MIC Elections destroyed the myth,”What UMNO wants UMNO gets”
Malaysiakini.com
September 13, 2009
MIC delegates bury an UMNO myth
by Terence Netto
PKR’s Zaid Ibrahim, who’s got the daunting task of forging more cohesive mechanisms in an apparently fractious Pakatan Rakyat, was smiling broadly the morning after the MIC elections.
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Not ordinarily one to derive pleasure from his detractors’ discomfiture, Zaid remains optimistic about his daunting task, more so after what he called the “breaking of another distorting myth in Malaysian politics.”
He explained the myth as “UMNO gets what UMNO wants.” “Much as UMNO wanted it, it could not get the MIC to refresh its leadership ranks,” observed Zaid in the immediate aftermath of the MIC elective assembly’s endorsement of all candidates allied to its president S Samy Vellu, whom UMNO wants to usher quietly into retirement.
The latter course would have been sealed had leaders other than those endorsed by Samy Vellu been elected at the party’s polls yesterday.
“The outcome dispels the myth that UMNO gets what UMNO wants,” opined Zaid, in remarks to Malaysiakini.
UMNO president Najib Abdul Razak disdained the customary elliptical style in speech making wherein subtle hints are dropped as to what the BN chairperson wants of a component party for a more direct – and inevitably courtesy scanting – approach when he delivered the opening address at the MIC assembly yesterday.
Observers normally parse the opening address for hints of what the BN chairperson desires to see in a component party, a power of indirect suggestion honed to an art by Malay political culture and hugely enhancing of the stature of an UMNO president.
Myth buried for good
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In his address yesterday, Najib clearly semaphored his desire for refreshment of MIC’s leadership ranks as a necessary prelude to the party’s recovery of the Malaysian Indian voters’ allegiance, traditionally a safe bank for the BN but no more it seems, judging from trends evinced at the general election in March last year.
“This is a crucial juncture in Malaysian politics – less critical, no doubt, than the destruction of the myth that ‘UMNO itu Melayu, Melayu itu UMNO’ (‘UMNO is synonymous with the Malays’), but no less significant as a follow through to the incineration of that earlier myth,” said Zaid.
The myth ‘UMNO is synonymous with the Malays’ has become groggy from the pummelling it took at the last general election and in all but one of the eight by-elections held since.
“That myth is buried for good and now this myth ‘UMNO gets what UMNO wants’ is down for the count,” asserted Zaid. “Talk of creative destruction – this is it. You need these two myths to be broken before we can build a new Malaysian political culture from its ruins,” he commented.
don’t be so quick on the trigger. in last GE, where UMNO won, they won well.
they still represent the vast majority of the rural malays. gerrymanderring has given them undeserved proportion of voting power. they are immuned from the same pressure that oppress all races in urban area so my guess is that they will be continually happpy to remain under the intoxication of racial politics.
I hope I am very wrong. Let’s start with Bagan Pinang.
lee wee tak - September 13, 2009 at 2:01 pm
The idea of “UMNO gets what UMNO wants” is not a myth – it’s historical! Only after 0308, was this semi-urban legend dispelled. That’s reality, but since I’m not into semantics – let the sleeping dogs lie.
The real problem for the nation now, is the lack of leadership in tangible terms – most glaringly in states like Perak and Selangor.
For example, if i want to introduce a FDI acquaintance who wants to invest say RM1 bil into a massive project, and assuming we manage to run the usual gauntlet of MITI/MIDA/Bank Negara etc. goonies & ‘under-the-table’ beauracrats – which state shall we approach for land acquisition?
Definitely not Perak – which is all tied up as in any BDSM vid, neither Selangor nor Negeri. Penang’s exco doesn’t seem to be able to settle any significant land related issues because of political disruptions, the most recent being Tg. Tokong…
Of all Pakatan ruled states only Kedah seems viable, but then what about the infrastructure? I know the exco will welcome any ‘halal’ biz activities, but…
For me, the “myth” now, is that Malaysia is a FDI haven. N,o we are not that anymore, for I’m currently experiencing this conundrum. I think my advice given to my friend has to be Iskandar DZ, but then I can’t live with myself for doing this, for I cannot “cakap, tak serupa bikin.” I’m hard-core party less Pakatan man, yet I’m stymied by the lack of possibilities.
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Menyalak-er,
Ask your FDI acquaintance to listen, observe and build up contacts. Investing can come later. Keep his eyes open and his ears close to the ground, and prepare for the change that is coming. We are determined to make our country an abode for all who wish to call her their home. But first we must via the ballot box and peaceful means remove the ancien regime led by UMNO-BN.
Menyalak-er - September 13, 2009 at 9:09 pm
The real “myth” in Malaysian politics is that BN will undergo a change after the mauling in 2008. UMNO started off by burying that myth and now MIC has shown that it is not to be left behind by the “business as usual” message it has sent to the country by the farce that was the election and the goings on prior to it. Needless to say, MCA is next. Voters will get the gist of this message quite clearly.
PR should be quite satisfied by the recent election.
Isa Manteqi - September 13, 2009 at 9:35 pm
The Indians are a fickle lot. Now they are fractious and directionless. Samy Velu’s arrogance will not last long because without UMNO, MIC cannot survive. Sorry state of affairs as the Indians cannot unite under one Leader in MIC.
P Dev Anand Pillai - September 13, 2009 at 11:39 pm
It’s a lawless Malaysia. Law is only theory, but not practice. It is indeed a smart move for RPK to “cabut” (run) overseas. The so-called committee’s decision to ‘free RPK’ was indeed a brilliant move since RPK is not going to see the light of the day anyway. Stay overseas, after all he has the Right of Abode in a certain country, and can shoot from afar. Keep shooting. One day all the pins will fall.
If they play dirty against us, we play dirty against them. This is a game of survival. If we fight for a better Malaysia, we must fight like this. Since there is no fair, level playing field, what choice do we have but go underground. If they tilt to their bias, we should play our own game. Never mess with the rakyat.
Amongst the rakyat are very brilliant people politically and we are laughing every day at the stupidity and enjoying the humour and satire of our imbecile leaders. We thank God for giving us this laughter as laughter is still the best medicine and the funniest political jokes can lighten our day and ease stress. So keep ‘em coming and one day, the people will have enough of all this shit and sweep them away like the Second Wave of Makkal Sakhti, leaving no mercy.
I pray for the day this beloved nation of ours will be truly ours again. KeADILan untuk Semua, tidak kira bangsa, agama dan warna kulit.
Dr Chin - September 14, 2009 at 12:11 am
Well said, Dr. Chin. We must not be disheartened into thinking that corrupt, self serving politicians are limited to Malaysia. All over the world, ordinary citizens are trying to find ways to regain their countries from the greedy hands of politicians who promise the world when they need your vote and then go on to do the exact opposite.
A sense of humour IS necessary to swallow the rubbish that comes from our so-called leaders; and ideas like MAKKAL SAKTI will overpower systems although we must beware that peoples’ power does not give rise to anarchy.
In this respect PR is a pertinent force in our country and one must wish them well, but I fear it will not get very far as long as partners like PAS in its current mood are in it.
Isa Manteqi - September 14, 2009 at 8:37 am
Thanks, Dr. Chin for your comments. Have a good first day at Seberang Jaya Hospital, Penang. The grind of housemanship is about to begin. Never lose your sense of humour, which is vital for sanity, given the rotten state of UMNO politics.
I read Anwar’s comments on the Biro Tata Negara. They are dedicated to the government’s Hate Anwar campaign. Fortunately, our young generation (Generations – Y and -Z) are too smart to be taken in by their propaganda. What else will these paid propagandists do next? —Din Merican.
dinobeano - September 14, 2009 at 11:23 am
Dear Dr Chin, i’ll reiterate whatever Din has mentioned about a sense of humor. As your senior by a generation, it behooves me to tell you that it is imperative that you keep your political affiliations aloof while practicing in your profession – otherwise you may end up in the depths of Baram under Bakun – which to me is a revelation. It is indeed good that some members of the profession have the wherethiwal to take up the cause (like dearly departed Tan Chee Khoon), whereas in my generation we were stymied for lack of choices.
Din, it may surprise you that i know a former ‘unmentionable’ party president well, via convoluted family ties. I was offered this and that, but having the ideals of young Dr. Chin above – i ran away from the perversion and corruption as fast as i could. The ‘myth’ of bumno superiority even then was apparent, although everyone pretended otherwise. The opposition parties back then were parochial, chaotic and causing me to hate this type of politics.
The reason why i didn’t sign up with PKR actually, has to do with Anwar’s personality – of being too kind, magnanimous and tendency to trust his lieutenant’s overmuch. His discernment was at best – ‘numinous’. Many a time he misreads despite his intellectual capacity and makes assumptions without careful self reflection. I read him well and now with a steadying influence of people like you, I hope his passions will be more directed.
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Menyalak-er,
Thanks for your confidence. I am not sure that I have such a great influence on DSAI as you seem to think. I am just a political novice. My forte is in business management and economics. But I do try to share my views with him openly and sincerely. He is a kind and trusting man and I feel strongly that he will be a good leader. He will have my full support always. –Din Merica
Menyalak-er - September 14, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Din, I knew him when i was a ‘novice’ in UMSU in the 70′s – he was the outgoing prez, when i was just joing a subcommitee. I asked him why such and such a thing must be done?
He said: “Bro, the end justifies the means…”
What were this means? “Watch and see.”
What is the end? “There is no end…”
He ended up under ISA the very next week! He has not changed a bit, has he? Yes, he too has my support always as the fighter of the poor, marginalized and oppressed, irregardless of race/religion… He has always been like that.
When he dismissed as a “Muslim fundamentalist” – i defended him, much to the chagrin of my peers!
We just got to watch out for his “means”!
Menyalak-er - September 14, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Dear Menyalak-er, I am different brand of political breed.
For your info, I am not a member of any political party as well.
I support bipartisan politics, just like in the United States of America and I think Malaysia has a long, long way to go before achieving that status.
But I like your comments. Life is full of politics. But currently do you think Malaysia is already a failed state as RPK said or going to end up as one?
Dr Chin - September 14, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Hi Dr Chin,
RPK has a different political mindset, and although i respect very much his courage, determination, blockbuster news and views – there are also many ways in which we differ. He has what we call passive-aggressive personna.
For example, he uses the political way of ‘confrontation’ while some of us prefer the politics of ‘reconciliation’ in which we look at things in a nonpartisan way in respect to the Constituition and Laws. It’s sort of like Sen. Joe Liebermann’s method – where we prefer to get things done in a measured way without the angst, fire and brimstone setting – due to sensitivities and diversity of our nation. We must understand the forces arrayed against us and learn to parry, duck, weave and take a step back before we deliver the counter-punch. It is no use having all sound and fury at inappropriate times, not of our chosing. It is also true that RPK and many others have agendas that are not visible to our naked eye – we all have lil’ secrets…
Malaysia is not a failed state as yet, but it’s getting there due to incompetence, mismanagement, incoherent policies, warlordism, fascism and oft repeated mantra of ccn (corruption, cronyism and nepotism). The signs and symptoms are there – somewhat like secondary syphilis. What i hope is that PR is the victorious penicillin injected to get rid of the T.pallidium. And that is what we are going through now – the troubles, strife and anger are part of a Jarisch-Hexheimer reaction. (Pardon the medical terminology, friends, it means: “It will get worse before it gets better”).
My hope is for a greater but gentler Malaysia, without the demons that have plagued us since it’s inception. The aspirations of my ‘failed’ generation lie with bright young stars like you – truly bred Malaysians, not spoilt irredeemiable brats whose parents pillaged us without remorse. Forget about 1Malaysia and other slogans.
Menyalak-er - September 14, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Hi Menyalak-er, well said. I also hope change is coming to Malaysia, for the better of course.
Dr Chin - September 14, 2009 at 10:11 pm