Malays Now Have A Choice

While the well-choreographed general assembly over the past weekend has restored self-confidence in Umno, the upbeat mood is, however, underscored by uncertainty.

UMNO used to be the fulcrum of power in Malaysia. That’s no longer the case. The once-dominant parti kerajaan is now just one of many players vying for the Malay-Muslim vote.

Contrary to what some senior Umno leaders say, the party’s decline does not mean Malay influence is in decline.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Malay community – its likes and dislikes – dominates Malaysian public life.

As such, Malay concerns remain central to the modus operandi of all three of today’s Malay-majority parties: Umno, PAS and PKR.

If anything, the Malay community – the consumers of politics – has never had so much political power or choice.

Still, last weekend’s general assembly has boosted Umno’s prospects.

This year’s well-choreographed assembly was disciplined and low-key. In short, Umno appears to be regaining its groove: self-confidence is mounting.

Thankfully, party president (and Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was clear on the need to work with other races and remain internally united.

Umno surrogates are relieved. According to them, the party has completed its internal reforms, which are supposed to prepare Umno for the new political landscape and the upcoming general election.

So far so good. But are these views justified?

It would appear that the present positive sentiment is more a product of Pakatan Rakyat’s woes (especially in the light of PKR’s fractious internal party polls), as well as a sense that Umno and the Barisan Nasional are building up an unstoppable momentum.

How Umno has generated the latter is very interesting.

The emphasis on strategy rather than reform speaks volumes of the party’s ability and willingness for self-renewal.

Briefly then, the party’s momentum narrative is as follows:

It begins with MIC chief Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu’s long-awaited decision to retire in January.

This is followed by the MCA’s own upbeat and seemingly unified general assembly earlier this month.

The Budget comes next.

While many would disagree, Barisan apologists argue that the 2011 Budget has created an economic feel-good factor.

On the one hand, the big-spending package guarantees the loyalty of Umno’s entrepreneur base that requires regular government contracts.

On the other, the Budget’s expansionary approach also promises cash handouts to other traditionally Umno-friendly constituencies such as the civil service.

The icing on the cake are the bold, Mahathir-era type initiatives such as the much criticised Warisan Merdeka.

The project is a calculated gamble because while the public is critical and deeply perplexed by how it will be funded, the Umno faithful are clearly enthralled.

Down the line, we will be presented on Nov 5 with two by-elections, Batu Sapi in Sabah and Galas in Kelantan.

The use of strong local favourite candidates (the widow Datin Linda Tsen and Abdul Aziz Yusoff, respectively) are expected to deliver Barisan victories.

All of this will come together to set the Barisan’s electoral machinery into overdrive.

However, the Sarawak state polls present a potential stumbling block.

While predictions of a Pakatan victory are exaggerated, the Opposi­tion (especially the DAP) will inevitably make inroads.

This would derail Barisan’s push for a quick victory in snap elections.

As such, Sarawak’s election will most probably be timed to coincide with the national polls in order to maintain the positive momentum.

The narrative outlined above is all about boosting confidence.

There can be no mistakes, and setbacks are unacceptable: Batu Sapi and Galas have to be victories.

Samy Vellu must leave in January and the MCA’s leaders must remain united.

However, the upbeat mood is underscored by uncertainty.

The party leadership know they aren’t fully adjusted to the new highly competitive environment.

Umno is riddled with structural weaknesses.

These range from a woeful inability to attract younger talent, thereby hampering regeneration, and its complex and troubling relationship with Perkasa (and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself).

Furthermore, its reliance on patronage politics is so deeply rooted that Umno is a mere shadow of itself in states where it is in opposition.

All of which leads me to the conclusion that while Umno’s deft strategies may help it retain power, they cannot replace reform in the long-run.

Malaysia is facing a formidable set of challenges. Currency wars, the rise of China, India and Indonesia and shifts in global trade patterns are impacting our future.

If Umno wishes to triumph, it must go beyond mere political campaigning.

The party must show leadership. Umno needs to realise that the real battle is not about racial or religious credentials.

The actual struggle is more about positioning both the Malay community and Malaysia in the new global order and securing a better future for all of us.

Vision is paramount: who has one for Malaysia’s future and who hasn’t. Umno has to show it can rise above its challengers.

Malays now have a choice, and Umno must work harder to be chosen.

Joke Of The Day

The following 15 Police Comments were taken from actual police car videos around the country. Count down to #1...

#15 "Relax, the handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch after you wear them a while."

# 14 "If you take your hands off the car, I'll make your birth certificate a worthless document."

#13 "If you run, you'll only go to jail tired."

#12 "Can you run faster than 1200 feet per second? Because that's the

speed of the bullet that'll be chasing you."

#11 "You don't know how fast you were going? I guess that means I can

write anything I want to on the ticket, huh?"

#10 "Yes, sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don't think

it will help. Oh, did I mention that I'm the shift supervisor?"

#9 "Warning! You want a warning? O. K., I'm warning you not to do that

again or I'll give you another ticket."

#8 "The answer to this last question will determine whether you are

drunk or not. Was Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?"

#7 "Fair? You want me to be fair? Listen, fair is a place where you go

to ride on rides, eat cotton candy, and corn dogs and step in monkey poo. "

#6 "Yeah, we have a quota. Two more tickets and my wife gets a toaster oven."

#5 "In God we trust, all others we run through NCIC."

#4 "How big were those 'Just two beers' you say you had?"

#3 "No sir, we don't have quotas anymore. We used to, but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we can."

#2 "I'm glad to hear that chief (of Police) Hawker is a personal friend

of yours. So you know someone who can post your bail."

The envelope please.....................

AND THE WINNER IS ...



#1 "You didn't think we give pretty women tickets? You're right, we don't. Sign here."

Joke Of The Day

A kindergarten pupil told his teacher he’d found a cat, but it was dead. “How do you know that the cat was dead?” she asked her pupil.

“Because I pissed in its ear and it didn’t move,” answered the child innocently.

“You did WHAT?! ?” the teacher exclaimed in surprise.

“You know,” explained the boy, “I leaned over and went ‘Pssst!’ and it didn’t move.”

Joke Of The Day

“Doc!” the man yells. I’ve lost my memory!”

“Calm down, sir. When did this happen.”

The man looked at him. “When did what happen?”

Joke Of The Day

When Ted was putting flowers on his Grandmother's grave he noticed a man, very distraught, in front of a tombstone several yards away. The man was on his knees, hands tightly clasped in front of him, rocking back and forth, head tilted upward to heaven, tears streaming down his cheeks, moaning softly, "Why did you die? Why did you die?" Over and over again.

Ted was overcome with emotion at this sight and went over to the poor man to try and console him. "Why did you die? Why did you die?" bellowed the man again and again. Ted gently put his arm around the man and half whispered to him, "My Grandmother is buried just over there. Is a loved one of yours buried here?"

"No," sniffled the man, "It's my wife's first husband."

Joke Of The Day

A pilot landed a plane with a rather bumpy landing. As part of his job he was required to stand by the terminal door and say goodbye to the passengers as they exited the airplane. He was afraid that someone might say something about his rather less than perfect landing, but everyone left without saying a word except for one passenger, an elderly lady, she slowly approached the pilot after most passengers had exited the plane and asked, "Did we land? Or were we shot down?"

Joke Of The Day

All too rarely, airline attendants make an effort to make the in-flight "safety lecture", and their other announcements a bit more entertaining.

Here are some real examples that have been heard or

reported:

1. On a Continental Flight with a very "senior" flight attendant

crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached

cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for

your comfort, and to enhance the appearance of your flight

attendants."

2. On landing the stewardess said, "There may be 50 ways to leave

your lover, but there are only 4 ways out off this airplane."

3. As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Washington

National, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella.

WHOA!"

4. After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in

Memphis, a flight attendant on a Northwest flight announced, "Please

take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a

landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted."

5. "In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will

descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull

it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you,

secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with

more than one small child, pick your favorite."