The Jekyll and Hyde aspects of Umno

Malaysians will recognise the split personality of good and bad in the country's dominant party.

COMMENT

By Koon Yew Yin

Malaysian readers of Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous book, which has been made into several films, will recognise the split personality of good and bad, if not evil, that has characterised Umno since its early days but has emerged especially strongly since 1969, when Tunku Abdul Rahman was stabbed in the back and taken down in what amounted to a coup d’etat by his party colleagues, led by Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the father of the current Prime Minister.

Since then, although the party has had its share of good leaders such as Tun Hussein Onn and has played a positive role in some areas of nation building, it has been the major obstacle to building a robust and resilient nation based on the rule of law and the guarantee of equal rights, justice and freedom to all citizens. This is because it has made Malay dominance or “ketuanan Melayu” its main party platform and ideology, while giving lip service to the constitutional provisions for racial, religious and cultural equality.

If you ask Malaysians who typifies the best example of the Jekyll and Hyde side of Umno during the past three decades, the name of Tun Mahathir Mohamad will appear in the minds of many, if not most. Today we have, in Dato Seri Najib Razak, a new name that is not only challenging Dr Mahathir for this dubious honour but also seems to be pushing Umno in a direction which can only bring dishonour, disrepute and disaster to the party and its Barisan Nasional partners.

Everyone is aware that the Red Shirts rally was simply an exercise aimed at saving Najib’s positions as Prime Minister and Umno President. With the net closing in (or is it the noose tightening?) as a result of the 1MDB financial scandal and the unexplained RM2.6 billion deposited into his personal bank accounts, it is clear that the party and its president need a major distraction. Using the Bersih rally as an excuse, Najib has encouraged Umno’s proxies and Umno leaders to play the key role in organising the “counter demonstration” to allegedly defend Malay honour and dignity.

It is no surprise then that this rally brought out such a disgusting display of racial demonising and political hooliganism. This was truly the Hyde part of Umno.

Looking at the slogans in the banners, watching the crowd’s behaviour, listening to the speeches made in Padang Merbok, many Malaysians will not disagree that this description is especially applicable to Umno today.

Mr Hyde is effectively a sociopath – evil, self-indulgent, and utterly uncaring to anyone but himself.

Wake up, Jekyll

There is one consolation. The Dr Jekyll part of Umno can be awakened, as seen in the following snippets of comments from some Umno leaders in response to the Red Shirts rally.

It is still a tiny minority opinion but hopefully these voices of sanity are reflective of the views of the Malay majority. We badly need to hear them and have them overcome the hateful and opportunistic forces that are allowing the Hyde part of the party to run amok.

Former Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz in her Facebook posting:

“I felt sad for my many non-Malays, especially Chinese friends, many from my primary school days, when I saw videos and photos berating the Chinese community.

“We all have friends of all races and creeds. We feel for them, especially when, just like us, they are trying to make a life for themselves and their families in their country, Malaysia.

“I am, personally, a fourth generation Malaysian. My great-grandfather came from Sumatra, and that is how I became a Malaysian. It’s the same story with many of the Malaysians of Chinese, Indian, and other descent, for whom Malaysia is their country of birth.

“So many of us Malaysians can trace our origins to other countries and places – China, Sumatra, Java, India, the Middle East, Europe, Australia, New Zealand. The list goes on.

“As a fourth generation Malaysian, I find it untenable and insulting to be told by anyone to ‘balik ke negara awak.’ My negara is Malaysia.”

Dato’ Seri Mustapa Mohamed, International Trade and Industry Minister and Umno Supreme Council member, speaking at the Malaysia Economic Update 2015 Dialogue:

“They think when you make such [racially charged] comments, you can be popular. We must go back to our humanity. As long as this is not resolved once and for all, it will be very worrying.

“In politics, there are those who believe that they can get votes by being extremists, and there are those who don’t.”

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, former Minister of Finance, speaking to reporters on the eve of the September 16 rally:

“You have got the government that is headed by a Malay, state governments headed by Malays, with the exception of one in Penang. The civil service is mostly made up of Malays.

“The army are mostly Malays and we also have Malay rulers. I don’t know where the threats are coming from.

“Let the gathering bring benefit to the masses and let it pass the message of unity, which I think is much more important as we just celebrate 58 years of independence. That would be meaningful.”

Koon Yew Yin is a retired chartered civil engineer and one of the founders of IJM Corporation Bhd and Gamuda Bhd.