"Umno leader claims that Khir Toyo is detached from reality"
Khir, a former Selangor Menteri Besar and Umno member, has found himself at the centre of political debate recently, following his departure from the party and subsequent joining of Bersatu. Puad Zarkashi, an Umno Supreme Council member, has been vocal about Khir's departure and the impact it has had on Umno's political landscape.
Puad believes that Khir's "broom legacy" from 2007, where he humiliated underperforming local council officers with humiliating awards, is one of the reasons Umno lost power in Selangor in 2008. This incident has not been forgotten by Umno grassroots, civil servants, the Malays, and Malaysians at large, and is seen as a symbol of Khir's out-of-touch approach to politics[2][3].
Puad has also stated that Khir appears out of touch with current political realities, bringing no added value to Bersatu, and is no longer relevant in the present political climate[4]. He believes Khir's excuse for joining Bersatu is far from the reality of today's new politics, and that political dominance needs to be redefined in the context of power-sharing, a common occurrence worldwide[5].
Despite his criticism of Khir, Puad believes it is possible for Umno to regain its past dominance. He argues that being politically dominant does not necessarily mean winning a two-thirds majority or contesting more seats, but involves leading in policy, having high-performing ministers, and upholding consistent principles within a power-sharing arrangement[1].
Puad points to Umno's participation in the unity government and control of several states despite holding fewer seats as evidence of this new form of dominance through coalition governance rather than outright numerical superiority[1][5]. He believes Umno's ability to lead states like Perak and Pahang in coalition setups shows it can regain dominance even without majority seats, reflecting a shift from traditional ideas of dominance to more collaborative and negotiated power[1][2].
In summary, Puad Zarkashi suggests that power-sharing is the new definition of political dominance in the current Malaysian political landscape. He emphasizes that being politically dominant does not necessarily mean winning a two-thirds majority or contesting more seats but involves leading in policy, having high-performing ministers, and upholding consistent principles within a power-sharing arrangement[1][5]. Puad believes that Umno's current strategy in the unity government aligns with this evolving concept of political dominance[1][2].
References: [1] https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/544163 [2] https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/544215 [3] https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/544228 [4] https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/544232 [5] https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/544234
- Despite Puad Zarkashi's criticism towards Khir for joining Bersatu and his perceived out-of-touch politics, he maintains that Umno can regain its past dominance in Malaysian politics by adopting a power-sharing approach, instead of focusing on numerical superiority.
- Puad Zarkashi proposes that the new definition of political dominance in present-day Malaysian politics involves leading in policy, having high-performing ministers, and upholding consistent principles within a power-sharing arrangement, as demonstrated by Umno's successful participation in coalition governance in states like Perak and Pahang.
- In general news and discussions about Malaysian politics, the concept of power-sharing is being increasingly recognized as the key to political dominance in the age of coalition governance, a shift from traditional notions focused on outright numerical superiority.
