Wednesday February 27, 2008

Alpha politician learns to let go

Comment: By JOCELINE TAN

A dramatic transition is taking place in Tasek Gelugor and despite his earlier belligerence, outgoing warlord Datuk Seri Shariff Omar wants to ensure that Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop wins well in his maiden polls.

IT takes some getting used to, the sight of Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop walking through a roadside pasar malam in a remote village in Seberang Prai and shaking hands with fishmongers and vegetable traders.

Up to a week ago, the Second Finance Minister's life had revolved around the high-powered world of finance and fiscal policy. But his candidacy in Tasek Gelugor has meant an abrupt change in routine and he has had to hit the campaign trail running.

The power suit has given way to a nondescript blue and white Barisan Nasional shirt. Even his wife Puan Sri Fawziah Begum Abu Bakar donned a blue baju kurung and tudung.

But the most interesting sight of all is the camaraderie between Nor Mohamed and the man from whom he is taking over in Tasek Gelugor, Datuk Seri Shariff Omar.

It is no secret that Shariff was reluctant to give up the seat just as Nor Mohamed is seen as a reluctant politician.

But after a telephone call from the Prime Minister on Friday morning, Shariff has committed himself to helping Nor Mohamed win the seat.

Shariff is notorious as the most jantan or macho of politicians in these parts but his relationship with the Prime Minister goes back to the 1970s and there was no way he would go against the boss.

Plus, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi really wants Nor Mohamed in Tasek Gelugor so that he can retain the latter’s economic expertise in the Government.

Both men have been campaigning alongside each other and even went together to the home where an elderly constituent had died.

They were on their best behaviour, even holding hands as they spoke to reporters.

“This is a great man. He has done so much for the area. He wants to help the PM whom he loves and the PM loves him as well. I am here to continue to do more for the place,” said Nor Mohamed.

Shariff immediately reciprocated with: “Tan Sri is most welcome here and I will do everything possible to help him win.”

Both men will have to work closely because while Nor Mohamed is the candidate, Shariff is still the Umno division chief and controls the party and election machinery.

He knows Tasek Gelugor like the back of his hand and there are very few Malay households whose lives have not improved in his 26 years as their wakil rakyat.

Shariff has held several meetings to introduce Nor Mohamed to the Umno grassroots workers in the constituency.

When change takes place at the top, it is not only the man affected who has to adjust, people down the line also tend to be unhappy and much explaining needs to be done.

At a meeting on the night before nomination, Shariff had given a long speech that was partly a farewell and partly to usher in the new man. It was quite an emotional moment for him and there were teary faces among some of the women.

There were also moves to make the transition a little smoother by offering one of the state seats in the area to Shariff’s engineer son Mohsein, 29, who, just like his father, is tall and good-looking. But Mohsein, although active in Umno Youth, was not interested.

Shariff made it a point to accompany Nor Mohamed to the nomination centre on Sunday and, everywhere the latter went, he told the people to “please accept Tan Sri as you have accepted me.”

Despite the political ripples from the changeover, Tasek Gelugor and the three state seats will remain soundly with Umno because of the party’s stability and also because there is no viable opposition in the area.

One of Nor Mohamed's assets is likely to be his wife Fawziah. A former welfare officer, she has natural people skills.

While her husband went into homes via the front door, she opted for the masuk dapur approach, using the kitchen entrance to greet the womenfolk.

It is not easy to let go after 26 years in the circle of power and Shariff, 60, despite his outward appearances is probably still adjusting to the change.

During an evening chat at his house in Sungai Dua, his voice cracked several times when he recalled the telephone call from Abdullah.

He remembered that 26 years ago it had also been Abdullah, then a minister, who had called to tell him that he had been picked as a candidate.

“He told me I was in and now he is also the one who is telling me I have to go,” he said.

Were he still the candidate, his house would have been streaming with people and activity by now.

But that evening, the sprawling bungalow facing an open space was dark, quiet and empty and he was all alone.

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