The Following Article Is From The Malaysian Insider

If Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi can snare enough nominations to snuff out any opposition and return as Umno president while being manacled to a faltering Malaysian economy and shadowed by questions over his fitness for the top job, it would be a minor miracle.

Consider these facts:
- His approval rating has tanked, from slightly over 50 per cent just before the general election to 43 per cent today. His tentative handling of the Datuk Ahmad Ismail episode, which allowed reckless comments by a political bit player to put the country on a security alert, is being assessed as a sign of a weak leader, short on confidence and support within his own party.
- The imminent return of his nemesis, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to Umno and the expected move by the former prime minister to campaign feverishly for Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah as the new president of the ruling party will put severe pressure on what only a month ago was a free pass to the party elections in December. (for this to happen shows that Abdullah Badawi is truly sleeping at the wheel or even worse, not even manning the wheel himself. Mahathir still needs approval from the party’s supreme council to return to the party so that could be Abdullah’s lifeline. But if Mahathir comes in…that’s it. You can’t even stop the return of the man who has publicly said will topple you when you are the president of the party? Might as well quit now)
- The absence of a cohesive game plan to contain Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan Rakyat is being tossed around by his critics in the Cabinet and party as a apocalyptic sign that Abdullah’s two-year transition plan could lead them to political oblivion.(was the second sodomy frame up Abdullah’s idea, Najib’s idea or an idea by committee? If it wasn’t Abdullah’s idea, did he at least know about it beforehand and approved it? If he did not, then he is truly not in charge. If he did, then he is incompetent, bereft of ideas and truly out of touch with the mood of the populace)
- More important than all the above reasons, the inability of the Abdullah administration to grease the political patronage wheels of Umno quick enough could lead powerful division chiefs to support the party president’s political foes. Party warlords from across the country have sent word that the promises of contracts and projects for their constituencies have remained just that, promises. In some cases, letters of award have been deliberately withheld by senior Finance Ministry officials, flexing their administrative muscles with the full knowledge that the Finance Minister is too weak or distracted to take action against them. The equation is very simple for these division chiefs if Abdullah cannot deliver largesse to them, then he does not deserve their support.(where did the contracts go to then? One thing Mahathir never forgot were the warlords. He knew his continued survival depended on their well being. Sure, it was corruption but that’s just how Mahathir rolled back in the day. Why then did Abdullah ignore them? Because he wanted to fight corruption? Don’t make me laugh. Maybe the projects went to family and friends, huh, Dollah?)
- The Abdullah-Datuk Seri Najib Razak tag team is coming under some pressure, mainly from the Deputy Prime Minister’s supporters who wonder if the PM’s unpopularity will be a drag on Najib too. Some of them want Najib to be made acting PM soon while less ambitious ones just want Abdullah to do something.(Najib changes sides when he sees a better deal can be had elsewhere. That’s what he did during the Team A vs. Team B episode back in 1987. He was with Ku Li’s team then but switched to Mahathir’s team at the last minute. So why hasn’t he challenged Abdullah? The most famous conspiracy theory going around is that what Raja Petra declared was true: Najib WAS involved in the murder of Altantuya and Abdullah is using this to squeeze Najib’s balls if he steps out of line)
Against this backdrop, Abdullah’s loyalists and supporters concede that the three weeks run-up to the divisional elections in October could be much tougher than anticipated. They acknowledge that the doubts about him are percolating like never before, with critics assailing him for his body language right down to his manner of speaking. (Abdullah still has supporters? Who? Besides his son in law, that is)
They still maintain that the PM will garner sufficient nominations from the 191 divisions to contest the party president’s position but for the first time are open to the possibility that Ku Li could obtain the 58 nominations he needs to challenge for the top post. Their confidence is based on the belief that he still can use the instruments of incumbency to hold the line. But position takes anyone only so far. Influence is achieved by results and the ability to exercise raw power. Abdullah has not been able to demonstrate either consistently during his time in office as the PM.
That is why Ahmad was willing to mock him publicly, knowing full well that Abdullah alone would not punish him. That is why some Umno division chiefs are keeping their options open on whether to give their nomination to the PM.
Yes, this is a crucial three weeks for Abdullah. Much of his political fortunes hinges on Najib’s commitment to the transition plan and whether the senior members of the party, including the menteris besar, still believe that a smoother transfer of power is a better option than an all out contest. It is pretty much out of his hands. (What a waste! 4 years ago he won the highest number of votes in Malaysian history. Anwar was forgotten except by a few loyalists like me. Abdullah’s strong position held back any threats to his position. So what did he do? Squandered it all within 4 years. Sure, others must share the blame but it happened under Abdullah’s watch. He’s the leader. Don’t blame others, especially Anwar for your misfortunes)