“UMNO doomed if it persists to defend crooks, plunderers; Malay voters will eventually reject party”

 

A CULTURE that celebrates crooks, criminals and the corrupt. That was the lament of political commentator Norman Radzuan when referring to the malaise that currently infects UMNO.

The former editor was in agreement with statements made by Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir who expressed shock and disappointment that there were those who were willing to forgive and continue to support individuals found guilty of corruption.

Expressing similar distaste for UMNO Youth chief Datuk Muhamad Akmal Saleh who has made it not just a priority but a cause celebre for the party’s youth wing, Norman articulated that change was necessary for the country’s oldest party to rise again after it has been rejected by large number of Malay voters.

He painted a grim picture in his Facebook rant which has attracted 2.8K likes, 891 comments and 283 shares at the time of writing, denoting that the topic of disgraced former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak who is popularly known by his moniker Bossku being found guilty in the 1MDB scandal remains a hot topic of discussion.

Editor’s Note: Recall that the Negri Sembilan palace was the earliest royalty to have revoked the Datuk Seri titles that were conferred on former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

The action was taken “to protect the stature and dignity of Negeri Sembilan’s royal institution”.

Najib was stripped of the Darjah Seri Utama Negeri Sembilan (SPNS), which carries the title Datuk Seri Utama on Oct 26, 2018 while Rosmah was stripped of the Darjah Seri Paduka Tuanku Ja’afar Yang Amat Terpuji (SPTJ) which also carries the title Datuk Seri.

Will UMNO ever re-invent itself?

“KJ (Khairy Jamaluddin) said “move on” if UMNO wants to rise. Everyone knows the Malays’ rejection of UMNO stems from the DS Najib corruption issue which is the biggest corruption case in world history.

There is nothing wrong with expressing kindness as a human being but don’t make it the main agenda. UMNO must show that this party wants reform by treating corruption as a ‘filth’ of society – not a glorified practice.

UMNO needs to move on before the people notice. The rakyat are now wise and we must remember that almost 40% of the country’s voters are non-Malays.

Urban and semi-urban Malays have generally rejected UMNO. In the last general election, rural Malays also voted against UMNO. There’s only one formula whereby UMNO must change – not only Najib but any corrupt UMNO leaders must be rejected, let alone defended.

In the logic of reason or law – whether in this world or the hereafter – no human being wants to forgive and defend corruption. Yet suddenly, Akmal’s agenda is to defend corruption. His actions will bring UMNO to the valley of humiliation.

UMNO needs a crutch to survive at the mercy of PAS or PH. UMNO can no longer stand on its own … is this what Akmal wants to lead UMNO into? The country will be headed for destruction if corruption becomes ‘food’.

Many were in agreement with the sentiments expressed by both the political commentator and the Negeri Sembilan royalty.

One commenter argued that UMNO risked being rejected by the electorate if it continues to make Bossku’s release its main agenda at the party’s on-going 2025 annual general assembly (Jan 14-17).

Some commenters felt that this culture of corruption would signal the end of the party that turns 80 this year.

However, not everyone was in agreement as some questioned the fairness of the judicial process that convicted Najib.

Arguments on both sides of the coin highlight that this remains a highly emotive topic. Will it come to define the grand old institution that is UMNO or will it have the gumption to re-invent itself as something other than the party of thieves? –  Focus Malaysia