Umno’s impending implosion


WHEN Umno lost power in the previous general election of May 2018, its leaders deluded themselves that it was only a temporary setback. The coming general election (GE15) on November 19, 2022 will disabuse them of that notion. 

It would be sad to see the end of one of the few Malay entities to have sustained such longevity. Umno successfully spearheaded the nation’s peaceful path towards independence. That deserves the gratitude of all. 

On the other hand, Umno is the one entity most responsible for the collective, destructive, submissive and feudal Malay mindset and culture—with that comes the undue and unquestioning obedience to those in power.  

Thus, sultans could cavort with foreign hookers and then burden citizens with the subsequent alimony. Religious leaders brandish their Qur’an and endlessly quote the hadith while the ummah remains blighted with degrading poverty. In Kelantan, long ruled by the ulama class, “kopi susu” refers to the water flowing out of their taps. 

Hadi Awang, the leader of Islamist party PAS, once said in a televised press conference that corruption is halal in Islam as both parties agree to the transaction! According to him, prostitution too is halal. His novel “corruption is halal” has much to do with his getting some of the loot of 1MDB, albeit only the crumbs.  

At the federal level, the ulama have been coopted by the state and reduced to being its handmaiden. They should have been the bulwark against the excesses of those in power.  

As for Malay political leaders, the man who stole billions from Malaysians and then imposed on them generations-long crippling debt is referred to adoringly as “Malu Apa Bossku?” (What is there to be ashamed of, my boss?) Najib Razak is only one manifestation of the degradation of Malay values. Again, the entity most responsible for that is Umno.  

It reflects how corrupt and depraved the party is in that four of its seven past leaders have resigned, including Mahathir. He helmed the party and country for over 22 years, the longest tenure for any Malaysian leader. Mahathir went beyond just quitting, starting his own party to oppose Umno. After what the party had done for him, that’s repayment for you.

Meanwhile, Umno’s current (eighth) president, Zahid Hamidi, is facing serious corruption charges. His immediate predecessor, Najib, is now in jail. Bless old Abdullah Badawi; he remains the only one unblemished. One out of eight! 

A line from Yeats’ “The Second Coming” poem describes well today’s Umno: “The best lack all convictions, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” And all the members are hooked and hopelessly dependent on corruption, cronyism, and nepotism. 

Back in the 1950s and 60s, Umno members, in particular those in its Youth Wing, were not at all shy in criticising their leaders. Youth members regarded themselves as the party’s ginger group, to spice things up in case its leaders got too comfortable. There was also a time when all Umno presidents were challenged at the leadership convention. Again, Mahathir put an end to that, in the name of party ‘unity.’  

Today the party’s leadership is a sham. They are enablers for Umno’s wayward leaders; likewise, the other leaders of the component parties in the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. These degradations of Umno and the coalition it leads all happened under Mahathir. 

There is more. Mahathir exploited Razak’s New Economic Policy to the hilt by vastly expanding Umno’s reach into the corporate world. When Umno was declared illegal in 1988, again during Mahathir’s watch, there was a mad scramble for ownership of its vast assets held under various hidden nominees. Likewise with his massive privatization schemes. Both gave rise to instant classic rent-seeking Umno billionaires. That included one of Mahathir’s sons whose shipping company, near collapse during the 1997 Asian economic tsunami, was “rescued” by the national oil company.   

There is no embarrassment among Umno leaders today to have their workers blatantly handing out cash for votes. My advice to voters is simple. Take the money (it belongs to the rakyat anyway) and boot out those bastards come voting day. Not only do I look forward to Umno’s implosion in November 2022, but also that of its longest-serving leader and the man most responsible for the degradation of this once mighty party – Mahathir. – November 8, 2022.  

* M. Bakri Musa reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.


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Comments


  • Unlike others who wished to see the annihilation of PN and GTA, it may not be a bad idea if they win a few seats (minus Mahathir, Mukriz, Mahaiddin and Azmin) at the expense of UMNO/PAS.

    They then act as rivals and counterweight to UMNO/PAS and an avenue of choice for the conservative Malay voters who previously had no alternative but forced to stick with UMNO/PAS no matter how disliked.

    Posted 1 year ago by Malaysian First · Reply

    • Sorry. Substitute PN with Bersatu.

      Posted 1 year ago by Malaysian First · Reply