IN an election season, everything gets magnified. A poor turnout at a ceramah or a no-show by an important leader at an event is enough to get the rumour mill going.

But as far as visuals go, nothing could be worse than a half-filled 100,000‎ capacity Bukit Jalil National Stadium at Umno’s 71st anniversary celebrations.‎ 

So is the unprecedented move by Umno to offer RM1 million worth of lucky draw gifts, including cars and motorcycles, to ensure a packed stadium on May 11? ‎

Critics, including Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia officials, believe that the incentives are aimed at drawing a large crowd and heading off talk that the rank and file of Umno are demoralised by the constant attacks levelled against their leaders in recent months by Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yasin. 

Umno executive secretary Ab Rauf Yusof, however, rubbished suggestions that the prizes were to lure members to pack the stadium.

“It’s a way of thanking our members for their 71 years of support. They will come regardless of whether we offer prizes or not,” said Rauf, who chairs the event’s organising committee.

“If we wanted to bribe people to come, we would divide the value of the prize up and give to everyone. But we are not doing that.”

Billed as the biggest programme in Umno’s history by Rauf, the cars include a Proton Perdana, Suprima, Persona, Preve, Iriz, Saga and a Perodua Myvi.

Some Umno members were surprised at how big the prizes were, saying that in the past, they were only given pocket money and a T-shirt to attend programmes.‎‎

Since most Umno members are rural folk in the low-income category, they depended on their national and state leaders to provide transport, food, a RM30 to RM50 allowance, and if necessary, accommodation for out-of-state programmes.‎‎

During Umno’s red shirt rally in 2015, party members said leaders sponsored the transport and meals.

“This time it appears to be special because they want as many people as possible to attend the anniversary as they are scared that the stadium won’t be filled up,” said another Umno branch leader from Negri Sembilan‎

“The party needs to show that it still has the numbers. A low turnout would be disastrous for public perception.”

He said the turnout would also allow the Umno leadership to gauge how bad the fallout has been from the defections to Bersatu, which is being led by former Umno president Dr Mahathir and ex-deputy president Muhyiddin.

“By now, almost all Umno members have decided whether or not they will join Bersatu or remain in Umno,” he said.‎

Detractors, such as Dr Rais Hussin of Bersatu, said the prizes revealed that Umno had taken the idea of funding their members to obscene levels.

“It is common knowledge that the party funds its members’ activities but this is on a whole new level. It represents the president’s (Najib Razak) philosophy that cash is king,” said Rais, a former Umno member.

“The problem with this type of activity, you would only attract people who are motivated by mercenary reasons. This is not what Umno’s early presidents intended for the party,” said the Bersatu Supreme Council member.

Another Bersatu Supreme Council member, Kadir Jasin, said the prizes represented how Umno had abandoned its roots, which were based on the political struggle to uplift the Malay-Muslims.

He noted that Tunku Abdul Rahman mortgaged his assets in Penang and Kedah to fund the party’s campaign in the 1955 and 1959 elections.

“It used to be a party where Malays donated to. Now it has to give members money to attend programmes.”

Umno Youth leader Ibdillah Ishak took aim at the opposition who claim that the prizes were to entice members ahead of the 14^th general election.‎

“The DAP-led coalition will continually say that these are all bribes and sweets just before the elections. But this is not true,” said Ibdillah, who is an Umno Youth executive committee member.

“We are not a party that is only formed during an election or by disgruntled people like those in Bersatu and PAN (Parti Amanah Negara).

“We have been serving the people for 71 years.” – April 14, 2017.