MCA-Umno row: Najib speaks up, spelling doom for the country

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Finally, Prime Minister Najib Razak asked his Umno party and the MCA to quit their public brawling over the 30 percent Bumiputera equity target which was starting to turn ugly. But he offered no indications of what he thought of the burning issue, confirming the fears of pundits that the worst will soon befall the nation.

“No doubt the parties will toe the line because he has spoken and they must give him face. But even today, Muhyiddin is again using racial and religious issues to attack Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng,” PKR vice president Sivarasa Rasiah told Malaysia Chronicle.

“Does it mean it is okay to be racist and religious bigotry is acceptable as long as the target is from the opposition? The point is, this not about an Umno-Perkasa-MCA wrestling match that got out of hand but about whether Malaysians should condone racial and religious politicking. Is it harmful, should we change and how do we transform – I would have expected some indication from the Prime Minister of our country.”

Even more telling - what was left unsaid

Indeed, Najib has kept quiet allowing his lieutenants to bloody themselves while he watched from afar. Despite his 1Malaysia plan, and his frequent professions of wanting to unite the country, there is still enormous doubt over his sincerity. Not just his political will or if he packs enough political fire power.

Malaysians, especially those from the urban areas, do not believe he is much different from Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin despite persistent speculation of a rift. They sense that Najib's political power is being crimped by Muhyiddin and former premier Mahathir Mohamad, but even without the pair, they doubt he would be willing to stick his neck out and hammer through the key socio-economic reforms critically needed by the nation.

Yet Najib continued to waffle his way through on Friday, telling his coalition leaders to be careful when issuing public statements so as not to hurt the feelings of any community.

“I understand that sometimes they are forced to make public statements. I understand. But I hope all parties will realise that our audience out there, those who listen to our speeches, are Malaysians and anything we say we have to take into account the reaction of other racial groups,” Najib told a press conference.

“Whatever the problem, we will solve it in the spirit of Barisan Nasional. I believe we are an experienced party and are able to manage any problem. They can discuss anytime, and as the BN chairman I will allocate the time for all component parties to express their views and recommendations.”

Confirmed - the worst is on the way

Pundits say this means that it is back to square, with the BN leaders including Najib failing or intentionally ignoring the important lessons the people tried to teach them during the 2008 general elections when they swept the Pakatan Rakyat to power.

Despite Najib's 1Malaysia and the New Economic Model, partisan politics will remain the name of the BN game. Racism and religious bigotry will ramped up, not even frowned on - what more punished! Dirty tactics, and the more ruthless the better, will be employed to stave off Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and his team.

1Malaysia and the NEM will remain pipe dreams meant to keep the public eye on a destination that can never be reached because there was never any real intention to get there.

What Malaysians can look forward to is a major media clampdown, greater restriction on civil rights, a dragnet on dissidents and opposition leaders. And perhaps finally, when BN still loses despite pulling out all the stops - emergency or even military rule.