Targetting The Biggest Ass
If UMNO members and leaders were serious, they would focus on getting this harsh and unadulterated message straight to Abdullah: He is unfit to lead the party and country. He has clearly demonstrated this through his deeds (or lack of them) and words. The man is a habitual liar; he cannot separate fact from fiction and distinguish reality from fantasy.
Abdullah’s idea of taking responsibility for his party’s electoral debacle is merely to utter that statement. He has no inkling of what it means to accept responsibility.
Abdullah’s pleading that he is needed to “revive” the party is laughable and self serving. If he could not pilot his ship of state competently when it was calm, there is no hope that he would be any more capable when it is now stormy, and threatening to get even more so every day. Abdullah is the problem, and a very huge one at that. Consequently his moving out would be a big part of the solution. It would not solve everything of course, but it would remove a major impediment.
His “leadership” has been nothing more than endless sloganeering (Work with me, not for me!”), like the leader caricatured in Shahnon Ahmad’s short story, “Ungkapan” (Sloganeering).
Having grown accustomed to the perks and trappings of his office, Abdullah will not leave voluntarily, much less gracefully. He has to be literally dragged out. Subtleties and hints will not work on this man. He is too dumb to read the signals. He is also insulated, surrounded by courtiers ever willing to spin bad news.
Only Three Exit Strategies
There are only three ways to get rid of Abdullah. One is for him to be successfully challenged as party leader in the upcoming UMNO General Assembly in December. Two, would be for a sufficient number of the ruling coalition members to vote with the opposition in a “no confidence” motion in Parliament. And three of course, would be through divine intervention, not inappropriate for a man who is never shy in parading his piety and religiosity.
Knowing the onerous obstacles placed in UMNO towards challengers, the first option is unlikely. Granted, Tengku Razaleigh – the only one to have come out publicly to challenge Abdullah – is a formidable challenger. More daunting however, is the cultural inertia of Malays, especially those in UMNO. They have yet to learn the essential lesson that challenges and competitions are healthy, not acts of treason or betrayal.
The second path is more realistic. The political resurgence of Anwar is real. Far from being the “Anwar who?” of a few years ago, he is now increasingly viewed not only as the de facto leader of the opposition (even though he is not yet in Parliament) but rightly as Prime Minister-in-waiting.
Anwar will be able to contest a parliamentary seat once his statutory prohibition ends on
As for divine intervention, that is beyond my purview. However many a leader had used “medical” reasons as a convenient face-saving cover for resigning. Abdullah could always blame his hemorrhoids or narcolepsy (a pathologic tendency to doze off).
Abdullah Is The Problem
When Abdullah assumed office nearly five years ago, I was one of the few who were not enthused about his leadership potential. My conclusion was based on reviewing his performance as a minister. I predicted then that by the time Abdullah leaves office, Malaysians would be counting their blessings if he had not screwed up the country too much, and that the best we could hope for was for him to maintain the status quo.
Alas, I was wrong. I had not counted on the maturity and resilience of Malaysians in overcoming Abdullah’s gross incompetence. Malaysians are also incredibly generous as demonstrated by their giving him a rousing endorsement in the 2004 election in the hope that it would give him the necessary boost and confidence to lead. Unfortunately that too could not override his basic ineptness.
In their collective wisdom, in this recent election Malaysians decided that it was not necessary to deal a crippling blow, only enough punch that would leave Abdullah and UMNO reeling, and in the process trigger an implosion in an already corrupt and dysfunctional organization.
Equally remarkable, Malaysians also demonstrated that they are capable of executing peaceful political change. There was not even a hint of civil disorder following Barisan’s loss of five states. Compare that to 1969 and the horror that followed when the ruling coalition lost only one state.
To be sure, had the election been conducted free and fair, with no stuffed postal ballots and with the use of indelible ink to prevent fraudulent voting, the ultimate message would have been delivered, and Abdullah and his ilk would have been kicked out.
Perhaps it was better this way. For had the Barisan Nasional been voted out, there would have been a dangerous political vacuum as none of the opposition parties could form a government. Their loose coalition, the Pakatan Rakyat (Citizens’
Meanwhile UMNO and its coalition partners are galloping fast towards their collective demise. Their course is irreversible.
Thankfully my earlier dire prediction on Abdullah was misplaced. Abdullah has not destroyed
April 20th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Dr. Bakri is again prescribing an awefully strong dose of medicine for UMNO and Barisan Nasional. You can lead the cow to the water but ultimately it is the cow that has to want to and finally drink it. [I am not saying nor do I equate UMNO members as "cow" for most of my family members are strong active UMNO members]. What I am saying is that UMNO seems to be in a chronic state denial. But that’s very elementary, my dear, Dr. Bakri. Perhaps UMNO is in a state of “beyond intervention or treatment”. Advise the family members to take the patient home to die in peace is one logical alternative, don’t yoou think?
April 20th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Read today’s Star. Mahathir “the Destroyer” Mohamed is at it again. Mahathir has unequivocally withdrawn his support of Najib as PM, labeling him a “coward” for not standing up to and challenging Abdullah Badawi. Mahathir sowed the seeds for the destruction of UMNO and in doing so has destroyed his own legacy. Mahathir is so paranoid at the prospect of Anwar becoming PM that he is lashing out at anyone who would not do his bidding in toppling Abdullah. Now he is attempting to destroy Najib’s political career, just because the guy is, in his words, a penakut who is always saying, “Saya sokong saya sokong” Abdullah. I am not unsympathetic with Mahathir’s attempt to destroy Najib’s political career since I happen to think that it would be an unmitigated disaster for Malaysia if ever Najib becomes the PM.
Meanwhile Abdullah is not taking all the Mahathir is dishing out lying down. Awarding goodwill payments to former Lord President Salleh Abbas and others for the ”pain and suffering” all these years since their sacking in 1988 at a dinner function (Mahathir was not invited) Abdullah has in his own way delivered a stinging insult to Mahathir and driven another nail into the coffin of the latter’s legacy.
The real credit for the destruction of UMNO should go to the Malays, for they as a whole have matured politically. True, if it were not for the egregious deeds of people like the late Zakaria Mat Deros the Malays might not have turned against UMNO. But if the Malay mindset today were the same as the Malay mindset in 1969, UMNO and BN would still have emerged victorious at the last polls regardless.
Kudos to the modern Malay!
April 21st, 2008 at 6:00 am
MBM, UMNO made it possible for a selected few like you during your time 40 years ago, but AAB makes it possible for all now, particularly Malays, who have no linkages to establishment that is used to practise favouritism.
April 21st, 2008 at 7:35 am
MBM, you mentioned 3 exit strategies for AAB of which none of us have any control whatsoever. 2 of the exit strategies involve participation of UMNO members which we are not. The third one involves divine intervention, again beyond us. So lets move on, don’t waste time kicking a dead horse.
Lets instead focus on the PR and their performance now that they are the government in 5 states. Let’s keep a tight watch on their activities and how they plan to manage the states. For so long they have been the opposition, now they are in the drivers seats. Let see how they drive their masters (the rakyat) whether along the straight path or like the BN along the crooked path.
Perhaps you should suggest that the PR government try the Town Hall type meetings to discuss issues of importance or pertinent to the rakyat. This will allow the PR reps to be more in touch with their constituencies and the feeling of the rakyat.
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:12 am
Agree with shrek to look forward. So far I was impressed by the Selangor state government’s plan to visit Singapore to get an insight of good governance, and humbled by the magnanimous gesture of the Sultan of Perak and its state government to release title to long-occupied lands to their residents.
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Penang, Selangor and Perak state government are off to a good start. Like the non partisan gesture of Lim Guan Eng in inviting the Gerakan Sec Gen to be on PDC Board. Threw Gerakan off balance and got BN to question position of Gerekan in BN he he
Nothing wrong in visiting Singapore and learn a few things on how they do things there. Kudos to Khalid Ibrahim on his vision and also the way he’s handling the pig farming issues in Selangor.
Perak is fortunate to have a learned Sultan and now a good state government. Land has laways been an issue and it’s about time that TOL be converted to permanent title.
Not sure about Kedah yet. So far heard only about Jawi number plate for MB. Very egoistic already with vanity plates. Wonder what JPJ has to say.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:07 am
Outsider,
I will not “halalkan” my tax money being used to pay that old man Salleh Abas, the father-in-law of Shah Hakim, the business partner of Kamaludin Abdullah Badawi until the end of the world! Salleh Abas has not contributed anything to the country!
What ever you say about Dr Mahathir!
HJG
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 am
HGJ, how much taxes have you paid? Millions? Next time pay Fitrah with niat. Being the father in law of the business partner of Kamaluddin doesn’t make Salleh Ababs a guilty party. Salleh Abad was a great Solicitor General and a just and fair Lord President. He suffered grave injustice at the hands of Mahathir. Yes money can’t wipe out the shit but he lost not only a career but also just income.
How can you say Salleh Abas had not contributed anything to the nation. If you study Malaysian Law you will read books on Malaysian Constitution written by Salleh Abas, a compulsory reading. Secondly he could have contributed tremendously to Malaysia had not his career being cut short by Mahathir.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Shrek,
Millions? I don’t think you paid that much too! I pay tax for my kapchai roadtax, my cigarettes, my beras, my kopi, you name it! Okay, I’m a rubber taper. So what Salleh Abas had done to improve the living of so many rubber tapers like me?
Are we supposed to pay Anwar Ibrahim too? He was also sacked, remember!
HJG
April 25th, 2008 at 8:13 am
HGJ Every malaysian contribute in his/her small way to Malaysia. Being a rubber tapper you contribute to the rubber industry and the economy of Malaysia. Salleh Abas contributed with his brains and sense of fair justice. He was above politics and had made several judgement against the government. Thus his career was shortened. Anwar Ibrahim is different. He is a politician and going against his boss. He was not a government employee and he challeged the PM for the post. There is no need to compensate him.
I don’t pay millions, not even thousands as I am semi retired and no income. To halalkan pembayaran cukai, bayar lah melalui zakat. Zakat is distributed according to shariah laws. Thus you know where your money goes.
I guess you can’t see the contribution of the judiciary but wait till you have a case to be heard in the courts. Then you will realise the contributions of these legal eagles. Most civil servants contribute both directly and indirectly to the well being and welfare of the citizens. They uphold the laws of the country. Without them and their fair justice you will not be where you are right now.