New anti-Najib book a sign of worsening UMNO in-fighting, says Surendran

I refer to the newly published book 'Kesilapan-kesilapan Najib' ( 'The mistakes of Najib' ) by a former UMNO division leader Shahbudin Husin which lists out Prime Minister Najib's numerous failures and calls for his withdrawal as President of UMNO and Prime Minister before the 13th general election.

It is obvious from the publication of this book that the 'knives are out' for Najib inside UMNO and that the movement to topple Najib from power has gained strength and become bolder. As it becomes increasingly obvious that UMNO/BN is headed for a historic defeat in the coming polls, UMNO leaders and factions are beginning to seek a scapegoat to blame for their failures and to wrest power for themselves.

No doubt Najib bears a large part of the blame for the current dismal state of affairs in UMNO. However, it is UMNO's own long-term collective failures that has brought them to this state.

Collective failures and gravy train

UMNO was silent throughout the eighties and nineties as then Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed systematically destroyed our nation's independent institutions such as the police and judiciary, and sold off the country's wealth by privatising state-owned entities to crony capitalists.

As a collective entity, UMNO did nothing to restrain Mahathir or end his reign of oppression and profiteering. UMNO chieftains and their relatives and cronies profited immensely from projects, contracts and other money-making schemes using state power and assets. Also included in the gravy-train were those from component parties MCA and MIC.

By the end of the Mahathir years, politics had become synonymous with business and the needs and grievances of the ordinary hard-working rakyat had been forgotten. UMNO has lost sight of what should have been its main job, which is the advancement of the happiness and interest of the rakyat, irrespective of political affiliation, race or creed.

Party coup won't save Umno or BN

This collective failure is the real cause of UMNO's troubles. For decades, UMNO has shown no vision or purpose beyond holding on to power and enriching themselves. Guilty as he certainly is, blaming Najib alone and removing him in a 'party coup' is not going to save UMNO or BN. Only thorough reform and a return to the service of the rakyat will save them. And this they are incapable of doing.

The country is facing major socio-economic issues at home and serious challenges from abroad, including the global implications of Europe's worsening economic troubles.

Plagued by in-fighting, morally corrupt and without purpose or vision, UMNO/BN cannot provide the leadership the nation urgently requires.

N Surendran is the vice president of PKR and a prominent human rights lawyer