Ignore Dr M for sake of Umno and BN
It is a case of too little yet never too late, that is how I would describe the efforts and attempts by Pak Lah to institute reforms in Umno and Barisan Nasional, after 22 years of excess under the regime of Tun Dr Mahathir. The excesses of the previous regimes cannot and are unlikely to be reversed through the changes Pak Lah hopes to institute in the next few months before departing as both head of party and prime minister.
The resistance from individuals within Umno is Dr Mahathir’s gift to this nation of ours. That is why it is no wonder that Dr Mahathir is as aggressive as he is, in his campaign to unseat Pak Lah.
His latest ranting about the results of the Kuala Trengganu by-election is only a follow up to his attempt to sabotage the candidate long before election day.
His current attempts to smear Pak Lah’s name is only another of his strategic moves to hasten Pak Lah’s departure and halt the necessary reforms that Umno, Barisan Nasional and this country badly needs.
It is incumbent on everyone who loves Umno, BN and this country to not allow him to succeed. It is obvious that Dr Mahathir is now trying his best to get Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak under his thumb.
His present call for people not to blame Najib is an attempt to drive a wedge further between Najib and Pak Lah, a Machiavellian manoeuvre only Dr Mahathir can execute with deadly intent — masked behind a façade of innocence.
The result of the Kuala Trengganu by-election can be a good outcome for Umno and BN only if it is not derailed by Dr Mahathir and individuals aligned to him who are trying their best to deflect blame for the defeat on to an individual..
The results of the Kuala Trengganu by-election is an opportunity for introspection, for reform within BN, it should not be allowed to be turned into another strategic move by Dr Mahathir and his merry gang to exert their will on Umno and Barisan Nasional.
If Umno is willing to listen to the people, it will know that the changes Pak Lah has advocated since the March 2008 General Election are slowly but surely beginning to bear fruit.
There is the yearning on the ground that these changes continue. Pak Lah and Najib can make a good team, if only they can agree to a separation of roles.
This is a win-win combination with no losers, except for certain individuals who find reform a threat to the ‘business as usual’ ethos.
All is not lost, if there is one lesson to be learnt here is that the country needs to leave the old behind and move forward to embrace the new.
It may be time to consider various proposals to face the coming hardships, both economic and political.
It appears the days where one man is called upon to fulfil various responsibilities may be at its end.
For better efficiency and check and balance, we may need to have different persons as head of political parties and government.
This way, political parties can hold on to their ideologies without forsaking a Malaysian public that is crying out for impartiality.
Stephen Doss
President
Persatuan Pemuda Negara Malaysia
