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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

Guessing game over return of Hishammuddin to Umno

Govt urged to steer Asean beyond economic output

Ű BY DEEPALAKSHMI MANICKAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Ű BY HASHINI KAVISHTRI KANNAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o ‘Re-entry could boost party position in unity govt, while move would be quashed if seen as threat to some factions’

PETALING JAYA: Renowned humanitarian and Mercy Malaysia founder Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood (pic) has urged Malaysia to use its Asean chairmanship as a turning point not just for the region’s economic ambitions but to also redefine progress through the lens of genuine well-being and planetary health. Speaking on “The Game of

PETALING JAYA: As talk of reinstating Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein into Umno gains traction, analysts are divided on what the move could mean for the internal stability and public image of the party, although they agree it would be a crucial test of the confidence in the leadership. Although the push to lift Hishammuddin’s suspension came from his home division, political observers suggest it may reflect broader undercurrents within the party rather than just local sentiment. International Islamic University Malaysia political analyst Dr Syaza Shukri said the move, while significant, should not be overinterpreted. “The motion came from his division, so it doesn’t necessarily reflect a widespread shift in sentiment,” she told theSun . “But it does suggest that Umno is relatively stable now and may be open to bringing back a senior figure who still holds grassroots support.” She said Hishammuddin, currently serving as an MP, remains a familiar figure within Umno’s ranks. “If they accept Hishammuddin, it could strengthen the party. His suspension was more of a reactionary move by the president during the chaotic post-GE15 period. “He may have been divisive then, but he now appears to understand where the party stands – if he actually wants to return,” she added. Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported to have deferred the decision on lifting Hishammuddin’s suspension to the party’s supreme council. Zahid said Hishammuddin has yet to KOTA KINABALU: A total of 135 participants from Asean member states and Timor Leste attended the two-day “Roundtable Discussion: Asean Youth Mental Health 2025” event, which began on Saturday. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said the forum brought together participants from diverse backgrounds, including mental health experts, religious figures, policymakers, government officials, civil society representatives and youth. She added that in the Malaysian context, the forum was crucial as findings from the Malaysian Youth Mental Health Index Study 2023 indicated that the mental health of youths aged 15 to 30 remained at a moderate level. “For a serious issue like this, the government needs the involvement of all parties to come together and have discussions. In this case, we need the cooperation of medical experts, youth representatives and religious groups,” she said yesterday. Themed “Asean Youth Voice: Empowering Minds, Ensuring Well-being”, the event aims to address mental health issues among Asean youths by encouraging regional cooperation, sharing best practices and promoting inclusive efforts to raise awareness and improve access to care. – Bernama

Johor appears to be building as Hishammuddin remains influential in Sembrong and across the state. Azmi also pointed out that Hishammuddin had largely kept a low profile since his suspension, unlike other former party leaders such as Khairy Jamaluddin or Isham Jalil. Universiti Teknologi Mara political analyst Dr Abdul Aziz Azizam said the move sends an important signal to Umno’s grassroots. “Regarding the revocation or cancellation of Hishammuddin’s suspension, I believe this is a significant signal to the party grassroots,” he said. However, he cautioned that while grassroots motions carry symbolic weight, they do not guarantee outcomes. “The pressure and motions raised by grassroots members carry strong reasoning. However, any motion brought forward still carries no certainty it would be seriously considered or finalised by the party’s top leadership.” He added that party elites tend to act based on political calculations. “As we all know, the top leadership may have other objectives, often weighing the risks and benefits. If Hishammuddin is still seen as a threat to certain factions, then any such motion would likely go nowhere. “But if something is viewed as beneficial to the party, even if it wasn’t formally proposed, the top leadership could still act.” Ultimately, whether Hishammuddin makes a comeback or remains on the sidelines would hinge on political expediency and how his presence fits into the leadership’s broader strategy.

submit any appeal or apology, according to Astro Awani . “The Sembrong division’s motion will be brought to the supreme council via Johor Umno and reviewed by the political bureau,” he said, adding that the authority to decide on membership status lies with the council in the absence of a general assembly. Syaza described the situation as a political litmus test for Umno. “They’ve already lost Tengku Zafrul. Maybe it’s not a bad idea to bring back Hishammuddin. But it depends on how confident Zahid is in his leadership and whether Hishammuddin is willing to toe the party line.” If realised, Hishammuddin’s return could mark the re-emergence of Umno’s so called old guard and reinforce the party’s position as a dependable partner in the unity government, she added. “If Umno can keep itself together and remain in government, then Hishammuddin’s presence could underscore its seriousness as a coalition partner. “In this context, his return would not reshape the party ideologically but rather signal a continuation of political legacy. “Hishammuddin may have his baggage, but so do many others. His return would signal Umno returning to its roots, whatever that might mean today.” Meanwhile, Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said the possible comeback carried strategic weight in Johor, where state elections are expected soon. He noted that support within Umno

Impossible”podcast on Friday, Jemilah stressed that gross domestic product (GDP) alone is a flawed and outdated metric of development. She said high income does not always equate to happiness or safety. “GDP alone is a bad measure of development. You have seen countries with high GDPs but very unhappy people, very unsafe. We need a well-being economics model in which everyone can live a good life with dignity and enough economic development,” she said. Jemilah, who founded Mercy Malaysia in 1999 after being moved by wartime footage from Kosovo, reflected on how humanitarian work has evolved from reactive disaster response to addressing the root causes of human vulnerability. She recounted a life-changing moment from 2000, when images of a Mozambican woman giving birth atop a mango tree during severe flooding left a lasting impression. Years later, while serving as Under Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, she visited Mozambique and discovered that the boy she was playing with was that very baby. “That was my‘aha’moment,”she said. “Have I been putting band-aids on gaping wounds? Until and unless we tackle the underlying drivers of why people are becoming so vulnerable, we can’t keep (applying) aid as a cure.” That realisation drove her deeper into planetary health, a field linking the well-being of humanity to the state of the Earth’s natural systems. Upon returning to Malaysia from Switzerland during the Covid-19 pandemic, Jemilah established the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, envisioning it as a regional hub to address intertwined challenges such as climate change, social inequality and sustainable growth. “Asia Pacific is the most vulnerable region in the world,” she warned, urging Malaysia to lead boldly during its Asean chairmanship with real commitments to decarbonisation, halting deforestation and driving behavioural change. She highlighted Costa Rica as an inspiring example, a country that abolished its military, invested in environmental conservation and built a thriving ecotourism sector while consistently ranking among the world’s happiest nations. “I would rather live well than be extremely wealthy. You may have wealth but no health. We need to find the balance between well-being and wealth,” she said. Reflecting on over two decades in humanitarian service, from conflict zones in Iraq and Afghanistan to the 2004 tsunami in Aceh, Jemilah shared searing memories, including an ambush in Iraq that claimed the lives of her colleagues and left her needing months of therapy. “Humanitarian workers were no longer sacrosanct. International humanitarian law had been breached,” she said, describing how their clearly marked ambulance was deliberately targeted. Through it all, Jemilah emphasised the values of humility, persistence and gratitude. She said true leadership includes knowing when to step aside as she did by preparing a succession plan before stepping down from Mercy Malaysia.

Discussion on youth mental health

Yeoh with participants of the event yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC