UMNO General Assembly 2012: All Thunder, Little Rain

In a moving passage in his book, The Road to Serfdom- Hayek wrote: when the course of civilization takes an unexpected turn- when instead of continued progress which we have come to expect, we find ourselves threatened…..we naturally blame everything but ourselves.

It appears UMNO has done just that. They blame everyone else except themselves. It was a climate of either them or us. UMNO leaders are doing a Bush Jnr on us- either you are with us or you are against is. UMNO is behaving just like this- we UMNO are the good guys, you the others are our enemy. It was that mindset that produced some of the most pugnacious statements ever to come out from PWTC. Overall, the speeches were fiery, seditious and hostile.  

Here is the inconvenient truth for UMNO. We are not intimidated. Let us have clean elections. We promise not to cut off anyone’s ears.

The overall tone of the assembly was a call to the UMNO supporters all over, to actually assault their opponents. Shahrizat  the embattled Wanita leader said something that was utterly irresponsible. If she thought her utterances can salvage her impending exit, she is wrong.. Even the UMNO people at the Assembly knew she was saying something to stay relevant. Nowadays, the only way for UMNO people to stay relevant is to play the bigot card- religious and racial bigotry.

Shahrizat played that card unashamedly. She alluded to the infamous May 13 racial clashes. If Chinese are allowed to dominate political power, they would make lives horrible for Malays. UMNO keep forgetting, MCA is more racist than DAP.

Clearly, this was a desperate attempt by UMNO leaders to create a climate of fear. Right thinking Malaysians must reject this type of leaders and the political party that spawns the hate culture. It is important for Malaysians to know that if UMNO lose the elections, it is they who face terrible days ahead.  If something like May 13 happens, UMNO will be behind it.

The equally strident voices of most of the delegates, unrestrained and bellicose serve to further add to the creation of a climate of fear in the country. UMNO is responsible for creating this climate of fear.

Najib and the UMNO speakers offer nothing but slogans and a shouting contest. Did anyone hear of any articulation of the major issues facing this country?

How do we make this country improve our democratic process? No one spoke about this. In Indonesia, a country seen as a supplier of maids to Malaysia, all political leaders have equal access to articulate their thoughts on TV. People debate issues in the open as opposed to a one- sided version of events. UMNO campaigns all year round, yet it is not ready to grant access to fair media coverage to the opposition.

All we hear over the 4-5 days are the outpouring of fears and threats if UMNO is out of power. This is the worse UMNO GA to have taken place- it was a festival for the outpouring of adulation to the great leader, a man who is more skillful at managing his public persona.  As to running the country, he has no clue.  The adulation and worshiping of Najib are exceeded only by the attacks on the opposition.

The most important elements of the democratic process include giving equal access for the opposition in government controlled media. Why? Because it offers the public choices. And choices is what democracy is essentially about. Making informed choices as to who is the better party suited to manage this country?

How about giving access to the media for Pakatan to explain its budget proposals? How do we do know, their budget is not worth the paper it is printed on?

How about ensuring only Malaysian citizens, properly registered will vote in the coming elections? Get rid of the aliens who are non-citizens who have been given licenses to vote by way of making them instant citizens.

Did anyone talk about  demanding the government  take measures to ensure fair elections are free from threats of physical violence?

Let us be clear about this. The exit of UMNO means just that- the exit of UMNO and not the demise of the country. It will be the end of world where a selected few gets rich riding on the manipulated emotions of the majority. It will be the end of a world where one gets ahead by cutting corners and leveraging on political connections instead of getting ahead using your own abilities. It will be the end of a world dominated by one person having probably 100 Class F licenses and cornering contract works from the government. It will be beginning of a world where ministers having homes on the French Riviera and London  and Australia will be made to account for their wealth.

Who is the hermit who asked me what is there in Sungai Buloh? Sungai Buloh houses the biggest prison in Malaysia. We will make it bigger by adding 1Malaysia shops, a subsidiary of Johor Premium Outlets, and a Ferrari showroom not costing RM20m managed by Naza of course.

Posted by sakmongkol AK47