A question of MCA’s role in Ascot deal

ARCHIVES 2010

By admin-s On Jun 29, 2010

By uppercaise

The Ascot bookmaker’s licence policy reversal by the Umno president last week leaves much unsaid, but hints of many power plays. Among other things, it raises questions on what role MCA politicians and others had behind the scenes.

Though Najib Tun Razak, as prime minister and Umno president, is being singled out for “flip-flop” treatment, it was also pointedly made clear that the Umno supreme council, and not the Barisan Nasional, decided to retract the licence, or not issue it, in his words.

Approved vs issued
This is more than just semantics. It’s politicians providing wriggle-room for themselves with a hot potato issue.

Approved can mean being told Okay boss says go ahead verbally or in writing. Issued can mean licence in hand, signed, stamped and handed over.

It’s like going for a driving test and being told by the examiner, Okay, lulus (approved) and then queueing at the counter to pay up and collect the actual licence (issued).

Just an idle thought

The statement is a pointed snub of the MCA, the Chinese business community, and other supporters of Vincent Tan, the most prominent being Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and those within the Treasury as well as within the component parties of the Barisan Nasional.

It’s also a reminder that Umno calls the shots (so what else is new) but a very pointed reminder.

“…we are of the opinion that the majority did not agree to the decision to issue the licence to Ascot Sports,” he said after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting here. “The government therefore decided that the licence will not be issued,” said the finance minister on June 26.

Being a four-in-one PM certainly comes in handy: finance minister, Umno president, Barisan chairman and prime minister all being the same man, allows Umno to score on religious, moral and racial grounds, show who’s top dog (you should pardon the expression) and puts MCA politicians in their place.