Is this the party that gave us the Tunku, Dr M?


COMMENTARY BY THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER
29 November 2014

Umno was the party that moved for Malaya’s independence and later the formation of Malaysia together with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.

Back then, Umno was a party of civil servants and intellectuals that advanced the cause of the Malays.

But if after the first couple of days of the Umno general assembly, Malaysians still believe in this party that gave us giants such as Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, Tun Hussein Onn and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, they must be: a) suffering from permanent brain damage b) illiterate c) recent “citizens” d) Umno members e) all of the above.

It is not only the ridiculous fighting talk that has been nauseating, but the sheer obtuse nature of the debate and for want of a more palatable word, stupidity at display.

It is the ruling party since Merdeka, that is some 57 years ago, and yet it talks of an economic jihad for the Malays and Bumiputera as if the government it controls has done nothing.

It is the ruling party with access to all security information and yet one leader can brazenly say a Quran has been burnt in Kedah without any proof, and with a denial from no one less than the Kedah menteri besar.

It is a party obsessed with trivial issues such as the girth of its members rather than the shrinking wallets of Malaysian citizens – be it the urban worker or the smallholder facing a crunch from falling commodity prices.

It is a party that should discuss ideas for the future but yet it still wants to talk about the past or show slides of the May 13 riot.

How has this grand Malay nationalist party sunk to be a caricature of itself where intelligent debate has given way to shrill laments and calls for unity? Isn’t it ironic that these calls for unity are for a party named the United Malays National Organisation?

Dr Mahathir urged delegates to criticise the leadership for their missteps while Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi warned that laws such as Sedition Act is no guarantee to keep Umno in power forever.

Yet, was any of this discussed or debated?

Instead, it has turned into an orgy of blame against everyone but themselves over issues such as the economy and the drift of young Malays to other parties.

The reality is simple. This is Umno Baru: a pale shadow of the real Umno that had everyone’s respect and support in first few decades of Malaysia’s existence.

And in today’s Umno, jokes get recycled, and some get elected too. – November 29, 2014.

  1. #1 by Noble House on Sunday, 30 November 2014 - 4:30 am

    Umno delegates are given an overdose of prescriptions for chronic disorders due to acute hypoxia that cannot be cured. Will there still be commonsense or insanity rules?

  2. #2 by worldpress on Sunday, 30 November 2014 - 8:41 am

    Just like old history, birates threaten, rob, cheat to enrich from other people properties.

    Used the Tunku Abdul Rahman (who may very very against this party so don’t ask his photo be used in this party) to cheat kampung folk to support.

  3. #3 by worldpress on Sunday, 30 November 2014 - 8:43 am

    Just like old history, birates threaten, rob, cheat to enrich from other people properties.

    Used the Tunku Abdul Rahman (who may very very against this party so don’t ask his photo be used in this party UMNO BARU) to cheat kampung folkS to support.

  4. #4 by winstony on Sunday, 30 November 2014 - 9:20 pm

    One of those names mentioned above is definitely not a giant.
    He’s more like a dwarf!!!

  5. #5 by worldpress on Monday, 1 December 2014 - 12:03 am

    This is not the Party of the Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman as this current party (UMNO Baru) against their both principal of fight for Merdeka

    Ismail (Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman) was particularly known for his non-ethnic approach to political issues. Expressing concern over racial polarisation in the country, he once asked:
    “ Why did we fight for Merdeka? So that the different races can be divided? That can’t be the way, right? That can’t be why all these great Malay and Umno leaders fought for this … Something is wrong…

    I hope the new discussions will start. Why are we building Malaysia? What Malaysia are we building? What kind of symbol is Malaysia supposed to be?[12]

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ismail_Abdul_Rahman

    Tycoon Robert Kuok, a friend of Ismail’s, would later remark that:
    “ In my opinion, he was probably the most non-racial, non-racist Malay I have met in my life. And I have met a very wide range of Malays from all parts of Malaysia. Doc was a stickler for total fair play, for correctness; total anathema to him to be anything else. Every Malay colleague feared him because of this, including Mahathir.[14]

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