There is no act of treachery or meanness of which a political party is not capable; for in politics there is no honour.
– Benjamin Disraeli, ex-British prime minister
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sacked from Umno by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1998. Even back then, Anwar was no ordinary guy – he was deputy prime minister and Umno deputy president.
But Mahathir was the powerful prime minister and Umno president. He was the boss. What the boss says carries weight. Rightly or wrongly, Mahathir had decided to remove Anwar and he had also given his reasons for doing so.
And Mahathir had the power to decide. If you are the boss, you decide. This is how it works. So, live with that!
Umno did not fold. It is still alive today. A big name like Anwar was sacked, so what? Umno is bigger and more important than one politician.
In 2015, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was also sacked as deputy prime minister and deputy president of Umno by Datuk Seri Najib Razak. At the same time, another Umno leader, party vice-president and minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal was also given the boot.
Both Muhyiddin and Shafie were Umno bigwigs but Najib was the party president and prime minister. Again, the powerful boss made the call.
You can protest, shout and scream “injustice”, sulk or throw tantrums all you want. But know this – you are not Number One in the party. The numero uno decides. Let me repeat – this is how it works. So, live with it!
Umno did not vanish into thin air, despite losing the general election in 2018 for the first time. Najib, Muhyiddin and Shafie are no longer in Umno today but the party remains.
In fact, Umno is now back as an important partner in the Anwar Ibrahim administration.
One thing is clear. Leaders come and go but the party remains. I don’t think a powerful juggernaut like Umno will ever die. It will continue to face challenges after challenges but the Malays will never allow their party to fade away.
So, why the fuss over the current sackings in Umno? Isn’t that a normal affair by now? Have we not witnessed party leaders being booted out before?
Why, if we were to go back to half a century ago, even Mahathir was sacked by Tunku Abdul Rahman in 1969? Who could be bigger than Mahathir or Anwar in Malaysian politics today?
Seriously, who are Khairy Jamaluddin or Tan Sri Noh Omar? They are not even Members of Parliament today. They were sacked for disciplinary reasons, so accept that punishment like real men if you know where you have gone wrong.
And who is Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein? He is just an ordinary MP today with no position in Umno.
In Hisham’s case, I would have sacked him right away. He should consider himself lucky that he was just suspended.
What was Hisham’s crime against Umno? Soon after the GE15 results were announced, he allegedly became the ring leader for Muhyiddin, and attempted to collect statutory declarations (SDs) from Barisan Nasional’s MPs to support Muhyiddin as prime minister.
He gathered the MPs for a meeting in Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s residence and later, became the prime initiator of the St Regis Move which flopped.
Hishammuddin linked up with ex-PKR’s top turncoat Azmin to betray his party president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his party, Umno.
Those who know of Hisham’s manoeuvres since 2018 would have lost whatever respect they might have for him.
Khairy has been wallowing in self-pity since he was defeated in GE15 and after last Friday’s sacking from Umno.
He has said a lot and, as expected, everything that came out from his mouth was all about Khairy, Khairy and Khairy. Seriously, he has turned into such a self-centred person which is a let-down for his public image.
I would like to comment on one statement made by Khairy. He had asked Anwar whether Zahid has added value to the unity government.
To Khairy, let me tell you this: I have no desire to defend Zahid but I take your insinuation against the Umno president and deputy prime minister as most “disrespectful and unkind” coming from typical sour grapes.
Khairy, hear this from me. You, Khairy Jamaluddin, have no value whatsoever at this point in your political career – none, zero, zilch!
Zahid may have his encumbrances but at least, he is the party president, he is the boss. He decides. You don’t agree or resent Zahid’s decisions, then fight him at the next party elections. Meantime, live with it!
Umno will still be around and survive without Khairy, Hishammuddin, Noh Omar, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Zahid, Mohamad Hasan or any of the current leaders.
Umno will continue to face crises and sack its wayward members but it will live on and on and on.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune. 
