CAN UMNO CHANGE???

For the past few years till the just concluded UMNO general assembly, leaders after leaders made emotional and moving speeches of the need for UMNO to CHANGE or risk the losing the next general election. The speeches are full of rhetoric and passion. The top leadership has acknowledged money politics and corruption are major problems. But none of these leaders has come up with any specific agenda or ideas.

For years, UMNO found its strength as a guardian of ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ or Malay supremacy and Malays’ special rights. The rally cries of protecting these concepts with Malays’ blood and waving the Kris has turned off many non-Malays. Since independence, politics in Malaysia has always been race-based. So for UMNO to abandon these concepts is tantamount to political suicide as it would have no platform to stand on. Let's not forget, when Najib was UMNO Youth chief, he too spoke strongly about defending Malay rights with Malay blood.

In fact, for any UMNO politician to be successful, he has to take this fiery path to defend malays' interest, demonstrate whenever malays' rights are questioned, and protest loudly so as to be seen and heard especially by fellow Malays. To take a quiet approach is seen as weakness and is unthinkable. Actions taken over the years, left unchallenged and unchecked has become a culture of UMNO politics. Such traditions are now deeply ingrained in its members. This has been the practise before May 13 and is still the practice today. Just recently, some UMNO Youth members manhandled a wheelchair bound opposition MP because he made a remark deem to have insulted a Malay ‘Sultan’.

Money politics is inevitable in any political systems. The incumbent has the monopoly to dispense business licences, development permits, building contracts and so forth. It is only human that such contracts and permit goes to the connected. Many become politicians to be included in the ‘inner circle’. Some are more unscrupulous to even buy and bribe their way to win positions. Because NEP places the Bumiputeras in an advantaged and previleged position, it becomes very lucrative for UMNO politicians to be in the government.

Kickbacks and awarding contracts to relatives are normal. At times, greed becomes too blatant to ignore. Money politics and corruption cannot be eradicated easily. It will be a herculean task and requires unyieding political muscle for the new PM to weed out all these crimes. Furthermore, this practice has been deeply entrenched in the working culture of civil services for decades.

What most UMNO leaders fail to understand is that money politics is only a minor part of the problem for the recent electoral losses. In reality, the major problem lies with UMNO being too strong and overwhelming in BN. The other component parties like MCA and MIC are observed to be subservient to UMNO. BN strength is in its multi-racial appeal. Because UMNO has ignored the sensitivities and interests of the component parties, many non-Malays have abandon MCA and MIC in drove for the opposition. Its constant bickering on controversial racial issues has cause fissures in the multi-racial coalition.

But UMNO does have its dilemma too, if it does not speak up for the Malay’s constituency, it too will lose its members to the opposition. In fact, recent poll shows that Malays are equally divided between BN and opposition. This has compelled UMNO to take a more rightist path to sooth and pacifies the feeling of the conservative Malays. Can UMNO afford to change tack to be more conciliatory to the non Malays? That will requires political maturity and political will which I think is not even in UMNO’s vocabulary yet. What I meant is ‘Malaysian Malaysia’.

Will Najib dare to make changes to Malay special rights? Will he dare to ask his member to be more civil when they demonstrate? Will Najib dare to offer all national projects to open tender for all Malaysian regardless of race? Will Najib dare to pronounce that all university places will be based on merit? Will Najib be able to weed out corruption? Of course the answer to these questions is an emphatic and resounding NO. If the answer is yes, then UMNO will cease to exist because it would have lost is relevance.

The word change is very misleading and deceptive. What change is expected? Change for the better or change for the worst or just a change of image. Sure, UMNO will change over time, just like any organisation. Of course, it can change the membership rules, its electoral process, and its organisation structure, and rewrite its ethical codes and made changes to its image. But if there are any changes, will it enhance it survivability or will it expedite its demise. Or will it be for a change for self benefit in material terms.

One must be clear what UMNO stood for, its political platform and its place in national politics. What are UMNO core values and manifestos? These core values of Malay special rights are sacred, non negotiable and untouchable. Which politician would risk stirring up a hornet nest. Let not be naive, there will be no meaningful change or reform.





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