by M. Bakri Musa
At a recent gregarious social gathering a colleague, whose luck in personal relationships could best be described as challenged, was teased on whether she was scouting for her next ex-husband! With the current frenzied UMNO divisional nominating meetings, I am tempted to ask a similar question of its members. Are they too looking for their next ex-leader?
If there is any lesson UMNO members should have learned is that the way they pick their leaders needs to be revamped. By now they should have realized the devastating consequences of the “no contest rule” for the two top positions and the onerous nomination quota system, as well as the equally atrocious track record of any one leader (no matter how seemingly wise and brilliant at the time) in anointing his or her successor.
There are indications that this reality is now gradually sinking in, at least on the brave and perceptive few. Thus far that is all there is, only a realization, and nothing more.
Shahrir Samad, cabinet minister and UMNO Supreme Council member, called for “a generational change” in his party’s leadership. He viewed UMNO as becoming overly bureaucratic, with heavy emphasis on seniority and hierarchy. At age 58, Shahrir considered himself too late and too old to go for a top post.
Whether that is a statement of reality or merely an undisguised expression of lack of confidence on the current generation of leaders is for Shahrir to clarify. Both Najib Razak and Muhyyidin Yassin, leading candidates for the number one and two slots respectively, are of the same vintage as Shahrir.
If Shahrir was expressing his low opinion of current UMNO leaders, then he is on to something. There are no jantans among them. In the current leadership fiasco they have chosen to remain quiet and dutiful until it becomes quite obvious that their leader has become the butt of jokes. Only then did they finally dare speak up.
Of course there are exceptions but few, and Shahrir is not among them. The caliber of present UMNO leaders, in the cabinet as well as the party’s Supreme Council, is such that were they to see their leader stark naked, they would more likely compliment him for his nice tan instead of throwing a sarong at the hapless man!
Among the few and ready exceptions are Tengku Razaleigh and Zaid Ibrahim. The Tengku saw through Abdullah very early on and challenged him for the leadership. Only the onerous burden of the quota on nominations prevented Ku Li from contesting; the same hurdle that may confront him now. Zaid Ibrahim remains the only Malaysian minister to have resigned over a matter of principle.
There have been many ministerial resignations in the past, as Abdullah’s dutiful spinmeisters in The New Straits Times pointed out in an attempt to soften the impact of Zaid’s action. What those media supplicants pointedly failed to differentiate is that all those earlier resignations were essentially forced upon or out of shame.
Incidentally neither the Tengku nor Zaid is on UMNO Supreme Council. That speaks volume as to the caliber of individuals attracted and voted to the party’s top leadership.
The current frenzy of divisional nominating activities is likened by that keen observer of UMNO politics, Kadir Jasin, to the behaviors of passengers stranded on the freeway by their broken-down chartered bus. In their desperation, they are less interested in the comfort, safety or reliability of their replacement vehicle, only with reaching their destination on time. They reason that once they get there they could then leisurely shop for a better and more comfortable substitute for the return trip. It would never cross their mind that in their haste and less-than-prudent choice now, they could end up in a ditch or worse, before reaching their destination.
Soon after Abdullah assumed power and was searching for a deputy, I suggested that he picked Tengku Razaleigh. As both are at about the same age it would be unlikely for the Tengku to pose as a potential succession threat. They would also complement each other in skills and temperament. Together they could then revamp UMNO so as to attract fresh young new talent and then completely bypass the current crop of ineffective and parochial leaders as represented by Najib, Hishamuddin and Muhyyidin.
Had Abdullah done that his fate today, as well as that of Malaysia, would be far different! It is still not too late for him to recoup. As President he could summon a special General Assembly of UMNO specifically to dismantle the nomination quota. In so doing Abdullah would effectively undo one of Mahathir’s less-than-laudatory legacies.
Abdullah would effectively make the current nominating exercise mute, and simultaneously open up the party elections. That could prove beneficial especially if his son-in-law were to be unsuccessful in securing his quota of nominations, which now appears increasingly possible. Abdullah would also then have the great pleasure of watching Najib Razak desperately scrambling to fend off a strong challenge from Tengku Razaleigh. There is little love lost between Najib and Abdullah, and that single maneuver would be the perfect finale from Abdullah to Najib: Don’t get mad, get even!
Muhyyidin the Meek
Recently Muhyyidin had been incessantly clamoring for change in UMNO’s top leadership. Much earlier, as head of the party’s committee tasked with changing its rules, he was forceful in advocating removing the current nomination quota system. On meeting a not-unexpected resistance from Abdullah, Muhyyidin readily yielded.
Now with the man he is rooting to replace Abdullah slated to win san competition, Muhyyidin has chosen to remain uncharacteristically passive. He even urged all divisions to unanimously nominate Najib Razak as party president, and only Najib, as a “show of party unity.” Quite a remarkable and considerable shift in position, and a very quick one at that! Obviously Muhyyidin is banking on riding Najib’s coattail to the top, and doing so unopposed! As an aside, someone should now ask him what he thinks of the nomination quota system.
With that tantalizing prospect, Muhyyidin is now pathetically reduced to mouthing sycophantic praises for Najib, claiming, “I have no doubt that I will work very well with Najib ….” As a preview of the kind of leader he would be, Muhyyidin reassured everyone that he “would not dictate policies.” Rather as Deputy President, his is “to support and follow whatever directions and visions the president has spelled out.” In short, a glorified office boy in the highest office of the land!
Muhyyidin does not see a higher responsibility to the party or country; his loyalty is strictly to the president, a latter-day Hang Tuah. Thankfully thus far he has refrained from dripping his keris with ketchup in defense of Najib.
Muhyyidin was the chief executive (Mentri Besar) of Johor for a decade before Mahathir “promoted” him to the federal level. In the UMNO scheme of things, a mentri besar is a major “warlord,” certainly more so than a minister, especially for a state like Johore. Back then he grabbed headlines in a regional publication over his tussle with a foreign developer with substantial holdings in his state. I believe firmly in the ability of individuals to change, for the better as well for the worse. My retelling this old story is merely to temper the fast growing enthusiasm for him shown by local commentators.
Najib No “More Bettah!”
Assured of being unopposed for the top slot, Najib wisely chose not to be a part of this emerging attempt at setting up a mutual admiration society with Muhyiddin, declaring that he (Najib) “has not decided if Muhyiddin would be his running mate.” That is quite a rebuff! Najib went further and remarked “the more the merrier” when others like the double Muhammad Taib declared their intention to seek the number two position to compete directly with Muhyyidin.
However, when Perlis UMNO Youth leader Ismail Hashim had the temerity to consider competing directly with Najib, he (Najib) abruptly changed his tune, expressing doubt whether Ismail could even muster the necessary nominations.
Najib would like to have the top prize handed to him on a silver platter, as has been the pattern throughout his political career. To ensure that, Najib expressed his definite lack of enthusiasm for dismantling the current nomination quota rule even though his mentor and champion Tun Mahathir has called for it. Najib did not rule out doing so eventually, once he is gone!
With all his sordid baggage Najib is understandably sacred stiff in getting not only a formidable competitor in Tengku Razaleigh but also insignificant ones like Ismail Hashim. Najib is scared that Ismail would provide an avenue for protest votes.
Do not expect a change the UMNO’s leadership come March 2009, merely a change of faces. The insular attitude and feudal mindset behind those familair faces remain the same; likewise the corruption and incompetence. Unfortunately that would be bad for Malaysia, unless Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan Rakayt were to be successful.
Meanwhile enjoy the spectacle of UMNO members now frantically searching for their next ex-leader. Try not to let your concerns about the future of Malaysia detract you from enjoying the frivolity!
Korek ! Korek ! Korek !
UMNO will continue to steal until there’s nothing left to steal. Stealing through a cloak of secrecy, with relatives and cronies as beneficiaries. Highest tenders win, not the lowest. And if we dare ask the right questions, the law as it is interpreted by them, awaits all of us.
Mamakthir the so-called visionary will be very pleased that his legacy is being revived.
MCA has managed a smoother transition of the top leadership and there was a contest for the President’s post.
This is a more healthy situation than the one in UMNO where candidates are discouraged and delegates can be bought over.
So we end up with a PM who is not really tested.
Currently PM and DPM are automatically chosen from UMNO President and Deputy President. This may pose a problem. The President and Deputy President are chosen by the division heads. These division heads are merely contractors, racist, etc. What do they (division heads) know about picking the right person with impeccable character? What would happen one day if they chose a misfit to be their President/Deputy President? If you look at some of the candidates who offer for the Deputy President position we can find one who don’t speak English and caught with smuggling money abroad and another a racist and arrogant person.
The selection of a PM and DPM should be among the supreme council of BN. Getting elected to the President and Deputy President in their own party is one step while the actual selection should be among the Presidents and Deputy Presidents of the component parties in BN. It should be based on capability, meritocracy and impeccable character.
Fine it has to be a Muslim. We do have Muslim from other component parties. This way Malaysia will have a really true leader and not just any Tom Dick and Harry chosen from a majority party in BN.
“It should be based on capability, meritocracy and impeccable character.”
Hahaha….if this is the case, how can these people make money ?
In traditional feudal culture one, such as the number two deputy, is expected to be loyal – even to the extent of blindly – to the boss.
So UMNO number 2(s) are always outwardly loyal while inwardly awaiting for right opportunities to cajole, nudge and form alliances and coalitions or create situations to oust the number 1 from office to pave the way for his own ascendency. There is no security of tenure there.
As precedents show, every new leader always begins with a bang, full of good intentions and new directions for the country, become soon ineffective due to subtle resistance and subversion all around him until he leaves office overcome by frustration at betrayal of those whom he has counted on as an ally that have turned against him.
No ex-PM remains the best of friends with his deputy (which includes Mahthir/Anwar relationship) or successor in UMNO’s history.
Yes this is slimy, two-faced and ‘unethical’ profile of the number 2, which is natural, as UMNO political culture is Machiavellian : morals/ethics has no place in the scheme of things only realpolitik!
This disjunction of ethics and achievement is best summed up by Niccolo Machiavelli of “the Prince” fame – “the man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous. Therefore if a prince wants to maintain his rule he must learn how not to be virtuous” (Machiavelli, 1973, 15).
All these all-too-familiar examples of what happened to the Tunku, Hussein Onn (even Tun Razak had he not prematurely passed on) and now Abdullah highlight the truism of UMNO political culture that good intentions, moral conviction, and even technical competence do not guarantee success in political and administrative career. Only Machiavellian Cunning does – of which the master who grasps this principle fully and totally is none other than the ex-premier who proves the efficacy of the principle by not only maintaining authoritarian rule for 22 years (the longest amongst world leaders after Fidel Castro) but also promises to do so now via proxy 5 years after……
In this connection, Bakri Musa said that soon “after Abdullah assumed power and was searching for a deputy, I suggested that he picked Tengku Razaleigh…. Had Abdullah done that his fate today, as well as that of Malaysia, would be far different!”
This implies that Abdullah had a choice in appointing his deputy.
Obviously Bakri was too far away in Silicon Valley to appreciate the fact that Najib was foisted upon Abdullah by none other than Bakri’s idol, TDM, right from the beginning, in one dinner after Abdullah just became PM, in which TDM preempted and publicly mentioned to the press Najib as successor (Deputy PM) to his successor and Abdullah was either too grateful, polite or perhaps weak to resist and contradict….
For TDM owed Najib the position (ala feudal style ultimate benefit/patronage for loyalty, albeit past) for switching camp to tilt the 1987 UMNO presidential contest and challenge by Tengku Razaleigh (supported by Musa Hitam) in favour of TDM (supported by Anwar Ibrahim) by 44 votes!
Had Tengku Razaleigh won at that time, it would be the turning point, the political history of this country would have taken another – probably brighter – course.
Tengku Razaleigh was not destined then or even now to be Prime Minister no matter his vision, talent, and experience.
William Shakespeare says “ It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves”.
In Tengku Razaleigh’s case however it is TDM who, so long as he is alive, is still the “star” that changes destinies in UMNO firmament : which is why he still holds such pervasive influence within UMNO amongst its warlords and power brokers, doing his bidding.
If one elects to remain a dinasour and not evolve, then like dinasaurs, one would perish. Its only natural. And there is a name for this. It is call extinction.
Selepas Mahathir, tidak dinafikan UMNO menghadapi krisis pengisian pemimpin yang setaraf dengannya dan lebih malang, pengganti langsungnya, Paklah bukan sahaja gagal meneruskan apa yang telah Mahathir bina dan majukan tetapi sebaliknya menghentikan dan memusnahkannya.
Paklah juga mentadbir negara lebih kepada ‘bercakap dan berkhayal’ seolah olah semua impian itu terjadi dengan sendirinya tanpa perlu tumpuan, tenaga dan usaha yang bersungguh dari semua peringkat, tidak ada perlaksaan yang boleh dibanggakan kecuali plan di atas kertas sahaja.
Kelemahan Paklah yang ketara inilah membuatkan BN ditolak dan dinafikan majoritinya 2/3.
Tetapi kemunculuan Anwar sebagai hero korup hidup semula dan penawanan 5 negeri oleh Pembangkang tidak harus ditafsirkan sebagai mereka mempunyai kualiti kepimpinan peringkat ‘negara’ untuk dibanggakan kerana kemenangan pemgbangkang sebenarnya berdasar penolakan rakyat keatas kerajaan yang lemah dan BUKANNYA PEMILIHAN KEPADA PEMBANGKANG BERDASARKAN PEMBANGKANG BAGUS ( Pembangkang kena sedar diri )
Selepas ini, selesai sahaja sebahagian besar parti komponen membuat beberapa perubahan dalaman parti mereka sendiri sudah pasti BN juga akan membuat beberapa perubahan drastik yang lebih baik dan dijangka akan mengembalikan kepercayaan rakyat secara majoriti.
UMNO akan dibarisi sebahagian besar kepimpinan baru, jauh dari bayangan Paklah dan UMNO sekali lagi mengetuai dan dijadikan rujukan oleh komponen BN sebagai sandaran dan harapan(bukan buli) dengan lebih bergaya.
Memperkatakan tentang ketandusan pemimpin, parti pembangkang juga mengalami masalah serupa dan yang lebih teruk sehingga dikatakan, kalau batu pun yang diletakkan calon dalam PRU12 yang lalu atas nama Pakatan, pembangkang akan menang kerana rakyat ingin mengajar BN, tidak lebih dari itu.
Memperkatan tentang ketandusan pemimpin di dalam UMNO oleh Shahrir bukanlah sesuatu yang perlu dipandang terlalu serius kerana Shahrir bukanlah jurucakap UMNO yang sesuai dan layak kerana dia sendiri berjenama semula selepas di ambil Paklah untuk menjadi pecacai barisan hadapan. Jika Shahrir bercakap atas kebenaran, dia harus mempertikaikan kepimpinan Paklah terlebih dahulu sebelum mempertikaikan kualiti lain lain pemimpin UMNO. Tetapi Shahrir tidak berbuat demikian kerana dia sendiri tidak punya kualiti negara dan sekarang sedang menghampiri semula zaman ‘senyap dan sunyinya’.
Apakah wajar dia dilantik semula sebagai Menteri Kedai Runcit selepas menjadi penasihat berkesan dalam menaikkan harga petrol dan hilang akal untuk mengawal atau menurunkan harga barang.
Selepas zaman paklah, kini pembangkang bertemu buku dengan ruas. Najib memalu gendang perang:
Saya telah diserang oleh musuh-musuh saya kononnya saya mengamalkan upacara agama Hindu. Semua bolehlah merujuk kepada Dato’ Sri S Samy Vellu yang mana beliau boleh mengesahkan bahawa saya tidak pernah bersama-sama dengan beliau di sebarang majlis upacara agama Hindu. Saya sanggup bersumpah dengan nama Tuhan bahawa saya adalah seorang Muslim yang beriman denganNya.
Saya terus dikaitkan dengan pembunuhan Altantuya. Saya sekali lagi ingin bersumpah dengan nama Tuhan bahawa saya tidak pernah mengenali darihal Altantuya. Saya sanggup dihadapkan ke mana-mana mahkamah demi membersihkan semula nama saya yang cuba dicemari oleh mereka yang iri hati kepada pencapaian saya selama ini dalam membangunkan bangsa dan negara.
Saya ingin menafikan komunikasi SMS saya dengan peguam Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah mempunyai sebarang unsur salah guna kuasa.
Saya ingin menafikan sekeras-kerasnya berkenaan dakwaan saya terlibat dalam skandal perolehan helikopter Eurocopter Cougar EC-725. Ianya dibuat melalui proses dan peraturan seperti yang ditetapkan. Kementerian Pertahanan menerima keputusan dan persetujuan dari Kementerian Kewangan untuk memilih tender Eurocopter dan Kementerian Pertahanan mengeluarkan LOI kepada penender itu pada 15 September 2008. LOI boleh dikeluarkan pada bila-bila masa dan secara kebetulan ia dikeluarkan pada 15 September 2008. Saya ingin menyatakan kesediaan saya untuk disiasat oleh PAC atau BPR!
Saya mempunyai keyakinan yang tinggi bahawa Perwakilan khususnya amat bijak dalam membuat pilihan mereka untuk menentukan pemimpin pada Mac depan.. Mereka bijak menilai siapakah pemimpin sebenar yang membela bangsa dan siapakah yang pernah belot kepada perjuangan Umno dan menjadi agen negara asing.
TAWARAN SAYA SEBAGAI PRESIDEN UMNO
Saya akan mempertahankan ketuanan Melayu sehingga ke titis darah yang terakhir sekiranya saya mendapat mandat Perwakilan Umno sebagai Presiden Umno pada Pemilihan Mac 2009. Inilah janji dan ikrar saya kepada Almarhum ayahanda saya sebelum beliau meninggal dunia.
Saya akan membentuk Majlis Penasihat Presiden dengan dianggotai oleh tokoh-tokoh Umno yang telah bersara terutamanya bekas Perdana Menteri bagi menghargai pandangan dan idea mereka dalam membawa negara mencapai Wawasan 2020. Saya akan memastikan bahawa keluarga saya tidak akan terlibat dalam perniagaan atau campur tangan dalam urusan pentadbiran negara. Saya akan menunaikan tanggungjawab saya tanpa sebarang pengaruh negara luar.
Kita sedar bahawa BN agak tercalar sedikit dalam keputusan Pilihanraya Umum Mac lepas. Saya akan melakukan apa sahaja bagi mengembalikan kegemilangan Umno dan Barisan Nasional. Saya tidak akan teragak-agak untuk menggunakan apa cara sekalipun bagi menghapuskan elemen-elemen perosak kestabilan dan keamanan dalam negara.
Akhir sekali saya ingin menyatakan kesediaan saya untuk bekerjasama dengan mana-mana pemimpin Umno yang mendapat mandat Perwakilan Mac depan. Masa depan bangsa yang bersifat “Glokal” akan terus megah berdiri dalam mengharungi arus globalisasi.
Kepada Tuhan saya berserah!
The next ex Leader has come out with a Manifesto which I see as a pathetic manifesto from a future PM. It’s shallow, superficial, parochial and not a well thought out document.
Here’s my take on it.
“Saya telah diserang oleh musuh-musuh saya kononnya saya mengamalkan upacara agama Hindu.”
Is he prepared to get the Religious Department to check on these allegations which have already been made in a Statutory Declaration by a witness, one Thagarajoo a/l Thangavelu, to the rituals.
“Saya sanggup bersumpah dengan nama Tuhan bahawa saya adalah seorang Muslim yang beriman denganNya.”
Why did he use the term “Tuhan” when he should have used ‘Allah’? Since when did swearing become an accepted form of defence?
“Saya ingin menyatakan kesediaan saya untuk disiasat oleh PAC atau BPR!”
Read more here : http://mrsmith2.blogspot.com/
Najib’s manifesto is here: http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/13997/84/
They should call themselve ORANG ASLI and not bumiputra.
MamaThir’s father in an Indian.
Indians are the de facto leaders of Malaysia
after March 2009, Malaysia will be a de facto country, everyone will be a de facto
Please don’t involve people father who has rest in peace. If you wanna shoot someone, please shoot the alive not a dead body.
( Thinking Two )
Mr Smith, that is not Najib’s manifesto but MT’s. If you can’t substantiate your hate of an individual, at least accord yourself the respect not to mimick popular propaganda. However, judging by the strength of the opposition, there is little doubt that this is UMNO’s last chance to either rehabilitate itself or count the losses in the next GE.
I would further add that Najib is too “tainted” to be a viable and effective PM to lead UMNO and indeed Malaysia out of it’s current crisis. The rakyat will see that you can not have someone whose reputation is tarnished with criminal allegations etc. to be fit to lead a party’s revival and reform.
Like AAB’s, I believe Najib’s days are also numbered. A viable non-Pakatan alternative is already in the offing; keep your eyes peeled :^)
And do not even for a minute think that the unstable an schizophrenic Anwar has even the remotest chance of wrestling power from BN. Pakatan would be well advised to look for a new and acceptable figure-head who can sustain Pakatan’s successes and prove the opposition capable of governing the states that are already under their control.
Dr. Bakri Musa,
A very insightful article on the tragic-comedy of UMNO with mediocre( and rabble-rousing) bigots who could not see what is coming ! True, Ku Li would have made a difference in the Abdullah Administration. Unfortunately, the PM has no GUTS to do what is RIGHT. Even now, as PM, he ahs all the powers to decide on (a) the JAC ( Judicial Appointments Commisison), (b) the IPCMC,
(c) AACA ( Anti-Anti-Corruption Agency was watchdog overseeing the ACA), (d) Open tenders and Abolishment of ISA ( Replace it with a ANTI-TERROR ACT solely to attack terrorists and insurgents). He could implement the Bills in double-quick time, if he so wished! Unfortunately, sleepy as he is and slow-moving as he is, he is unable or unwilling to do what is RIGHT for the NATION. He could easily SACK those recalcitrant Ministers who block his moves. The great REFORMER and ex-de fact Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim showed up what stuff he is made of: he RESIGNED on a matter of PRINCIPLE when the ISA was abused to lock up Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Teresa Kok and Tan ( of Sin Chew ). That was last straw that broke his back.
The UMNO aspirants shift gears: first asking for the quota system (the legacy of the old man) to be abolished and now keeping very embarrassingly QUIET ( showing clearly that these OPPORTUNISTS see which way the wind is blowing! ), agreeing to the first Transitional transfer of power on June, 2010 ( which was already a great condescension on the part of the UMNO President) approevd by the UMNO Supreme Council; and later shifting the goal-post to March, 2009. Now that Abdullah had consented to it, the very same people now want the UMNO election to be brought forward to December, 2008! This shifting of goal-posts shows clearly that they are LUSTING for power; never mind PRINCIPLES and ETHICS and DECENCY! These are go to hell! They want to GRAB power and do wonders for THEMSELVES; and KICK out Abdullah!
By the rate things are moving and Abdullah doing nothing about the LUST for power of his UMNO comrades , he deserves to be kicked out! He is still in dreamland and will soon have his nightmares! he may not even know what hit him!
Malaysia needs leaders of CALIBRE; not rabble-rousers, not racial bigots, not racists., IF it desires to have some STANDARD in the eyes of the world.
Look at the rankings of Universities in the World. Harvard University comes FIRST, YALE second, Cambridge third, Oxford fourth.
University of Malaya 246! The other Malaysian Universities are further down the line! Even National University of Singapore is 30!
Are we not ashamed of ourselves? But we are not ashamed because our skin is as thick as elephant’s, even as our leaders fight for Party positions! No wonder, Datuk Shahrir does not want to contest!
Our leaders must have some SUBSTANCE, some GREY MATTER, upstairs! With coconut heads and coconut brains, we should expect coconut achievements! The tallest flag-post, the longest roti canai, the biggest flag! Be the NOBEL-prize winner ! By an Olympian ! Be the best Tennis player! Be the first INVENTOR of some scientifc apparatus!
Well, go to sleep under the coconut-shell! The economy is “fundamentally strong” ? MELTDOWN throughout the financial markets!
S.H. Huang
Many tears have to fall, if you do not play the UMNO’s game. Abdullah learned it the hard way and paying for his downfall.
Money politics blind logic and deprive capable aspiring leaders to climb the ladder of leadership…leaving the corrupts, money mongers and doubtful characters rule. This mindset will not change as long as all the parasites support this system. ‘Collective management of wealth’…gains for the
incompetent UMNO and the Nation gets poorer.
One of the profound hypocrisy that some failed to discover in themselves is the “penguin-walk”(the march by lawyers and ragtags in calling for an Independent Judiciary) when a segment of videoclip of a lawyer allegedly brokering and arranging cases with a top judge manifested in the cyberspace.
If you help yourself and surf about, the same peoples whom participated at the “penguin-walk” was also the same peoples whom embraced Mahathirism. Have they forgotten that all these misdeeds are the product of one man -Dr. Mahathir Mohamad?
Everytime false preachers of good-faith like M. Bakri Musa writes, you made me throwing out.
Straight to the point.
The way our up and coming PM got nominated, clearly shows that most of those in UMNO are of the same type and calibre.
harrisonbinhansome says, “everytime false preachers of good-faith like M. Bakri Musa writes, you made me throwing out”.
Bakri seems unable to make up his mind. He is against undemocratic authoritarianism, corruption and incompetence. Yet he is unwilling to draw the obvious connection between that and Mahathirism as a political culture now resurgent in part no thanks to TDM for accelerating Pak Lah’s exit. Bakri says that Mahathir’s greatest contribution after retirement is to facilitate the exit…. “Undur lah Pak Lah”, Bakri says, otherwise UMNO would implode – along with the feudal culture of patronage that spawns corruption…Then why does he hope Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan Rakayt to be successful???
See : http://dinmerican.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/bakri-musas-take-on-umno-politics/
As a former physician Mahathir knows only too well that the best if not only remedy for a long festering abscess is to lance it wide and deep, letting all that trapped putrid pus out. Only then could the healing begin. If that were to happen, we can all thank Mahathir. The man may yet make his greatest contributions after he retired.
Dedicated to M. Bakri Musa, to the tune of Yankee Doodle:
Bakri Musa longed to write
contro-ver-si-ally
He couldn’t do it from his Home
so he does it from the Valley
Don’t know why I thought of that. I’ve watched Paint Your Wagon too many times, perhaps.
wanderer Says:
>> Abdullah learned it the hard way and paying for his downfall.
AAB’s own incompetence and weakness was his downfall; being a ‘nice man’ or ‘mr clean’ does not automatically make one a good administrator and a far-sighted visionary!
Agreed that money politics is a bane for BN and they realise it. They also understand that if they do not change track from their current path, they will be history.
30 % bumi dislike bodohB
BUT 70% bumi dislike Najis
can local council do something, to clean up the illegal banner and poster along roadside… or even highway! very eye sore !
highway should only have road sign but not for advertisment purpose!
if we look at singapore, their highway is without any advertisement banner hanging on lamp post or big billboard!
pakatan state should learn a 1st step from sg!
If the transfer of power is decided unilaterally by only the top two leaders in the party, where is democracy in UMNO? There is no avenue or opportunity for the rest to voice out their views. UMNO = U Must Not Oppose!
kluangman,
kenyataan bahawa kemenangan pembangkang adalah kerna kelemahan paklah semata2 adalah pendapat peribadi awak sendiri. benar kelemahan paklah memberikan peluang kpd pakatan rakyat membuat ‘in-roads’ yang mendalam. tetapi hakikatnya harapan yang disandarkan rakyat terbanyak kepada pihak pembangkang di atas kegagalan BN pada keseluruhannya memainkan peranan yang penting di dalam ‘in-roads’ ini.BN JANGAN LUPA DIRI DAN MEMIKIRKAN KETIADAAN PAKLAH SHJ AKAN MEMASTIKAN BN KEMBALI DGN 2/3 MAJORITI DAN MERAMPAS KEMBALI NEGRI2 yang mereka kalah didlam PRU12.
Karisma pemimpin pembangkang iaitu AI juga 1 faktor yg kuat di dalam kemerosotan teruk BN.Pendapat bahawa Anwar pemimpin korup(hukuman dari hakim korek3) adalah tidak adil. Man-to-man AI memeliki pengalaman dan personaliti yg lebih hebat dari Badawi dan Najib.
BN sepatutnya harus merenung kembali mesej aspirasi rakyat yg cuba disampaikan dari PRU 12.
Anda boleh mengatakan bahawa ini juga merupakan pendapat peribadi saya sendiri. boleh diterima. tapi kalau nak suatu gambaran lebih tepat buatlah 1 referendum/poll secara nationwide
& lihatlah keputusannya,yg mana sy yakin akan memihak kepada AI,seperti yg telah di’sample’kan(utk kawasan yg agak kecil) oleh Merdeka Research baru2 ini.
Zak Hammaad:
Your mentor Mamakthir is a true visionary in your opinion. You also obviously don’t think that Najis can make it, which is also Mamakthir’s opinion.
Now, given your blind worship of Mamakthir, would you pray to Allah so that the schemes to frame Anwar would succeed so that Anwar can be put in jail ?
“As a former physician Mahathir knows only too well that the best if not only remedy for a long festering abscess is to lance it wide and deep, letting all that trapped putrid pus out. Only then could the healing begin. If that were to happen, we can all thank Mahathir. The man may yet make his greatest contributions after he retired.” Jeffrey
Yeah, right, Mamakthir would throw the putrid pus at all those who don’t agree with his remedy. That will be his greatest contribution – poison (or frame) all those who don’t agree with him.
And Zak Hammaad, the Mamakthir brown-noser, would echo his hero’s stance: Constitution ? What constitution ?Serves you right for not agreeing with the “visionary”.
///For TDM owed Najib the position (ala feudal style ultimate benefit/patronage for loyalty, albeit past) for switching camp to tilt the 1987 UMNO presidential contest and challenge by Tengku Razaleigh (supported by Musa Hitam) in favour of TDM (supported by Anwar Ibrahim) by 44 votes!///—Jeffrey
The correct score was 43 votes.
The problems in the relationship between the first and second is because of the mission they think what they are in there for. If they consider the mission as to serve the country to the best of their ability, then the deputy would give his total support to the Chief so that he could do the job well, rather than to prove his loyalty to be secured in the second position. The deputy too should give his honest views should he disagree with the policies of the boss so that the boss has the opportunity to review what would eventually be his final decision.
We know what the powers-that-be consider their mission to be, in addition to creating dynasty so that he can continue to be puppet master even after leaving the office. When the deputy eyes for the position to do what the chief is enjoying, it is only human that conflicts emerge.
The politicians should change their mindset. If they could, then the bullies do not have to use racists politics to stay in power.
how old is Lim Kit Siang , Karpal Singh , Tok Guru ,Hadi?
they are still around …..
Najib, a Freemason? I understand there was a hullabaloo during the 1970s about some Muslim ministers being Freemasons.
The Freemason lodge located near the Sultan Sulaiman building was razed to the ground by the government because the Freeemasons were declared to be unIslamic.
Godfather, for clarification, that quote “as a former physician Mahathir knows only too well ……………….. to happen, we can all thank Mahathir. The man may yet make his greatest contributions after he retired” is attributable to Dr Bakri Musa (taken from the link). It is my typo omission in not mentioning the attribution. It is extracted from the link of wnat Bakri said. It is not my view.
Soon TDM will be the person people can minta pada yang ada. That is why he is getting popular, and he might yet make his greatest contribution to some to become rich.
Sorry, off topic
///34. So money can be conjured up out of thin air. And this must be the money the banks lent, the money the hedge funds and currency traders play with, the payments for expensive wars etc.
35. Basically the international financial system and the market economy has failed. Unless and until a new system is introduced and Governments regulate with the running and operation of national and international finance and the so-called free market we are going to see the financial turmoil and collapse repeated over and over again.///—TDM at http://test.chedet.com/che_det/2008/10/the-financial-turmoil-and-mala.html#more
It is because of the need to have money conjured out of thin air that currency cannot be based on gold alone. There will not be enough gold to back real money as counter-flow to goods and services. Money has necessarily to be based on trust, and to be backed by the productivity of the people. It is this reason why the government is there to ensure that modern society functions, and the powers-that-be are there to preside over the government for the benefit of the people.
The international financial system and market economy has allowed rapid expansion in the flow of goods and services. They might not be perfect. Without the current system, defective though it might be, the people around the world would not have enjoyed the tremendous increase in the contents of their living, which barter trade offered. It is interesting whether the system should be improved upon, or should it be condemned so that a new system can be introduced.
Jeffrey, my apologies. I thought you had been converted by the foreigner and Mamakthir disciple Zak Hammaad.
BN suffer a big impact of lose in GE past
i dont think all fault from PM.
They lose majority in parliment maybe yes.
but if say they lose 5 state to opposition especially selangor , penang. i think all thanks to sami vellu and state MB.
and DR. mahathir have to be blamed too.
our country infra , and transportation system were under who era?
and especially putrajaya project as everyone it was built for corruption
When you born an indian, you are an indian.How on earth there are so many indians who become malay ? Race is race,you cannot it,right,or black is black and white is white.It’s no choice as you are biologically created. Religion is a choice,we can choose it or not,it’s all up to us.But in our country,how could it be possible for an indian who chooses to be come a muslim and being made a malay ? Or how can an indian who embrased islam call himself a malay ? Isn’t is look very rediculious ?
Dear Johanabdullah,
Yes sir. Anwar Ibrahim was a factor in the recent general election. So, PR won in 5 states.
But Anwar is fast becoming a joke. Self proclaimed to be PM on Sept 16, he found that the anticipation did not material. It reveals the nature of a man. Over ambitious, rejecting the very “tenet” of his own faith “Oada and Qadar”.
Yes. He still has the support. But on the ground, many Malays regretted choosing PKR.
As for Anwar, maybe it is time for him to remember one good deed Pak Lah did for him way back in 1982.