Malaysian PM keeps leadership lineup in party elections

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak received a boost for his leadership after his current leadership lineup has been retained in the party elections of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO). According to voting results announced early Sunday, the three incumbents -- Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Rural and Regional Development Minister Shafie Apdal and Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein -- retained their posts as vice presidents, the most senior position put up for contest in the party elections on Saturday. Meanwhile, several current cabinet ministers are leading in the race of the 25-member Supreme Council, the top policy-maker of Malaysia's ruling party. The polling results mean most UMNO members chose to keep the current party leadership unchanged, as Najib has retained his party presidency unopposed earlier together with his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin. Najib has refrained from spelling out his favors in the vice president election. But the overwhelming support for the three incumbents in the central Pahang state and the southern Johor state, headed by Najib and Muhyiddin respectively, shed some light on the preferences of UMNO's top leaders. Mukhriz Mahathir, son of Malaysia's former and longest serving Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, fell just short to unseat the incumbent Hishammuddin, who is also a son of a former prime minister and a cousin of Najib. Some analysts said Mukhriz's defeat suggests the waning influence by Mahathir, who remains outspoken after he stepped down in 2003. Oh Ei Sun, former political secretary to Najib, said the Prime Miniter's clout was strengthened by the party election outcome and he is now in a stronger hand to push through his reforms for the country. "The most important thing is that now hopefully the whole Malaysia can finally focus on tackling the economic challenges which are looming, instead of dwelling on incessant political bickering prior to UMNO elections," Oh said. Najib is expected to announce the 2014 budget later this month, as he is facing the daunting challenge to curb the fiscal deficit and mounting national debt. Since assuming office in 2009, Najib has embarked on a reform agenda by abolishing several harsh laws as well as slowly withdrawal of policies that favor the country's ethnic Malay majority, who make up of the major supporting base of UMNO. He also extended the voters base of the internal party election from some 2,000 central delegates to more than 140,000 party members. However, his UMNO-led ruling coalition retained power with a reduced majority in the May general election after largely rejected by the economically-superior ethnic Chinese and urban voters, putting Najib under increased pressure from the party conservatives. Last month, the prime minister announced new initiatives to boost the privileges for the ethnic Malays, and his government pushed through a bill that brings back detention without trial to tackle worsening crimes. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Najib vowed to continue the transformation programs. Oh said that Najib is likely to roll back political and human rights reforms. "On the economic front, you will continue to see one measure after another be introduced over time," he said.