If you have just ONE word to describe Umno, what would it be?

CALM. Met a young talk host from a radio station at a media night recently who asked me a question that he'd been asked earlier by a co-host: "If you are limited to just one word to sum up the current situation in Umno, what woud that one word be?"

"Calm", the young man told me before I could even put on my thinking cap, was the word he'd use.

Calm before the storm?

No, calm as in composed.

Look, he said, look at how calm the entire party was in the face of adversary: the split between the president and his deputy, the never-ending attack by the unhappy former PM (Dr M pens "get rid of Najib" opn letter ahead of Umno assembly) and his supporters, including the Opposition, the economic challenges which were about to become even more challenging in 2016, etc.

I told him that, yes, if one were to measure Umno by how the big boss conducts himself, then calm would be an apt word to paint a picture of the party. PM Najib Razak, also the president of Umno, had remained focused and steady throughout the year despite everything that was thrown to him. Najib and his poker face.

POKER. That could be a game to describe Umno. No?

Back to the young man who saw calm in Umno, who was asking me if I'd decided on the one word that would describe Umno.

HOPE, I said.

I'm thinking that if Umno can appeal to more sensible young men and women like my new radio host friend, who is obviously NOT an Umno member, there could be hope for the future of the party yet. 

Selamat Bersidang, Umno.

p.s. So, if you have one word to describe Umno today, what would it be? Four letter words like calm and hope are allowed ...

-rocky's bru