Mahathir could destroy UMNO - probably the best thing he's ever done - malaysiakini

Mahathir has been in the news lately (Malaysiakini reports). It looks like this old man can destroy UMNO from within, probably the best thing he has ever done in his life for Malaysia:

The Malaysian Insider report:

COMMENTARY

NOV 22 — Buy a ticket, take a seat and watch Umno implode. The fuse will be lit the day former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad goes ahead with his threat to name those he alleges are involved in money politics, known everywhere else around the globe by its more recognisable name — corruption.

Dr Mahathir, who witnessed the rise and rise of corruption during his 22 years as party president and who seemed powerless to do anything meaningful to stop cash becoming the only lubricant to move party members, believes that he needs to do something drastic.

So a few days ago he announced that all reports on money politics submitted to him would be forwarded to the Umno Disciplinary Committee and the Anti-Corruption Agency. "If these two means are futile, I will reveal the names of those involved together with reports in my blog, '' Bernama reported him saying.

Most Malaysians who have witnessed the growth of corruption in Umno will surely support the move to name and shame the crooks, regardless of nagging questions on why Dr Mahathir never showed a similar commitment to haul up the crooks when he held all the levers of power. Better late than never.

The main issue with Dr Mahathir's tactics rest on this one question — is he an honest broker? He has already endorsed Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the most qualified candidate to be the Umno deputy president, and cast some aspersions on Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib and Datuk Ali Rustam. Also, his natural choice for the position of Umno Youth chief is Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.

Is he only going to forward reports of incidence of corruption involving those who are not on his slate of chosen few? Is he going to name only those candidates who have upset him, gone against him?

Truth be told, every candidate who has offered himself for a position in the party elections could be found guilty of buying support. Some of them have sponsored programmes for party members; some have offered money for petrol and other costs incurred by their colleagues in the division; some have purchased vehicles for power brokers in the party; some have paid between RM300 and RM3,000 per member to snare nominations.

It is pervasive. And the interesting part is that every candidate seems to have a solid anecdote or evidence of his opponent/opponents involvement in money politics. So if Dr Mahathir goes ahead and names and shames a select few on his blog, you can bet that these "crooks'' will retaliate by naming their partners in crime.

This scenario will be:

? Disastrous for a party that already suffers from a serious image problem and is trying to rebuild its standing among Malaysians, especially non-Malays.

? Heaven sent for the opposition alliance which seems to have lost some of its buzz in recent weeks.

? Troublesome for Datuk Seri Najib Razak who wants to inherit a united party, not one is the throes of a dirty linen campaign.

Yes, buy a ticket, take a seat and watch Umno implode.