Syed Hamid ticks off those seeking early polls

Umno vice-president hopeful Syed Hamid Albar has ticked off Umno leaders who have been asking for the party polls to be brought forward to December from next March.

Describing those who make such calls as “fickle”, Syed Albar particularly trained his sights at Umno deputy president frontrunner Muhyiddin Yassin.

"It is because of the special circumstances - the transition of power - which was why it was deferred," he told Malaysiakini in an exclusive hour-long interview in his Home Ministry office in Putrajaya yesterday.

He also said that Muhyiddin should not be complaining of the five-month campaigning period as being too taxing for those holding government posts as they have to alternate between campaigning and fulfilling their ministerial responsibilities.

"You cannot complain about your job... If you give party more importance, then you should not be in the government.

"My priority has always been, if you cannot balance (your work) then you have to opt out of one or the other," he said.

The party elections, originally scheduled this December, were postponed to next March to give time for party president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to hand over power to his deputy, Najib Abdul Razak.

In the original plan, Abdullah was scheduled to step down only in mid-2010 but following pressure from within Umno, he brought forward the transition date, and thus with it the new date for the party polls.

"I know a lot of people complain about the strain (of a five-month campaign) because it is a long time but this is not usual - this is a transfer of power," Syed Hamid, who is presently a supreme council member.

Supreme council has made its decision

He said that all Umno leaders should adhere to the supreme council’s decision for the polls to be held next March.

"It was the decision of the prime minister or the deputy prime minister. It was debated and in this case by top members of the supreme council. It was first discussed in the management committee, then they tabled it to us and we debated it.”

He added that the decision to hold the election in March was first made by the party management committee, which was chaired by Najib. Among its members are Muhyiddin, all the vice-presidents and the party’s information chief.

"Even Pak Lah is not inside (the committee). It was not discussed at the political committee where Pak Lah is the chairperson, but it was discussed in the management committee..." he said.

Syed Hamid, 63, whose previous attempt for the vice-president's post in 2000 ended in failure, is again contesting for the post. So far he has obtained 13 nominations and will need seven more to qualify for the race.

He appeared confident he can garner the required nominations by this weekend.

His hope is that Umno members would want a mix of fresh and veteran leaders in the party.

“If they choose, for example, on the basis on performance, on the basis of experience then I think I stand a good chance but if they are driven by some other reasons then I do not think I stand a chance.”

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