Even if Umno-BN wins 100% of the votes, it would still be an illegitimate government

UMNO has long lost its legitimacy to form the federal government. Even if it can win 100 per cent of the vote in the 13th general election that must be called by April 2013, this fact will not change. In fact, the more seats UMNO wins, the more illegitimate it would be because it is simply inconceivable that UMNO can win 100 per cent votes, without having cheated or rigged the polls results.

Some facts on the 12th General Election held in 2008 should be noted and analysed. The Barisan Nasional within Peninsular Malaysia failed to obtain a majority of popular votes cast. It only obtained 49% of the popular votes in Peninsular Malaysia whereas the Opposition had the majority of popular votes – 51%. UMNO won 35% of popular votes against 34.8% won by PAS and PKR. The figures by themselves tell us that the Malays do not depend on UMNO anymore.

It is worth mentioning that these are official numbers, which even former UMNO president Mahathir Mohamad does not dare to dispute despite his penchant for bending reality. Mahathir does what Najib and the rest of BN does - simply ignore the figures and weave in stories of their own. But the numbers remain on the official scorecard, untouched and recorded for posterity - until of course, UMNO gets its way in rewriting Malaysia's history!

Also, most despicably, even the above results were the result of cheating! Former premier Abdullah Badawi has admitted to an 11th hour decision not to use indelible ink, whilst reports of phantom voters and sudden swings in postal votes benefiting the BN candidates were rampant. Malaysians knew what was going on and while they chose to stay quiet and give the BN rope, it does not mean they approve or will allow such cheating to continue in GE-13.

Alternatives who can do much better than UMNO

The fact is UMNO has lost its appeal and the support of many of the Malays. But that does not stop it from its theatrics of claiming a struggling but brave savior of the Malays and their! Compare this against both PAS and PKR. Neither have ever been presumptuous enough to make such dramatic and in Umno's case, wild claim. Yet both PAS and PKR are seeing increased Malay support. This despite both parties consistently declaring that thet they will struggle for all Malaysians and that includes the Malays.

This should alarm bells for UMNO. It is easy to analyze the Malays are responding the way that they are. For UMNO not to be able to pinpoint why the Malays feels much less the need for crutches than before, underscores its refusal to accept reality and its inability to adapt. Either its leaders do not have sufficient intellect to show the Malays a direction, or it is not to their benefit to do so. This is why many accuse the UMNO supreme Council of caring only for themselves and warlords at division levels - they are not bothered about the good of the Malay race but how to enrich themselves in the quickest and least inconvenient way.

If the Federal Territory was to be considered as a state, the Barisan Nasional actually lost 6 states in the 2008 election. In Negeri Sembilan, it survived with only a 4-seat majority. In Pahang, which is the prime minister's home state, Barisan Nasional even lost the state capital, Kuantan to PKR's Fuziah Salleh. Even the Barisan Nasional fortress of Johor was successfully penetrated by the Opposition, with both DAP and PAS winning seats whereas before it used to be clean sweeps for UMNO and its BN component MCA. Really, there are no safe bastions for Barisan Nasional anymore.

Cheating all the way

UMNO-BN influence over the voters has also been diminishing. Despite having the upper hand, it only managed to maintain a slight majority due in large part to Najib's political strategy. Yes, Najib has to take the buck for this. The UMNO supreme council gave him the mandate to lead, and he came up with his 1Malaysia concept.

Sad to say, he tried to be Machiavellian like Mahathir but ended up with egg on his face. While Najib spouted grandiose visions of multiracialism, equality, freedom and justice to urban audiences, he also prodded extremist groups like Perkasa and Pekida to poke fire at Christians in the country, insult the Chinese and other non-Malays. All for the purpose of reinforcing the siege mentality of the Malays, to make them feel threatened, unable to compete and inferior to the other races in the country. The end result for such a diabolical thrust was to ensure that the Malays would remain even more beholden than before to UMNO and depend on it suppress the other races into docility.

If the Election Commission can create a level playing field for UMNO-BN and Pakatan Rakyat to compete on without cheating, UMNO-BN is guaranteed to fail miserably! The EC has been manipulating the sizes of the constituencies by gerrymandering and massaging the list of voters. If the police do not intimidate and restrict the campaign activities of the opposition, Pakatan can also win fairly. If the government media is bipartisan as it should be, then the people will have a fair idea of what's available, how and who to vote for.

Too lazy and too uncaring to chart a real direction for the Malays

UMNO-BN has also been too lazy to change its decades-old and outdated campaign strategy. It insists on the same carrot-and-stick approach. It offers development on the one hand, then it threatens on the other. It promises to act fairly by all and then turn around to warn the Chinese and Indian communities that they will have no representation in government if they refuse to vote BN.

Bribes, cash stuffed in envelopes will surely make their way to the naïve and unknowing villagers around the country as UMNO-BN will use all ways and means to stay on top of the Pakatan. It will also maximize use of the government machinery, influence and even threaten village headmen, education department officers, welfare department officers to promote BN.

The latest trend is using the various religious bodies. This again shows UMNO is now at Death's door. It is at its wit's end and can only grasp at straws. For sure, it hopes that compliant and UMNO-friendly religious bodies can become the huge swing factor it needs to influence the Malays, who are all born Muslims.

But despite UMNO insisting it s for country, race and religion, Malays have long been questioning, exactly what has UMNO done for Islam other than give it a bad name!

In Islam, the ends do not justify the means - which is Najib and UMNO's core strategy now. UMNO cannot be the champion for Islam if it cheats.  This is wrong and sinful in Islam and all other major faiths of the world. One can ask any muft,i or even Mufti Wan Zahidi of Wilayah Persekutuan KL and the Jamil Khir zakat money or tithes fame.

The Muslim UMNO leaders must ask themselves whether UMNO's actions so far in the elections are cheating or not because if it is cheating, then their earnings are “haram”. Thus, it is imperative that Muslim scholars come out to clarify and tell the people the truth.

Much better off without UMNO

Of course, we cannot depend on Mufti Wan Zahidi for an opinion because he has proven in the Jamil Khir zakat case that he lacks integrity. Mufti Harussani of Perak would try to deflect the question. The National Fatwa Council has been far too quiet on this issue.

If they still say that whatever that UMNO-BN has been doing is acceptable in Islam, then they have to back their views with full explanation. Yes, UMNO dares to buy even the clergy.

Some UMNO ulamas have unofficially expressed their opinion that without any proof of the “cheating”, nothing can be said on this matter. But clearly, this is a lame excuse to avoid the issue and to save themselves from the wrath of UMNO. So, Muslims must pin their own clergymen down to the truth. There is no other way.

As was explained by Pakatan leaders during their recent convention, the end simply does not justify the means . The UMNO-BN government is illegal by all standards and morality. UMNO also cannot claim to be the savior of the Malays or to be struggling for Islam at all. Not when it supports cheating and condones lying.

So, don't be a hypocrite - remember telling lies and cheating are against Islam. So speak the truth, UMNO has cheated before and is still cheating - and it is all for the sake of its big bosses and not the Malays. Malays will be much better off without UMNO!

Malaysia Chronicle