I am puzzled that the great “warrior” on “crucial” national issues like halal chicken ham has decided to quit his Malacca state executive councillor post.
Dr Akmal Saleh claimed the reason was to “fight DAP to the end”. Really? Then why leave the “magnificent” Malacca state government, which is controlled by Umno?
Did the Umno Youth chief lack confidence in the state leadership? Wasn’t that a perfect place to prove how he could perform better than DAP leaders?
Or is it because he has been too busy rabble-rousing rather than doing his exco job?
Please forgive me, all the news I see about him is about firing up racially-linked issues, be it Unesco world heritage status for Chinese new villages or the inclusion of bak kut teh as a national heritage dish.
Yet, he was the state exco for rural development, agriculture, and food security in Malacca. May I politely ask: what were his “amazing achievements” since November 2021, when he became an exco member? Deeds should speak louder than shouted racial rhetoric.
Normally, capable leaders will highlight their record upon leaving their posts. Former Kuala Lumpur mayor Maimunah Sharif revealed a very impressive report card before being pushed out by the Madani government after just 15 months in office.
In stark contrast, our dear doctor neglected to speak of his work record. Instead, he constantly distracts people by creating a bogeyman - DAP.
He now claims his resignation will create “300,000 Akmal Salehs” to “hentak” (strike) the supposed “enemies” of race and religion.
Wow, I can just imagine 300,000 “Mini Me” versions of Akmal, like in the movie Austin Powers! That is indeed a sight to “menggelupur” (rattle) peaceful folks.
Real Malay enemies
But before sending out his minions to spark more racial discord, perhaps he should ask: who are the real enemies of Umno and the Malays?
Firstly, it wasn’t DAP that reduced Umno to a measly 26 Parliament seats now from the glorious heights of 88 seats back in 2013. It was PAS and Bersatu that took over Umno’s Malay seats. Aren’t they the real political enemy?
Also, it was not DAP that fought against Akmal in his Merlimau state seat in 2021, but Amanah and PAS.
Repeated corruption scandals, including 1MDB and the littoral combat ships, plus massive losses at Malay institutions such as Felda and Tabung Haji, caused voters to lose trust in Umno and turn towards Perikatan Nasional or Pakatan Harapan.
Or as Dr Mahathir Mohamad eloquently said in ceramahs before the 2018 election campaign, he slammed a certain leader as “perompak, pencuri, penyangak, penyamun”. (all words describe robbers)
So, dear sir, if you really want to save the Malays or Umno, perhaps your true mission should be to fight corruption, for that is what will ultimately destroy the Malays - not DAP’s calls for more transparency and accountability.
Oh, don’t take it from me. Please listen to the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir recently voiced deep concern over growing corruption as it’s the “foremost enemy” of the nation’s future.
His Royal Highness added that he was shocked some still rally behind people found guilty of serious corruption, and he called for a sincere reflection on one’s “faith, principles, and values”.
Yes, faith, for as Perlis mufti Dr Asri Zainul Abidin once said, Muslims in the country were more concerned over pork, but kept silent over bigger crimes such as corruption. While pork merely harms an individual spiritually, corruption destroys society.
Protest army scandals?
Akmal can also battle other real Malay problems, such as the rising cost of living, mat rempit, and recently, the scandal of wild “parti ye ye” with alcohol and women in military camps.
Defence Minister Khaled Nordin admitted the existence of this problem, plus corruption in buying weapons, abuse of recruits, and even suspected collusion with smuggling syndicates.
Khaled added, “Corruption is an internal threat that will defeat us without needing to engage in actual warfare.”
In other words, it’s not DAP that may lead Malaysia to lose any future wars, but the internal rot of an institution controlled by the Malays themselves.
Thus, Akmal should consider doing a “patriotic duty” to “defend” his race and religion by organising protests in front of army camps against these betrayals.
Or does our good doctor only dare to bully an old Chinese uncle who made a flag mistake at a hardware store?
That was quickly corrected and an apology issued. But sadly, we didn’t see the compassion and kindness of the religion then, only its “power” to intimidate others.
Indirect attack on Zahid?
On Jan 16, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi fired a shot across the bow, warning against trying to provoke Umno into quitting the Madani government. It was a remark clearly aimed at Akmal.
There’s underlying tension between these two Umno leaders, what with Akmal openly slamming Zahid as a “political dinosaur” in 2022.
His repeated attacks on racial wedge issues seemed designed to force Zahid to pull Umno out of the “DAP-tainted” Madani government, leading some to speculate that Akmal was a “PN agent”. But he denied this in 2024.
Yet his long, barely disguised “secret mission” was confirmed during the special Umno Youth convention on Jan 3. Akmal demanded that Umno should not be “cowards” and dare to leave the government to join PAS in the resurrected Muafakat Nasional.
Now, who was he insinuating were “cowards”? Zahid and all the Umno leaders who refused to give up their plush positions as ministers and GLC heads?
Akmal whacks DAP, probably to get at his real target of Zahid. It’s the classic Malay proverb of “Pukul anak, sindir menantu” or “hitting the child to get at the in-law”.
But his game of racial politics only splits and weakens Malaysia, while his obsession with demonising DAP doesn’t solve the deeper problems of the Malays.
This is a lose-lose situation for our beloved country. - Mkini
ANDREW SIA is a veteran journalist who likes teh tarik khau kurang manis. You are welcome to give him ideas to brew at tehtarik@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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