Dealing with UMNO’s Childish Tantrums
Dealing With UMNO’s Childish Tantrums
Malaysiakini.com November 23, 2006
Editorial lead: Today, Umno is the problem, for Malays, non-Malays, and Malaysia. Umno has long ceased being part of the solution.
It is heartening that with few exceptions Malaysians have learned to ignore the ritualistic childish tantrums that are now the standard staple at UMNO’s gatherings. The recently concluded General Assembly was true to form, except for the chauvinistic chanting and virulence of the racism breaching even earlier heights of vulgarity.
Child psychologists tell us that the best way to deal with unacceptable behaviors is to indicate your disapproval in no uncertain terms the very first few times the child engages in them. This may include punishment.
If the child were to persist, then other strategies become necessary. Continued disapproval or punishment would be counterproductive, as the child would perceive that as getting attention. We would thus be unwittingly reinforcing the pattern.
This is where UMNO leaders are today. The more angry and ballistic the responses from Malaysians, the more encouraged these infantile Hang Tuah wannabes become. The censuring remarks of the likes of DAP’s Karpal Singh, Gerakan’s Lim King Yeik, and other commentators merely feed on these UMNO leaders’ hunger for attention.
Fortunately most Malaysians have learned to ignore these attention-seeking antics of UMNO. I had to force myself to view the videotapes of the General Assembly; I was bored after the first few keris-brandishing episodes. The only redeeming feature this time was that they did not drip their kerises with ketchup; they probably could not afford the
laundry bill the last time.
Monkey See, Monkey Do
Najib Razak, then UMNO Youth Leader, was the first to exploit this now infamous keris-brandishing stunt a few years back. Despite his evident clumsiness, he did not accidentally stab himself. Had that mishap happened, that would have been the end to this obscene choreography, and also to Najib. It did not, and Najib went on to greater heights, in UMNO as well as the nation. So, monkey see, monkey do.
This year we had Hishamudin aping Najib. Next year, if things go as planned, it would be Khairy’s turn. Being an Oxford graduate, he would want to prove that he is better than Hishamudin by trying to upstage him. Expect Khairy to perform the silat or some other equally silly act with his keris brandishing. Being not athletically gifted, watch him fall flat on his face with his keris inflicting a career-ending injury. Such theatrics have to end on a dramatic note.
Were that to happen, it would not be good for Khairy, of course, but it will be for UMNO, Malays, and Malaysia. UMNO members (and Malays generally), still steeped in their mystical beliefs, would view the accident as divine retribution, and we would then be spared further ugly taunting and displays of racism. Short of that happening, expect even more idiotic and obnoxious flaunting. What will they think of next?
Obviously it is much easier to come out with such stunts than it is to bring novel solutions to the intractable problems facing Malays. That would be too taxing intellectually for these folks, their Oxbridge education notwithstanding. Their preoccupation with trivialities matches their juvenile mindset.
At the recent UMNO Johore convention, its leader Ghani, who is also the Chief Minister, suggested that meritocracy was not suitable for Malays! That would unfairly penalize Malay pupils attending poorly equipped rural schools, he argued. That has been the lament since colonial times. I would have expected that after over fifty years of UMNO rule, they would have solved this long-standing problem.
To think that Ghani was once dean at the University of Malaya! Obviously, had meritocracy been practiced there, he would not have reached such academic heights; hence his defense of the status quo.
Breaking the Obnoxious Habit
As UMNO members have abrogated their collective “parental” responsibilities in not disciplining Najib Razak the first time he engaged in that obnoxious stunt (indeed they egged him on), it has now become entrenched. That such ugly behaviors are also career enhancing further reinforces the pattern. Consider that Najib is now Prime Minister-in-waiting.
The only way to disabuse UMNO of such behaviors is not to reward them. The only way to deliver that message to UMNO is in the language its members can understand: blunt, brutal, and delivered in no uncertain terms, as in not voting for them in the next election. This is not the time for subtleties or niceties.
Non-Malays are now the critical swing votes. Even PAS recognizes this reality; its leaders are consciously toning down their Islamic messages and trying to broaden their appeal. At its last Muktamar (convention), it even entertained fielding non-Malay candidates, a seismic shift in attitude and thinking.
If non-Malays abandon UMNO and join the many Malays already disillusioned with UMNO, its candidates would be defeated. The Barisan coalition need not be defeated to effect major change in UMNO. If PAS were to win more seats than UMNO, that would deal a crippling psychological blow. The ensuing blame game and infighting would implode UMNO.
The last time UMNO was threatened electorally in 1969, it triggered a deadly riot. If UMNO were dethroned today, there would be jubilations in Kampong Baru as well as Chow Kit Road. Then UMNO was seen as the defender of Malays; today thanks to the obscenely ostentatious lifestyles of the UMNOPutras, it is nothing more than the party of social and economic parasites. Then Malays were economically marginalized, today with a sizable Malay middle class, Malays have as much to lose as non-Malays should there be turmoil. If there were to be any riot, it would be UMNO members blaming each other and seeking retribution for their collective debacle.
Contrary to Khairy’s naïve expectations, a weakened UMNO would not embolden its Barisan partners to challenge it. Their choice then would be to merge with PAS, not exactly a demure bride-in-waiting. Even if they were to flirt with PAS, it would not necessarily be bad for Malaysia. These non-Malay parties might just be the influence needed to moderate PAS. PAS is after all a political party, not a religious organization. If the price for gaining power is for them to tone down their Islamic message, they will. Currently PAS leaders are self-righteously rigid because they have not been given the political opportunity.
The implosion of UMNO would not be bad for Malays or Malaysia; on the contrary, it would be good. UMNO has long ceased being part of the solution. Today, UMNO is the problem, for Malays, non-Malays, and Malaysia.
We do not need divine interventions like Khairy accidentally falling on his keris to solve UMNO’s problems, it would suffice if voters were to instill a much-needed parental discipline to the party.
November 26th, 2006 at 5:53 pm
But UMNO has been an “expert” of some sort: producing new Malays with mediocre education in order to retain power even at the expense and detriment of their own rakyats. Do you think for one second that the leadership in UMNO want the rakyat to think out of the box as alluded by Dr. Bakri? Far from it. It is to the benefits of present UMNO leadership to have the rakyats lulled with their fixation with Mawi and all that jazz than to instigate the rakyat to question issues such as Scomi and the like. If you don’t believe me, just grap yourself Malay language newspapers and magazines when you pass the nespaper stand and flip through the pages and you’ll find the answer.
How on earth none of the delegate raise the issues of nepotism, corruption (like that Zakaria of Klang) — just to be polite so that they ‘menjaga maruah and muka” President parti? Get real, please. UMNO is simply waiting for the right moment to draw its last breath!
November 26th, 2006 at 6:55 pm
Its a good piece but I take discourse with some of the points.
1) Most Malaysian learn to ignore attention-seeking…. I don’t think this is true. Its like watching Baywatch. Many people don’t admit to it. Sure the intellectual editor may actually ignore it but soap-opera will have its audience always.
2) Non-Malays are now the critical swing vote.. They are only swing vote provided the Malay swing their vote in the same direction. If the Malay vote PAS then while UMNO can be threatened if Non-Malay vote DAP, UMNO reaction would simply to turn hardline Islamic - disastrous. Then what? Chaos? The only realistic combination is the Malay vote Keadilan and Non-Malay vote DAP - an idealistic scenario frought with difficulties.
3) The implosion of UMNO would not be bad for Malay or Malaysia. True. However, the beneficiaries of UMNO implosion is PAS, it would be not be good for non-Malay or at least perceived to be.
UMNO is able to suceed because we are divided - that is the fundamental thing that we Malaysian must accept and our founding fathers did not put enough safeguard to guarantee that this division would not be exploited.
Only when the Malays are willing to vote Keadilan can UMNO be truly threatened not make things worst before anything else can happen.
November 26th, 2006 at 6:59 pm
I believe many Malaysians are quietly praying for enough rational Malays to rise above the current racist nonsense that drags the whole nation down. UMNO continues to play the racist tunes to cover their corrupt and wasteful ways. The other BN component parties are just feeding on the crumbs left by the UMNOputras.
The recent UMNO assembly had inadvertently produced a wonderfull groundswell of discontent against the so called Chinese-based parties, such as MCA, SUPP and Gerakan, for it is now crystal clear they are just shameless whores of UMNO.
Malaysians must now be brave enough to vote against these corrupt, self-serving and unpatriotic BN polticians in the next election.
November 26th, 2006 at 7:03 pm
At last you have accepted that UMNO is the problem. Just imagine that it takes a thinking man like you to so long to see this, how long will it take the rest of the Malays to see this. How many of the Malay middle class would willingly give up their 5 to 10% dicount for house purchase? This will be a measure of how willingly they will abandon UMNO.
November 27th, 2006 at 4:10 am
“…the best way to deal with unacceptable behaviors is to indicate your disapproval in no uncertain terms..”
Couldn’t agree with you more, Sir.
I have a cartoon drawn for this issue…
http://artify.blogspot.com/2006/11/amok.html
November 28th, 2006 at 1:08 am
to Bigjoe…surely you jest!
I mean…Keadilan?
(I’m only commenting on this particular issue…your other points are valid, at least I think so.)
to MBakriMusa…is there any particular reason as to why there was no mention of Keadilan in your piece?
November 28th, 2006 at 1:25 am
I have read several calls for non voting of the BN in the next GE in many blogs, meaning vote for the opposition. WHO do you vote to lead? PAS, DAP? Keadilan? Sad to say that nobody talked about whether the opposition would be a better alternative. Can they work together? Will they bring harmony , peace, wealth etc etc to everybody? Will they ensure that we wont have civil and racial uprising, problems and turmoil? It is a pity that we have so many bloggers and readers asking for a change but none never bother to think whether their call is a GOOD CALL.
Politics of Malaysia is such that we are still not a liberal soceity that we can accept to vote anybody and any party. There is still racial elements in voting.
Finally, a malay will still need a malay based party. If a malay has only PAS to look upon to champion certain rights and to choose from as an alternative political party in any GE, GOOD LUCK MALAYSIA
November 28th, 2006 at 12:45 pm
Salam,
Most Malays( even the educated nes and in high positions) are trapped in their feudalistic mentality.They become excited easily when politicians(UMNOputras) tell them the Malays’ position is being threatened by non-Malays( read Chinese).The UMNOputras is using this psychology to get attention from the Malays or to sidetrack UMNO’s problem and their dwindling support.
I do believe most Malaysians know UMNo is the problem in Malaysia but at the same time they think they don’t have a good alternative to UMNO and BN. Maybe Malaysians prefer to bear with the current govt rather than try out the opposition as the new govt.And the current state of the opposition( in terms of cooperation) doesn’t favour them as a good alternative to UMNO/BN.
I think it will be a very long time before Malaysians dare or have the guts to make a change.
Ayub Tulakang
November 28th, 2006 at 7:14 pm
Declaration of War to non-Malay?
It’s reported that the state government of Seremban is directing the schools to create Sekolah Rancangan Khas (SRK), in where, Malay student intake shall be 90% while the rest only go to non-Malay, PLUS, Malay students only need 5As but non-Malay 7As for admission.
No only that we run the amok of NEP for the robbery of the non-Malay, we are now discriminating and side-line them for the future generations in their kids’ education.
I think it’s only fair to the non-Malay that they shall be made known OFFICIALLY that this country - so called Malaysia is no longer a place for their origin, and they should all make plan to go elsewhere!
Shall we keep remind ourself that this is a flat world!
November 28th, 2006 at 7:40 pm
UMNO’s Childish Tantrums??
You must be kidding!
They have the best Malay’s mind in UMNO.
One thing for sure, they will never make All Orong Melayu rich or comfordable, because if this is achieved, they stand no more cause to justify their robbery.
So, it’s alway— i give you $100, i’ll secretly keep $100,000.
So, you tot you are being taken care of, but in reality you are NOT!
Just look at the result of NEP: Tun Daim’s son, this young chap is filthy rich!
Well, do you still believe they are childish?
November 28th, 2006 at 11:26 pm
Umno will not only make their leaders rich and arrogant but also stupid. Just look at Zam and his pronouncement that Parliamentary sessions would not be televised live because Malaysians, said this idiot, were not matured enough. What rubbish. It’s monkey like him who is giving the country a bad name.
Parliamentarians are expected to do their part while in the august house. You can’t expect them to sing and dance through a session.
Unfortunately, idiots like Zam will survive and will continue to make a fool of himself. And come the next GE we’ll vote him in again.
So who is the bigger idiot here?
November 29th, 2006 at 1:35 am
warrior2 said: “WHO do you vote to lead? PAS, DAP? Keadilan”?
I do not fear another MAY 13 should UMNO loose in the next general elections. So, Malaysians should just say ‘come what may’ and vote with their conscience - that is, for the Opposition.
When the votes have been counted, there will be some initial panic. The stock market might spiral downwards. There will be some outflow of the ringgit and other hiccups. Within weeks we will be back on our feet like water finding its own level.
There will a mass exodus of level headed MPs from the vanquished Barisan Nasional to the Opposition. There will be some alignment and re-alignment of political forces- while ensuring that Barisan leaders will be left completely ostracised.
Enemies will shake hands and kiss one anothers hands. A new force will emerge - probably non racial in form and substance. A leader will emerge for all Malaysians, regardless of colour, race or religion. I am thinking of Anwar ( I mean the new Anwar Ibrahim).
Wishful thinking but a remote possibility.
If this scenario does not emerge, then this country is doomed.
November 29th, 2006 at 2:28 am
From most of the posts, I can see that very few give PAS any mention. If any, it is just to say how inept they are at administration.
The demonisation of PAS is so well organised that even the very informed educated middle class give PAS a pass. Little do they realise that there are ample brains and experience in PAS and those waiting in the sidelines are equally if not more competent to run the government. The only reason why they do not ’surface’ is for fear of reprisals. UMNO can be very vicious even to their own kind as can be seen when Anwar Ibrahim and all his supporters (all UMNO members) were taken to the dryers and are now bankrupt or almost there. If not why would they want to control the media, and allow Harakah only limited issues. PKR does not have a permit at all.
Every time when someone asks to give PAS a chance, there will be an equally vibrant refusal citing ‘talibanisation’ or something to that effect.
For those doubters, do visit Kelantan and do talk to the people there, especially the non malays and ask them why they are still staying there if the conditions are so bad. Do not compare infrastructure though, because Kelantan is not supposed to progress as long as people there do not vote BN.
LJ
November 29th, 2006 at 2:48 am
Last Monday, there was a naming ceremony for a RM800 million LNG carrier, first time in history of Malaysia (previously, the naming could only be at the Korean or Japanese shipyards).
To make the occasion even more grand, the ship’s crew are all Malaysian. The captain and chief engineer are Malay. The ship is chartered by British Gas to carry LNG from Egypt to the UK. Supposely it shall be officiated by AB, but he failed to turn up as he was so tired because the day before he spent 6 hours at MAHA.
Just ask anybody who went to MAHA, how disastrous the place is. How inconvenient the location is. How stupid that AB choses that stupid MAHA and missed the opportunity to celebrate the achievement of the nation.
We all missed you TDM. Almighty God, help Malaysia. Please give us wise leader and relief us from mediocre ones that will lead us astray. Amin.
p/s: the ship’s name is Seri Anggun, maybe this was the reason … he wanted it to be Seri something
November 29th, 2006 at 6:26 am
To change the present half past six gov’t has to start with the Malay middle class. But this category of Malays have been steadily fed by the government (discounts, scholarships & other freebies) and are so very contented, that they will even vote a monkey standing on a BN ticket.
One thing I cannot fathom is that most Malays potray a very religious front but yet can condone blatant ’sinful’ acts commited by the gov’t. It’s as if “mereka tu orang kita, agama kita, tak apa-lah!”
November 29th, 2006 at 2:14 pm
Just to point something out. In most common usage, special education or pendidikan khas refers to education for the handicapped or the gifted.
When the word special is used, it implies a unique arrangement is needed due to either an inferior or superior departure from the mean. One cannot argue for a superior and deferential treatment on the basis of inferiority. The lifting of a community deemed inferior is to raise it to par, not to make beggars the king and overlord.
Analogies should never be extended into logic arguments proper. Political rallies and stuntshows are what they are, vacous peddling to the masses by appealing on their emotions and ignorance.
November 29th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
Interesting. I have my doubts KJ will be allowed to take over from that Krishammuddin. His days may be over sooner than we know. He has offended many and proved to be a real ‘pain’ Remember he was not the ‘choice’ of the youths. He merely walked in with new credentials - SIL.
November 29th, 2006 at 6:42 pm
To those Malays who think more of preserving their Malay rights than of the welfare of the nation, I’d like to share this well-reasoned letter to the Sun from Azmi Sharom. I believe the gentleman is a Law Professor at IIU.
Perhaps the article may also create the needed dissonance in the thinking of some of those who think that voting the statusquo out will bring racial chaos. That’s falling into the trap of UMNO. They’ve held that threat over us since May 13 1969. Haven’t we grown up enough since then to be able to tell those Ugly Malays in UMNO where to stuff their racist threats?
http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=16221
Tue, 28 Nov 2006
SPEAK UP! :: Letters
Fear-mongers drown out genuine issues
It would be an understatement to say that the just-concluded Umno General Assembly has caused a great deal of concern among right-thinking Malaysians, regardless of race. The language by many of the delegates was disgraceful. Although the prime minister did make conciliatory gestures in his closing address, the fact remains that not one of the Umno delegates, with the exception of Markiman Kobiran, publicly said anything against such behaviour. This to me indicates that such thinking is reflective of the thinking of the rank and file and that is worrying. This is not some fringe group we are talking about here, this is Umno and it is the ruling party.
[I have deleted the rest of the letter because of copy right issues. You can read it by clicking the link.MBM]
Azmi Sharom
Kuala Lumpur
November 30th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
The relevance of UMNO as championing the rights of Malays has taken a nose-dive as Malays themselves see that such talk has been only to safeguard the interests of a few well-connected cronies. Incidentally, the word “crony” was coined by the Malays themselves. PAS, as one of the most ignorant parties around, thought of and implemented a religious dimension when Malays abandoned UMNO soon after Anwar was sacked. Malays, while they do have a religious propensity, are also interested in the bread and butter issues and savour the trappings of an exciting world. PAS read their support wrongly and pushed for the hermit-style religiousity which again saw many leaving to return to UMNO. After all these years, PAS has not learnt much.
Malaysians, by and large, are raring for a change. The BN govt will try its best to keep the opposition divided and disarray, as it always had done. While there are many good people with good governance credentials, the only charismatic person who would be able to challenge the BN govt is Anwar and I believe he has the strength and stamina to challenge the UMNO led BN govt head-on. I am so fed-up with the arrogance of BN politicians and angry (call it mad) at the way the country has gone to the dogs. How can any sane person tolerate the country being plundered right in front of our eyes? Do they think that we Malaysians are that stupid and ignorant?
December 1st, 2006 at 4:12 pm
I’m glad that there are still people like you guys out here who’s able to look at the issue at hand with rational and well-thought comments. I think, it’s our responsibilty to bring this type of views to the masses who’ve been fed with the propagandas of the government through mainstream media. We need to encourage them to question the enws that they hear and read. NST has a blog http://www.monsterblog.com.my/ where the mainstream masses gather to discuss ideas and issues. In discussions related to politics, if you read the blogs there, you can tell that some of them are in fact unaware of the real situation. Maybe you guys should also join those blogs and present your ideas to them as well.
December 3rd, 2006 at 11:07 pm
I’m also heartened to see that there are many of my fellow Malaysians who keep a clear mind and level head on the issue of UMNO’s transgressions and fault them appropriately without going overboard with the condemnation. It would indeed be greatly encouraging if during our next general election we can see the tides of change sweep through our country.
I however, want to raise a question that I feel needs answering. I believe that the Malay votes are the most important of all for victory. If there is no decisive change here it matters little who the Chinese, Indian, Iban or Kadazan vote for. In this case, can anyone confidently say that the Malay poor will vote for the opposition?
UMNO may not have taken the best care of them, but I am sure many will feel some measure of gratitude for the handouts (meagre as it may be) from the UMNO led government.
If the poor Malays have no appetite for change, our ideals will be crushed before they ever got started.
December 3rd, 2006 at 11:29 pm
idealist,
I think we should make it our responsibility to spread the “truth” to all Malaysians. As you said, UMNO may have help the poor Malays, but it’s not much. There’s a possibility that a Opposition led government might be able to devise a policy that might be able to help them even more. Parties like Keadilan is a Malay-led party, and they will definitely not ignore the plights of the poor Malays. If the new government fail in their policy, they know they can always go back to UMNO. Why not give it a try?
My guess is many people do NOT even think about this possibility. A BN-led government is all the country has seen thus far.
However, if we can create this awareness, they might feel differently. But of course, if they still choose UMNO, then we have to respect the decision of the majority. Afterall, that’s what democracy is all about, right?