KTK has gone overboard in calling AAB Father of Democracy. But KTK is at least right in that among the current crop of UMNO leaders, AAB comes closer to allowing democracy. The standard is low, but he is the first who claims the highest marks, say 5 out of 100, but the others don’t make it to even 4. KTK is influenced by the thought of awarding the Father of all corruptions to AAB’s predecessor, and thus was inspired to recognize the wee bit contribution made by AAB to openness in recent history. He has the word father and democracy juxtaposed, wrongly. KTK might be less incorrect to say AAB is Pak Democracy, when the word could mean brother as in Indonesia. AAB has to be remembered for something such as the Father-in-law of the overambitious, Father of NATO (no action talk only, but NATO will dispute).

AAB has finally realized that it would not be fair for Malays in UMNO to decide the fate of the PM, since he is now at the receiving end. If a referendum is held to choose between AAB and Najib to be PM for Malaysia, and that all Malaysians are allowed to vote, it is more likely that AAB would win. Similarly, if all component parties in BN have their proportionate influence (whatever that is measured), AAB might still be the PM until a new leader emerge from UMNO. So, this thought must have spurred AAB to give lib service to the need for a mechanism of direct membership to BN. But it is too late in the day to change his fate in politics.

AAB said it well when he told his foreign colleagues that he did not get a two-third majority {and hence his predicament}, and he told them that “Malaysians are Malaysians, they always like the portion that they are having. Whether they are hungry or not, it does not matter, they always like to have the portion they are used to”

AAB statement could be modified to change Malaysians to Malays, especially the mamak-type, and the portion to be replaced by NEP, and the statement makes good sense. When political party remain race-based, the politicians will not forget to champion the continuation of NEP with wider coverage not envisaged in the original plan whether the followers are ‘hungry or not, in AAB words”. UMNO leaders like to ignore the reality that NEP is the root cause of the problems, but recent history showed that NEP provided politicians the raison d’etre for their participation, and the protection for corrupt practices. The virus of national ills is the race-based political structure, and since those who are the beneficiaries would not want to give it up at all costs, AAB’s proposal for direct membership to BN is breeze.

Samy Vellu opposition to the proposal of direct membership gives the impression that that would be detrimental to the Indians. Is it? If MIC had been able to exert proportionate influence as one of the three parties, and that Indians rights have been protected by MIC, and direct membership might dilute the influence of MIC, then Samy Vellu would have the moral justification to object to direct membership. But MIC had only allowed Samy Vellu the opportunity to be the only ministers, and of course he was the pride of his family and friends. But beyond that are Indians better placed in the country now than soon after Independence? Are the Indians in the position to be discriminated in favour of the Malays?

The founding fathers were concerned that a community might be hungrier than the others after Independence and they decided that 1 15 year grace period should be given to give special assistance to the Malays, as stated in Article 153 which was subject to review after 15 years. As AAB had just said, they will want to retain the portion they used to have whether they are hungry or not. Had they followed the sentiments of the late Tun Ismail, they would think that out of pride, they should not continue with keeping the portion when they have to suffer the indignity that they are still labeled as hungry. But later UMNO leaders had ignored the pride of Malay culture in word-of-honour by twisting the raison d’etre for article 153, and that too went against the teaching of Islam which upholds justice, fair play and equality.

Those in MIC who are in politics to make profits for themselves would also want an exclusive right to position in government. But are they serving the community interest to reject racist politics when even UMNO leader realizes the harm it inflicts on the country. AAB has not the ability to change, and Samy vellu is a traitor to the nation by placing obstacle to possible improvements to the future of the country.