Umno and Umno Youth leaders talking nonsense

This morning, many Malaysians were telling me how frustrated and angry they were with the racial slurs uttered by both Umno and Umno Youth leaders these days.

"They are talking nonsense all the times. Nothing sensible and rational could come out from their "bloody" big mouths!" said Mr X.

"Is fanning racial sentiments the only way to maintain support in their own party? If that's the case, what kind of political party Umno is?" asked Mr Y.

"Umno is FOS- full of shit!" was the comment of hawker Mr Z.

You see, the people (especially the non-Malays) are now very disappointed and frustrated with the Umno leadership. Can you blame them for saying all sorts of things about both Umno and Umno Youth leaders?

I could understand their sentiments and feelings. They were very hurt and upset by the antics of these hypocritical political leaders.

You have Ghani Othman who said no to Bangsa Malaysia (mooted by Dr Mahathir in the Vision 2020 project) and insisted on Malay Supremacy ( Ketuanan Melayu).

You have Najib Tun Razak who declared that the Malay Agenda and NEP will go on forever (no time limit) because "Malays were being oppressed by the Dutch, Portugese and English for more than 400 years". He also warned Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew not to raise the marginalization of the non-Malays in this country again. Judging from his past records and present behaviour, no one should harbor any hope that Najib will become a Prime Minister of all Malaysians.

You have Hishamuddin Hussein who's good at playing racial card and at the same time good at accusing others (including his partners in the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional) for playing the racial card to gain support from their respective communities. He even spoke from the podium in front of which a keris was placed. What was he trying to prove? Last year, Hishammuddin had brandished a keris during the general assembly and had called on Malays to rally behind Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy). He said issues related to Islam should be raised through the syariah courts and not the civil courts, and he also urged the government to reject the setting up of an inter-faith commission as advocates have proposed. He also warned the Article 11 coalition not to talk about freedom of religion besides accusing Asli for giving a wrong figure on bumi equity. He however failed to justify his claims and accusations.

You have Khairy Jamaluddin who shamelessly admitted that Umno is a racial party that fights for the Malays only. He even (on behalf of MCA and MIC) claimed that both parties were also racial parties like Umno, fighting only for the Chinese and Indian communities respectively. He continued to claim that Malays in Penang were being marginalized and challenged Khor Tsu Koon to prove him wrong.

An Umno Youth delegate from Selangor chided MIC president S Samy Vellu, Gerakan deputy president Dr Koh Tsu Koon and MCA vice-president Ong Tee Kiat for behaving rudely ( kurang ajar) towards Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Is there anyone out there believe that Samy, Tsu Koon and Tee Kiat have the backbones to defend themselves by asking the Umno Youth delegate to retract his disrespectful remark?

Even the so-called Mr Nice Guy is now playing tough, warning people not to test his patience. So, would he launch a crackdown on the opposition? Even Dr Mahathir is not safe now that Abdullah has openly said it for the first time that he would not be a one-termed Prime Minister. Interestingly, Abdullah said this at the time when Najib's special aide was arrested and implicated in the gruesome death of a Mongolian beauty. So, even Najib is in for a trouble.

Many non-Malays friends have told me that they have made up their mind not to vote for Umno and other Barisan Nasional candidates anymore in the coming general elections, which may be called as early as May 2007.

"Since Umno has become so arrogant nowadays, and they talk as if they were not bothered about getting the non-Malay votes, why should we vote for them?"

This comment came from a long-time supporter of Barisan Nasional. " We Malaysians must really teach these 'rascals' and 'bast____" a lesson in the coming general elections." He added. How about you, my fellow Malaysians?

Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew,
DAP CEC member and NGO bureau chief