Race isn’t Umno’s problem, says academic

Awang Azman Awang Pawi says making Umno a multiracial party is like putting 'a plaster on a blister'.

Academic Awang Azman Awang Pawi says there is nothing wrong with Umno comprising only of Malays. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: An academic has urged Umno to solve its leadership problems instead of opening its membership to other races, saying this would only be a temporary solution.

Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Awang Pawi said there was nothing wrong with the party comprising only of Malays, adding that the suggestion to turn it into a multiracial entity was likely due to its leaders’ “trauma” following Umno’s defeat in the May 9 polls.

“They have not accepted the reason for their defeat, which was that people rejected the party leadership.

“Therefore, they are playing the blame game, which has resulted in these baseless suggestions,” he told FMT.

Awang Azman said the suggestion to make Umno a multiracial party was like putting “a plaster on a blister”.

“When they don’t find out what caused the ‘blister’, they only make things worse.

“The same goes with problems that are dragging the party down, and other issues which are plaguing the party.

“They can look for a temporary solution, but sooner or later they need a permanent remedy.”

Last week, Umno Supreme Council member Nazri Aziz suggested that the party open its membership to all Malaysians as part of a revamp after the 14th general election.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin had taken a similar position last month, saying it was time for the party to “seriously consider all options” following its disastrous election outing.

However, Awang Azman said such changes would take time, pointing to PKR which had only earned its multiracial status after many years.

“PKR took 20 years to establish itself as a multiracial party, but even so, it is still very much denominated by the Malays.

“And DAP, although it says it is multiracial, is still dominated by the Chinese.”

He said Umno needed to consider these factors, as well as how much appeal it would have in a political landscape that already had many other multiracial parties.

“It isn’t as easy as opening up the party to other races.”

Awang Azman also criticised Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein for his decision not to contest in the party polls, saying this was a selfish move.

“He may not be everyone’s favourite in the party, but he will be seen as abandoning ship.

“His decision not to contest for a central leadership position in the upcoming polls will be a letdown for his supporters,” he said.

“It’s a shame that he is not honouring the legacy left by his grandfather and father,” he added, referring to Onn Jaafar and Hussein Onn.

Awang Azman said Hishammuddin’s decision would also factor into Umno’s leadership crisis, saying it was irresponsible of him to “leave just like that”, knowing that Umno needed all the help it could get. -FMT