The late Tun Abdul Razak engineered the construction of Barisan Nasional and brought back democracy to the country. Gerakan and PAS were among the new members of the coalition from Peninsular Malaysia.
Although PAS was forced to leave BN less then a decade later, yet, under Mahathir Mohamed, BN become much stronger despites some chaotic moments in Sabah.
BN reached its pinnacle in 2004, some said due to the new breathe by the new leader, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi whom during that time was famously known as Mr. Clean. While others believe the huge mandate was a way some Malaysian voters wanted to thank Tun Dr. Mahathir who left office few months before the election. I was among those who voted MCA Candidate in order to thank Tun.
When Mahathir made the announcement about his retirement, many who were neither strong supporters of BN nor believer of UMNO felt that the country soon would be facing an uncertain future. Although we do shared the sorrows and grievances faced by many due to strong and forceful policies on national security during Mahathir’s time, yet the majority cherished.
Despites all the so-called bailouts, we always managed to crawl back and stand up. Yes, during those times, we stood tall in the eye of the world. And Mahathir did it against all odds. Please don’t hide those facts away.
Nevertheless, if Mahathir were given another chance, forget about his age factor, but take into consideration how the aging world has fast change, I doubt he will be able to continue to serve us like before. He is one of a kind, yes, yet he is only a man for his era.
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over the country when the world is facing monumental changes. Mahathir retired at the brink of digital changes that he always dreamt and played a part, with cautious. Abdullah tried to govern the country in moderation but beside his flip-flop decision, the conservativeness in UMNO help to fasten his exit. UMNO had until today failed to face the changing world and the new generation. Will UMNO ever capable to change and re-brand itself?
The brand called UMNO is a laughing stock for the new generation. It does not suite the new transparent world. UMNO can never grow any younger because it is full of young leader whom too fond of old UMNO strategy.
A beautiful doctored photo of Najib as it appeared in Rocky’s Bru
Will Najib capable of bringing UMNO down to its knee to be knighted by the new generation? I seriously doubt it. I never doubt Najib’s capabilities to govern UMNO and make it stronger again. Najib has all the talent to make UMNO, the ‘UMNO’ again. But by doing so, Najib will only bring down the legacy of his late father.
A stronger UMNO will only pose death to BN. A stronger UMNO will mean more corruption to fill the thirsty Division leaders. A stronger UMNO will mean more divide and rule concepts. A stronger UMNO will mean more racial problems.
A stronger UMNO will mean arrogance!
Even at its weakest point in life, UMNO members remain arrogance. While some of them happily agreed with the opposition and point the finger to Abdullah, they as usual failed to see their four fingers are pointing back at them. What brought Abdullah down is not the opposition, but UMNO itself. The oppositions are merely taking advantage by pouring petrol into the already open burning within UMNO. Sooner than expected UMNO succumbed to the opposition’s psychological warfare and they themselves butchered Abdullah, as what the opposition wanted them to do.
When Abdullah took office, he is praised as the clean man and with all the combinations of factors and reforms, he almost wiped out the PKR and PAS from Parliament and recapture Kelantan. He had unite the Malay like nothing ever been seen since 1986.
Who had made it impossible for Abdullah to bring reform? Remember IPCMC as an example? A lot of protest came within UMNO itself. Who had collaborated in organising a campaign to bring Abdullah down before the PRU 12, well it is certain UMNO members itself? Soon, in order to survive the UMNO, Abdullah had to succumb to money politics and dived into the world of corrupt politics filled with cronyism and nepotism.
For the third time, I will repeat myself, Abdullah came into power as a clean man and the morale of the story is, Najib is not. Whether Najib is clean or not it is not the issue, the issue is, Najib is not perceived as a clean man. Najib came with heavy liability hanging over his head. Najib is followed everywhere with the burden of undisputed psychological warfare by the oppositions. No doubt that Najib definitely will be able to handle these, as the he is currently the undisputed toughest man from UMNO.
Unfortunately, Najib is not known as reformer. Many already perceived that Najib would bring UMNO back to the way it is managed under Mahathir. Najib has read well what happen to his predecessor for going against Tun. He will not repeat the mistake but to follow and obey the Great Man but by doing so under the current climatic problem world which rapidly being re-craft by the wind of change would only mark disaster to UMNO’s partner in BN.
Najib has to choose to either bring UMNO to its knee or being remembered as the son who crumbled his father’s legacy. Reading by politics in UMNO since PRU12, UMNO would remain stubborn in keeping status quo and UMNO blood, is surely very thick in Najib than others.
UMNO under Najib soon will only be the same UMNO, crippled by money politics, lingered with the smell of hatred and run by those who adored corrupt practices. These is the brand call UMNO, hiding behind the word “Agama, Bangsa dan Negara”.
Come PRU13, some who voted the opposition will return to vote for UMNO for its promise of Malay superiority while the new generation and the rest of non-Malays will continue their fight to be Malaysian.
It would be tough for Najib, who until today about to be the only UMNO president voted into the presidency without the pleasure and power of becoming the Prime Minister first.
Recent Comments