When the pen is the most feared weapon
Despite the burgeoning of the new media, old-fashioned poison-pen letters and instant books published to make or break aspiring candidates' reputations still crop up during Umno's party elections, observes ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR
IF past Umno elections are a guide, more gutter politics can be expected in the run-up to what will be a very closely scrutinised election process.
One nightmare candidates would not want is waking up in the morning to see a book with a notorious or ridiculous title featuring their name in bookshops at a time when delegates are counting the days to balloting.
Even worse, these books are sold or distributed free to delegates attending the general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre, as with the infamous 50 Dalil Kenapa Anwar Tidak Boleh Jadi PM ("50 Reasons Why Anwar Cannot Become PM"), which found its way into some of the document bags distributed to delegates in 1998.
It is most stressful to the one under attack, having to counter other forms of attack from other aspirants, money politics, smear tactics and scurrilous allegations in anonymous blog posts and on cellphones — not to mention poison pen letters (yes, they still exist).
"Writing books should be encouraged," says independent MP and former Umno leader Datuk Ibrahim Ali, "but the purpose or objective must be good, besides emphasising facts and language for good and beneficial reading, not the character-assassinating kind that appeared during the Umno general assembly."
He himself authored Dilema Neraca Retak ("Dilemma of a Cracked Balance"), published just before Umno elections in 2004, in which he talked about the malaise of money politics in Umno and the dilemma of Umno division chiefs who had to spend RM1 million or more to secure their posts.
Thankfully, there appeared to be fewer mercenary writers on an attacking spree in the run-up to Umno's last party elections in 2004.
We have yet to see whether the publications that will be in circulation soon will be of the venomous kind, with personal attacks on candidates, or hagiographies written by apple-polishers and spin-doctors.
Among these, nothing is more damaging than a book commissioned to attack another contender's personality.
In past elections, books written to discredit other contenders had worked to the disadvantage of the targeted personalities.
Asking people to write good things about you when you are vying for posts contravenes the party's election ethics, as stipulated under Clause 3.3, which states that there shall be no campaigning through the media or the publication of books and magazines.
One of the three candidates vying for a senior post in the party is in a dilemma after being approached to pay a certain sum of money to an author or risk having a book about him published and circulated at the general assembly.
Yes, he is worried about his chances should the book be circulated as threatened. But honour prevails; he is not giving in to the despicable demand.
There is, indeed, not much anyone can do in a case like this. Candidates vying for Umno posts are sitting ducks, after all.
Unless, of course, those attacked in such books are willing to sue the author, printer and publisher for libel, as former Umno deputy president Tun Musa Hitam did following the publication of the book Challenger: Siapa Lawan Siapa in 1987.
Musa won the case and was awarded RM100,000 in damages. The court ruled that the book's author and publisher had been motivated by malice and the libels were perpetrated for financial gain and enhancing the author's reputation. (Profits from the sale of the book topped RM100,000.)
Several books written or compiled by local political writers have been or are being published.
Among the titles likely to surface soon are Konspirasi Politik Melayu ("Malay Political Conspiracy"), Aku Juga Melayu ("I Am Also Malay"), Wow Faktor Muhyiddin Yassin, and a compilation of interviews with political leaders published in Mingguan Watan.
Not all such books have been maliciously intended to provide fodder for libel lawyers, despite their sensational titles. Nonetheless, some crude allegations have tarnished the image of those attacked.
"Some are merely collections of newspaper clippings and pictures which do not have much impact in influencing delegates," says Mohd Sayuti Omar, who had authored more than 50 books on Malaysian politics.
"Readers can tell whether they were written by mercenary writers. It is better to write objectively on issues and give opinions that can help Umno members do some soul-searching in the party's present difficult times," he said.
Political scientist and commentator Associate Professor Mohamad Agus Yusoff agreed, saying that although books that sensationalise issues to give an advantage to certain candidates may catch the attention of party members, delegates know the credibility of the writers.
"Candidates who pay for people to write about them are not as bad as those who pay to write bad things about their challengers," he said. "I call this 'politik mafia'."
The book Getek or "Displeasure" is perhaps one book Umno members, particularly the 2,000-odd delegates voting to chose Umno's new office bearers, should read.
Written by the late Tan Sri Megat Junid Megat Ayob, a former Umno leader, the book was for Umno members' soul-searching after the losses it suffered in the 1999 general elections.
The word "getek", as explained by Megat Junid, a Perakian, is used by the people of Perak to describe extreme displeasure, boredom, hate and disgust.
It is books like this, not the ones out to discredit people, that Umno members need to read if they want to help their party repair its battered image and credibility.
The New Straits Times
