Najib's Challenge: Clean Up UMNO

摘要

ALAYSIA'S PLANNED lead- ership transition at theend of March from Ah-mad Abdullah Badawi toMohamed Najib Razakmasks a fundamental reconfiguration ofMalaysian politics. The United Malays Na-tional Organization is in long-term decline,after losing support among Malays for atleast a decade. Non-Malays are increasing-ly reluctant to back the 12 other parties inthe umNo-led National Front coalition, es-pecially those representing ethnic Chineseand Indian minorities, given their limitedability to influence government policy.Doubts that the National Front will be vi-able much longer without a major overhaulare mounting at a time when the politicalopposition is surging, reorganized and in-vigorated by the charismatic former deputypremier, Anwar Ibrahim.