Haan explains how alternative media can be used as a creative tool to promote social awareness and reforms. Noraida Endut argues that violence against women should not be seen merely as a women’s problem but should be regarded as a broader human rights issue. Her piece is especially pertinent now in the wake of the Published by recent spate of murder and rape cases. Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN) 103, Medan Penaga, 11600 Jelutong, ALIRANALIRANALIRAN is a Reform Movement dedicated to Penang, Malaysia. Justice, Freedom & Solidarity and listed on the Tel : (04) 658 5251 Fax : (04) 658 5197 roster of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Founded in 1977, Aliran welcomes Homepage : http://www.aliran.com all Malaysians above 21 to be members. Contact the Hon. Secretary or visit our webpage. Printed by Percetakan Tujuh Lapan Enam Sdn. Bhd. No. 16, Lengkangan Brunei, 55100 Pudu, Kuala Lumpur. Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 3 DPM-to-be although Abdullah had half-promised to do so by the end of 2002. Thus persists, in a limbo-like state, UMNO’s melodrama of establish- ing the successor’s successor in the post-Mahathir period. History won’t tell us exactly how UMNO’s melodrama will end but it will help us understand UMNO’s experience of leadership succession, including the ‘disap- pearances’ of three Mahathir deputies – Musa Hitam, Ghafar Baba and Anwar Ibrahim. Tunku's era ended with ‘May 13’ Razak had a short tenure as PM Tunku To Razak Yet Mahathir’s appointment in a Razaleigh’s claim was stronger way violated the principle of sen- than Musa’s, Razaleigh being the At the beginning of that tortuous iority in UMNO. Of the three Vice- more senior, but Musa had de- experience was a critical transfer Presidents, Ghafar Baba had re- cided not to let the post go uncon- of power in the aftermath of May ceived the highest number of tested. 13, 1969. ‘May 13’ demolished the votes, Razaleigh was second, parameters of Alliance rule, and while Mahathir, readmitted into Technically, Mahathir was unable Tunku Abdul Rahman’s era was UMNO in 1972, had been elected to exercise the leader’s preroga- over. Yet his eventual successor, with the lowest vote. In response, tive to appoint his deputy since Tun Abdul Razak, and select Ghafar resigned from the Cabinet the formal transition from members of the Malay elite main- in protest while Razaleigh bided Hussein to Mahathir would only tained Tunku’s formal leadership his time. take place only after the June 1981 of party, coalition and govern- general assembly. Ideologically, ment and set the precedent for con- Hussein To Mahathir the circumstances supported a stitutional and orderly leadership current of argument that the party transition. Then in mid-1981, Hussein an- should decide who should become nounced his intention to retire, Mahathir’s deputy. Razak had a short tenure as Prime essentially paving the way for Minister. Upon his death in 1976, Mahathir to succeed him. No one That UMNO’s 1981 election was his deputy, Hussein Onn, took disputed Mahathir’s claim on at liberty to select Mahathir’s over power. The Razak-Hussein UMNO’s presidency, and in July deputy effectively opened the way transition made clear that the PM Mahathir became the fourth prime for the party at large to be directly enjoyed the prerogative of ap- minister in what seemed to be a involved in determining leader- pointing his successor. It also es- transition marked by neither cri- ship succession. The 1981 tablished that seniority in UMNO sis nor contention. Razaleigh-Musa battle, therefore, counted, and UMNO’s Deputy set a precedent following which President would become DPM But the resulting vacancy for political succession was no longer and in due course take over from UMNO’s deputy presidency, and the party’s mere endorsement of his predecessor. Operating by the it was understood, deputy pre- the president’s prerogative. principle of the leader’s preroga- miership, led to the first battle be- tive, Hussein chose Mahathir to tween Vice-Presidents Razaleigh Henceforth, political succession be his deputy. and Musa Hitam. Superficially, depended on UMNO’s triennial Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 4 election that became increasingly tation of UMNO’s new rules for bitter because of a growing party elections that no Anwar-Ghafar factionalism. The 1981 Razaleigh- fight actually took place. Anwar Musa contest was followed by the led the Wawasan Team, an alli- 1984 Musa-Razaleigh fight. Both ance of a ‘new generation’ of lead- contests took a heavy toll on ers, namely, Muhammad UMNO’s stability. Muhammad Taib, Muhyiddin Yassin and Najib Tun Razak. But in February 1986, Musa sud- denly resigned as DPM and While Anwar made Ghafar’s po- UMNO Deputy President, be- sition untenable, the Wawasan cause of supposedly irreconcil- Team swept Abdullah Badawi able differences with Mahathir. and Sanusi Junid from the Vice- Some quarters in UMNO urged President’s posts. In hindsight, Musa to reconsider. Musa with- the Wawasan Team’s 1993 cam- drew his resignation as UMNO’s paign uncannily duplicated Team deputy president. He argued that Razaleigh: Bypassed four times B’s 1987 initiative – except that the while he had been appointed President was unopposed, and DPM by Mahathir, he had been In the end, UMNO was split, the upstarts were successful. The twice elected deputy president by deregistered in 1988, and recon- outcome was evidence of the abil- the party. stituted without Razaleigh’s fac- ity of the party at large once again tion. to impose its succession prefer- Headed For A Split ence upon the leadership. With these outcomes, Mahathir Faced with this party crisis, and appeared to have recovered the Once again, Mahathir sought to looking ahead to UMNO’s 1987 leader’s prerogative to determine impose the leader’s will. In party election Mahathir picked succession. He seemed to have left UMNO’s 1996 election, Mahathir Ghafar Baba to replace Musa, in- the party at large the dubious could not be challenged because cidentally making it four times privilege of ‘mandating’ what the of a change in party rules. Neither that Razaleigh had been bypassed leader had decided. could Anwar but crucially for deputy premier! That, and Mahathir shifted the burden of the Musa’s falling out with Mahathir But UMNO’s factionalism did not succession question away from prepared the all-out Team A-Team end there. The exclusion of the himself … to Anwar! B struggle from 1987 onwards. Razaleigh camp and the weak- ness of the Musa faction allowed Time, however, was on Anwar’s Now the leaders could only fight new figures to flourish and new side as he set out to spread his for survival, but the party would centres of power to arise. And influence over UMNO. By 1998, it decide the succession. Mahathir since Mahathir had had quintu- was assumed that the Anwar defeated Razaleigh by 761 votes ple coronary by-pass operations camp commanded the loyalty of a to 718.