SHAH ALAM - First it was the silence, then the noise followed by a desperate push for the 15th general elections (GE15) by Umno as they intend to capture the momentum following major wins in several state elections.
This includes abandoning the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Transformation and Political Stability at the right time, according to two political observers.
Senior fellow at Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research Political analyst Dr Azmi Hassan said that the party had not been very vocal at the start when the agreement was signed as they adopt a wait and see strategy.
"This is the first time an MoU between the government and the opposition took place, so they are sceptical as to whether it is beneficial for the government and for the people.
"That is the main reason why they kept their distance because if anything happens, they can immediately say that they were not a part of it,” he explained.
He stated that Umno’s justification is that it provided no benefits for the people, which is why they would want to terminate it.
Azmi added that they were not against the MoU entirely but were rather unsure of what the outcome would be like if they continue to support it.
He believed that a second iteration of the agreement or an MoU 2.0 will include the dissolving of Parliament, which is why Umno will continue to push for GE15 to be held immediately.
"I think it is only right that Umno is honest about how they want the MoU to happen because they want the election to be held as soon as possible,” he added.
Lacking any foreseeable advantage to Umno, Azmi explained that it would be difficult for other political observers to blame the party for not wishing to extend the MoU.
National Council of Professors chairman Professor Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin concur with Azmi and mentioned that Umno leaders would want to have GE15 held immediately to take advantage of the support they have garnered from the recent Melaka and Johor state elections.
"The extension of the MoU will not realise their immediate objective of hastening GE15.
"The opposition, on the other hand, wants the MoU to be extended because it is not advantageous for them should GE15 be held anytime soon,” he added, referring to internal conflicts within the opposition bloc.
This is not a question of integrity, he explained, but a matter of opportunity and strategy said Shamsul Amri.
Asked whether voters would vote against Umno who do not wish to continue with the MoU, Shamsul Amri clarified that voters generally view it as a temporary issue if not at all irrelevant.
"Pakatan Harapn (PH) has failed to deliver and Perikatan Nasional (PN) is too urban centric, middle-class oriented, and rather elitist.
"Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah herself said that it would take another three elections before PH could gain back the rakyat's confidence and support,” he told Sinar Daily.