July 5, 2012
UMNO’s Saifuddin Abdullah: Voice of Reason and Moderation
For the 19th Middle Malaysia podcast, media consultant Oon Yeoh speaks to Saifuddin Abdullah, the Deputy Minister for Higher Education and MP for Temerloh.
Regarded by many as the most credible and consistent voice of reason and moderation in BN, Saifuddin talks a bit about his background which molded his idealism. He also explains how a former student activist like him ended up in UMNO.
He insists that UMNO is a lot more inclusive and tolerant of diverse voices than people give it credit for, and cites himself as testament of that. Yet, he admits that at times, he finds himself alone among his colleagues, in advocating the progressive views that he holds.
He nevertheless defends Prime Minister Najib Razak, who faced criticisms that he flip-flopped on his reforms agenda. He refutes Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s views that the upcoming general elections will be the most racist one ever.
When asked to predict the timing for the elections, he indicates that it probably wouldn’t happen too soon. However, he is very confident of BN’s chances of winning the elections.
He also answers the question whether he would entertain any overtures from Pakatan Rakyat, should the opposition manage to wrest control of Putrajaya.
Lastly, he explain the basis for his motto – that the measure of leader is not the number of enemies he vanquishes, but the number of enemies he wins over as friends. Basketball, it seems, plays a big role in that! Listen to Saifuddin in this 12-minute podcast.
I had the pleasure of meeting and listening to Saifuddin Abdullah many months ago. At that time, he ably defended the amendments to the University and University Colleges Act against the likes of the erudite Dr. Zul Ahmad and Hishamuddin Tukartube Rais. The Temerloh MP argued his case persuasively. He won over his critics.He answered my question about the quality of university education and assured the audience that the government was aware of the problems faced by our tertiary educational institutions and cited the efforts undertaken by the University of Malaya, his and my alma mater (The Deputy Minister is of a more recent vintage than I who left its portals in 1963).
Yes, I can agree with the view of those who knew him better than I that he is “the most credible and consistent voice of reason and moderation in BN”. Right now, he is still a voice in the wilderness of UMNO politics, but if UMNO leaders are of his temperament and mindset, UMNO-BN would win the next Elections with a convincing margin. Unfortunately, most UMNO leaders are disciples of Mahathir Mohamad who is time trapped in race rhetoric. So, given the prevailing UMNO arrogance and dismissive attitude towards Malaysian voters and civil society, Najib will probably scrape through with a razor thin margin in GE-13.–Din Merican
The ground swell of “reason & moderation” within UMNO is presently and imperceptibly growing below the surface under Najib’s leadership and YB Saifuddin is the initial emerging sign of this positive development. This can be discerned from the interview but UMNO shies away from openly admitting it either mistakenly out of fear to be perceived as weak or out of disproportinate respect for Mahathir’s hardliners. Najib has to push harder the “wavering” ones in his party.
_________
We need more Saifuddins if UMNO is not to go extinct. Idealism is not out of place. But this is not likely to happen while Mahathir is around to manipulate the Malays for his self-interest. Do you think he cares what we think of him?–Din Merican
These two jokers seem to have a lot to laugh about when what is in issue is the fate of an entire country in the coming years. The interviewer was asking questions and not waiting for the interviewee to respond fully. Very much like a direct examination by counsel with the counsel asking leading questions. At other times it sounds so scripted.
The icing on the cake came when the deputy Minister was asked if he would consider joining Pakatan should Pakatan win the elections. It is material for Saturday Night Live.
If there is to be real change, politics should stop being about personalities and more about issues and policies.
A pity Din that his biggest enemies are the people in his own party.No way that a character like him will be tolerated among those old guards.Saifuddin is always a threat to unless he dance to the same tune as them.
Din.
Saifuddin is the product of Yayasan Anda.Anwar was the principal when he studied in Yayasan Anda.You notice he is almost similar with Anwar in the sense that they can engaged with anybody,they can accept critism and live a simple live minus protocol.
I am totally agree with you that UMNO now is full of worms and the UMNO members and leader still think The Malay still need them.After what they did to Felda settlers with the listing of Felda Global,I am almost certain they will face the political tsunami after GE13.
There is no room for good men ( or women ) in UMNO Barisan because Kutty and his legacy has corrupted them all. It is better for Saifuddin to exit his party if he wants to be true to his ideals and beliefs.
If you do a head count in UMNO with credible quality leaders like Saifuddin it hardly exceed 5. Not even when you take BN into consideration.
Gentlemen, let not hope for UMNO to make a u-turn. It never going to happen. I believe Saifuddin and those credible ones are winnable candidates in whatever party they may decide choose to be in because voters are intelligent enough to evaluate their qualities.
Those still betting on UMNO are going to digress Malaysia into the deepest abyss. It is not about loyalty now. The stake is high. The stake is Malaysia survival in this competitive world….26 millions lives depend on the quality of leadership Malaysian would voted to lead.
If Saifuddin is really a good stuff, leaving his present Party is not a good solution. He should “fight” and use his influence to change the Party to his way of thinking as he seems to be in the groove of Najib’s 1Malaysia policy and is well supported by many valid criticisms from the people against those stubborn & arrogant members within his Party..
Was with him yesterday at the NBA Legends press conference. I’m surprised a person of his caliber is with UMNO. If the rest of BN was like him, Pakatan wouldn’t stand a chance in the urban areas.