THERE is a nauseating sense of desperation that haunts this year’s Umno general assembly. As usual, media is filled with headlines that entertain more than provoke in-depth analysis, but that’s alright. After all, given how intense 2017 has been for everyone, a little comic relief is more than welcome.

The Umno General Assembly, or its Malay acronym PAU, started off with a thud in the form of an exhibition filled with materials that attempted to demonise the opposition coalition but mostly, DAP because that is what Umno does best – intertwine race, politics and instill some warped sense of hatred towards anything non-Malay, non-Islam and non-Umno.

The organisation, which started out with noble intentions, has blatantly lost its way and now solely operates on implanting fear in every aspect of our lives.

There is a word for people who are dominated by fear – they are called cowards and the type of political game Umno engages in is what can be described as the politics of cowardice. The current line of leaders who helm the organisation exhibit the type of bravado that makes a lot of us cringe – they are loud, insensitive, derivative and have no clue over what makes us tick.

As evident from their reactions to opinionated artistes or students, most of them simply fail to understand why Malaysians are becoming increasingly vocal about the current state of our nation.

Yes, Umno and its leaders understand that if they were to lose, they would also have to bid farewell to the Umno gravy train that operates with the blood, sweat and tears of every honest, hardworking Malaysian.

Yes, Umno and its leaders will stop at nothing to shrink the country into a shell if this was the only way to remain in power.

J.R.R. Tolkien once wrote, “A man that flies from his fear may find that he has only taken a shortcut to meet it.” Desperate to be liked, Umno has begun to adopt combative attitudes that make them unlikeable and pitiful, at the same time. The cries for Malay unity and fighting DAP Chinese are basically templates they have used in the past, present and will definitely continue using in the future.

Cynicism and anti-climatic nihilism have become synonymous to the party’s sinister fearfulness. For Umno, fear is not a reaction to the world, it simply is the way they want people to see their world.

In general, human beings aren’t comfortable with change and we do have a tendency to sticking to the status quo, no matter how dangerous or prosaic it may be. We’re conditioned to be terrified of the extremists, petrified of the Jews and communists and horrified by elements that could erode our cultural values.

That is, unless something is done about it; something to curb the insanity and put an end to bigoted policies that simply have no place in our modern society.

Well, in this particular case, Umno’s pre-packaged sanctioned cultural values. Which leaves very little for democratic expressions to take place but this is exactly the type of drama they have scripted since the birth of our federation.

The world is thought to be a mess and only Umno can save us all from chaotic anarchy. The world is seen as an angry place and only Umno can douse the flames that can save Malaysia. Again, this is the over-the-top, theatrical synapses that bind idiocy, malevolence and hate.

However, the mood at present is different today and our fellow Malaysians from the far, far right realise this. Because Umno is faced with their impending political demise, the inability to experience mirth has given way to spineless cowardice and resentful fear.

Umno has changed the way its supporters view the world.  Whatever sense of dynamism and openness has left; and what is left behind is nothing more than a pathetic organisation that dreads competition, fears transparency and is afraid of its own shadows. – December 9, 2017.

* Syerleena is a councillor at the Penang Island City Council (MBPP). She is a Malaysian who believes that our life experiences shape us into fascinating beings.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.