Change or no change makes no difference in Umno

Yesterday night, we saw the results from the Umno polls and its elected members of the supreme council.

There is actually no change at all. The line-up in the new leadership still consist of old guards and conservatives. The only change that Umno undergone yesterday was a transition from Pak Lah's men to Najib's men.

This is not change at all but only an exchange. Umno is still the same like the last or previous Umno. It did not demonstrate its willingness to open up and be multi-racial in its stand as well as its policies. It is still a political party that emphasize high supremacy over others with its racist jargons and normal threats towards others should anyone tries to mention about justice, equality, democracy and freedom. Money politics and corruption will still continue in the party as usual.

So, why do we need to focus so much on Umno's general assembly unnecessarily? Let us not waste our time on Umno.

Umno is the real power crazy traitor

In his final speech as Umno youth chief, Hishammuddin Hussein warns the delegates of the one who 'sows the seeds of hatred and will turn against his own race'.

Since from the beginning, we had already seen who were the real power crazy traitor who had sowed the seeds of racist, hatred and violence against other race.

This shows Umno's attempt to cover up their own extremism by trying to put the blame onto others. Umno is now blamming those who stood up for justice, equality and democracy for leading the nation into chaos.

Minister abused his government position to get rooms for his supporters

The minister of higher education Datuk Mohamed Khalid Nordin, one of the top contenders for the Umno vice president’s post had openly admitted that he had used the ministry’s official letterhead to book some 70 hotel rooms for Umno Pasir division members and delegates for the upcoming Umno general assembly.

A confirmed source had also state that a government cheque had been issued as a deposit to obtain the hotel rooms for the party delegates.

Datuk Mohamed Khalid also reasoned that he had instructed the usage of the ministry’s letterhead to book the hotel rooms because it is very difficult to book hotel rooms during the Umno general assembly period. What does he actually mean by that?

This is clearly an abuse of power and corrupt practice. Just because he wanted to contest and win a party vice president position, he uses his government position to serve his own interest in Umno.

Therefore, the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) should start investigating this power abuse and corrupt practice as soon as possible.

Factional rifts in Umno worsens

Looks like the factional rifts in Umno had worsens following the recent decision made by the party’s disciplinary committee to disqualify potential deputy presidential candidate Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam from contesting in the party polls.

But the Umno disciplinary committee decides to allow the Federal Territory youth chief Datuk Norza Zakaria to contest in the party polls instead. Datuk Norza was recently charged in the court for money politics and corruptions in the party.

It seems that the Umno disciplinary committee is behaving one-sided, barring Ali Rustam from contesting in the polls because he is guilty of money politics and corruptions in the party and allowing Norza to contest but he is also guilty of money politics and corruption.

The situation here is Ali Rustam is being probed by the Umno disciplinary committee while Norza is being investigated by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC). What has been decided by the Umno disciplinary committee is being upheld, while what has been investigated by MACC was not recognized by Umno, reasoning that Norza has not been found guilty yet by the court and the proceedings are ongoing.

So, MACC should also charge Ali Rustam in this case or Ali Rustam should voluntarily surrender to the MACC so he could be investigated like what had Norza being treated with.

The differences of treatment carried out by the Umno disciplinary committee had been clearly seen as a factional rift in the party had intensified. Party president-elect Datuk Najib Razak will take office soon and he wanted to see his men on his line-up. That is why he needed to purge as many rivals as he could in order for him to consolidate his grip in both party and the government.

He Still Does Not Understand

The three young future country leaders, former Selangor MB Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo, Umno Youth Deputy Chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir recently expressed their governance views on a TV series.

One of the three will certainly be the next Umno Youth Chief. And thus, their political views attracted extra attentions from the public. However, their remarks in the show shocked me and these future leaders scared me.

Particularly Dr Khir. How do you think the former Selangor MB, who have lost his state regime in the 8 March 2008 general elections, makes a self-examination?

His reasoning was, Umno lost support because the party's Malay racism and Islamism are not yet fully carried out. He believed that as long as Umno further promotes Malay agenda and Islamic policies, the party will be able to turn the tide in the next general elections.

If you think these are already the most extreme and absurd remarks, you are wrong. Dr Khir has always been unexpected. He said that it is a desecration to the Malay Privileges to allow non-Malays enjoy the same status as Malays. Similarly, non-Muslims should not enjoy the same status as Muslims.

Attention! The remarks were not made in the Umno General Assembly. Instead, the remarks, meant to dedicate to the whole nation, were made in a TV series last month on 17 February.

It was the inspiration Dr Khir got from the 8 March 2008 general elections: Umno must be more rightist to draw closer to Malay Sovereignty and Islamism.

Dr Khir still did not understand that the Selangor BN suffered a great loss was because the people could no longer tolerate Malay racism and theocracy. Also, they could no longer tolerate a corrupt, power abuse, bias and extreme government. And he was the then state government leader.

After the collapse of the Selangor state government, Dr Khir wished to revive in a new guise by making use of Umno Youth, so that he could extend his political life, expand his territory and realise his ambitions.
According to the current situation, he has the highest chance. Don't ask me why, it is an Umno's tradition.

And we heard that Umno wants to reform and BN is going to restructure. Yes, under the leadership of Dr Khir.

By: Tay Tian Yan, Translated by: Soong Phui Jee - Sin Chew Daily

7 April is the by-election date, a sabotage !

Well, the Elections Commission (EC) had today fixed the by-election dates for both DUN Bukit Selambau and Parlimen Bukit Gantang seats respectively.

It is believed that the by-election dates for these two constituencies are fixed on request of Umno via its federal government. Yes of course so because the EC comes under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Department. The EC chairman and secretary reports directly to the prime minister.

First, the by-election dates were fixed on 7 April because on March, Umno will be having its party elections and general assembly. Therefore infighting and factional rivalries are expected to be tense on that month. Therefore, Umno did not want its election to be concurrently held with the by-elections for fear of its own factional rift.

Second, the by-election dates were fixed on 7 April is also a working day. With this move, Umno is hoping to be able to prevent more voter turn out expected from those of Pakatan Rakyat supporters in order to try to gather their numbers to win them.

Third, by having the two by-elections on 7 April, Umno is hoping to gain some mileage by intensifying its media campaign onslaught against the Pakatan Rakyat a little more longer time frame.

So, this is the Umno-EC pact which aimed to sabotage the smooth democratic process of both by-elections.