Yesterday the Prime Minister, in his speech at the breaking of fast in Bukit Antarabangsa spoke of the needs to win back the heart of the urban dwellers. He spoke of the need to curb corruption, reduced crimes and providing better facilities like urban transport to the people; apart from acknowledging mistakes and having the humility to identify weaknesses in his party. The speech of a leader. Contrast the speech with the one we heard from his Deputy a day earlier. There the Deputy spoke of the need to Muslims to be ever vigilant as those insulting Islam are getting more brazen. Muhiyuddin referred to an old video clip and said “the callousness of some towards Islam and Muslim sensitivities could spark disharmony.” He then baited the Muslims by asking “Is this a manifestation of the assumption that we (the Muslims) are weak; and that they (the non Muslims) could walk all over us or that we are afraid to react when they insult the sanctity of Islam…” So if the Prime Minister wants to win back the urban voters; he must have a new Deputy, who is more sophisticated. Urban voters like to hear consistent message from their leaders. Urban voters want the Prime Minister and his Deputy singing the same tune. In fact it’s unprecedented that here in this great country the Deputy always sings a different tune from his boss. He has forgotten that he is in the Cabinet because the Prime Minister has selected him. So its time for the UMNO to choose one from the other. The two men of different political beliefs and different leadership style must come head to head for the sake of the urban voters. Living together when there is no more love is painful not just for the parties concerned but for the people. Urban voters also like some humility on the part of their leaders; and when these leaders say something obnoxious or otherwise; they must be guided by reason and facts. In this “internet and YouTube days” there will always be incidents that are not meant to insult anyone, let alone the official religion, but are just recordings of statements or conduct which are reflective of the different kinds of human beings living in the country. UMNO leaders must realize that in this YouTube days there will always be recordings that they disapprove of; but there is no need to do a quantum leap and start a religious war over small things that bothers only the small minds. Muhiyuddin is not the kind of PM we need. When I was young there were some Malay civil servants; and even Malay Rulers, who kept dogs as pets. If that period in our history was “an internet age” many people would see how they caressed the dogs and even bathed them with loving care. Would the Deputy then say they were insulting Islam? When he alleged that many non-Muslims are insulting Islam he must give us the statistics. He must also define what constitute insulting Islam; otherwise every single action he disapproves of becomes a huge political attack on Islam. I know many Muslims like to buy 4 digits; although the religious authorities think they have made all Muslims compliant with their ban. Suppose someone were to post on the YouTube showing these wayward Muslims coming out of the Big Sweep Shops; would the Deputy Prime Minister also say someone out there (in his minds the non- Muslims of course) are insulting Islam? To win back urban voters UMNO must have leaders who use ‘reason’ more than wild emotions. At the moment for every voice of reason we hear they have plenty who use something else! Who can be a good Deputy to Najib? Hishamuddin is one but he is not colourful enough to push out Muhiyuddin. He might not want to risk everything on one number in a single roll! I like Isa Samad; he is a veteran although still young. He has nothing to lose but a lot to gain if he tries. He is popular and likeable man. He could be a good deputy UMNO President. Najib can always appoint someone else as Deputy Prime Minister if necessary. Of course he was guilty of ‘money politics” but that is par for the course in that party and should not be viewed as someone less desirable. When you are found guilty of money politics in UMNO; that means you are a potential top dog and someone higher ups want to slow you down. No moral stigma at all attaches to you. Isa is not a demagogue and that quality is what I like about him. He will not start a civil war; unlike the ones being paraded right now. Najib should encourage him to go for Deputy and give Muhiyuddin a run. Then we can see a good fight as I am sure there are others like Zahid Hamidi who thinks he too should be Deputy. Ghani Othman would come under “the reasonable man” category but he too will not be strong enough to garner support after what happened in Gelang Patah. Khairy Jamaluddin would be the preferred choice for Deputy President and will make a good Deputy PM to Najib. He is young and a liberal (at least by UMNO standards). He also has the resources to go for Deputy. It will signal to the world that UMNO is a progressive party and that Najib is really trying to bring change by introducing a young leader to lead the nation. Although Khairy thinks he is God’s gift to the nation; he is in fact a capable leader and more importantly a reasonable man; a quality hard to find in the party. Since Mukhriz is going for the Vice President it will be remiss if Khairy do not go “on top of him”. Sons of Former Prime Ministers always do well in this feudal political party. Anyway we could say it’s their business whom they want as leaders except that if the demagogues win the day the country will be in peril. Although many opposition leaders say UMNO will not be governing the country soon, I am not so sure. The machinery is strong and the government is synonymous with the party in the eyes of many voters. If they are to continue to rule then we might as well hope that they get in enough decent leaders to lead; otherwise the nation suffers.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 13:56:52 +0000
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