SIX months ago, if anyone were to predict the fall of mighty Umno, no one would believe them. The strongest, largest, richest and most influential party by far in Malaysia has its hand in every facet of Malaysian life – in every level of government, in every GLC, in every other pro-government NGO. If there were a vacancy anywhere for a political appointment, Umno had first dibs. Everything from government contracts to licences had to go through the local Umno warlords; celebrities sought honorary membership; businessmen waited outside PWTC during the Perhimpunan Agung to rub shoulders with Umno leaders; and even the powerful Malay martial arts and spiritual organisations doubled up as grassroots leaders.

Today, all that remains are happy memories. Umno branches that once commanded such authority that roads would close for and police officers patrol their events have all but boarded up their offices. Their members are lost and scattered, and despite the outward camaraderie with PAS, do not seem to have really warmed up to the Islamists. The party solid structure have finally been overburdened by the weight of allegations of corruption and wanton abuse of power levelled against it for years.

Leaders, desperate to find a lifeline, came running to Pakatan Harapan.

Of all the component parties, Bersatu would easily be the most appealing  to them: much of the top leadership came from Umno, its cause is rather similar to Umno’s, even the party colour matches. Yet this much smaller, weaker party, managed to galvanise enough support, to lead the coalition that destroyed Umno.

So why should the leaders bother with the people they defeated?

The temptation to strengthen any party overnight is surely an enticing one.

Former Umno members bring with them not only people, but financial resources, in-depth knowledge of the system, and in many cases, complete companies with licences, staff and contracts – a complete instant crony millionaire kit. All aspiring millionaires need to do is to attach themselves to these people and start lobbying for new ones.

Conversely, this knowledge can be used for great good as well, to correct the flaws in the present system and to assist in institutional reforms to restore respect they helped erode for the government they allowed to become corrupt.

Almost the entire election campaign that unseated Barisan Nasional had been designed around the problems in Umno – corruption, arrogance, immorality, uncouth behaviour, thinly-veiled racism, abuse of public office, and excessive and uncontrolled lifestyles. To expect the public to believe that system has been rectified, and that PH is strong and experienced enough to keep BN defectors in their place and clean and well-behaved would be a tall order for any propaganda machinery.

Especially when the key people named in the move are the same people targeted by that very campaign.

Six months is a short time for a party to grow in strength. In most organisations, organic growth is better in the long term compared to inorganic ones. Then there’s the adverse effect on Bersatu’s relationship with its PH allies to consider.

The reality is, Umno was buried in the last election by the combined efforts of the people and a long, hard campaign spanning 30 years. To accept defectors en masse would be an insult to both.

Instead of warlord-led crossovers, it would be in Bersatu’s interest to allow individual ex-Umno members time to realise the error of their ways or errors in judgement, internalise it, and join PH on their own volition. Though the process is longer, the result is a more sincere and stable membership.

The energy can instead be used to build up PH components’ relationships with one another, especially Bersatu-Amanah. The coalition would also benefit from disgruntled members of both PAS and Umno needing a new political vehicle and from the squabble for support between them within the same demographic.

Absorbing too much of Umno too fast would only turn Bersatu into “Umno Lite”, turn public opinion against it, and slowly but surely bring it to the same end as Umno. – December 19, 2018.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.