A critical look at Najib’s Presidential speech – 1

It’s a set of directives, direction from the leader of the party. It’s like a blueprint for the future. They are like commandments from the Mount Sinai of UMNO’s seat of power.

 

The Future.

 

What kind of future? UMNO/BN must keep Putrajaya at all costs. Don’t mind the colorful descriptions – crushed bodies, bloodied noses or whatever. Najib must sound belligerent if he wants to capture the aggression of the delegates. He can’t speak in flaccid and uninspiring notes. He must shout and shriek and ignore frothing at the sides.

 

But it can also be seen as a fearful speech. It’s a doomsday commandment speech. Najib is fearful of the unknown future. For the 1st time, he and UMNO cannot determine the outcome of elections. The politics of announcing development is in their final leg. He also knows the euphoria in PWTC cannot guarantee UMNO’s victory. He knows too the chances of Putrajaya falling are a very possible reality. Najib spoke like a man cornered and besieged.

 

The opposition parties should not be overly rattled at the manner by which the speech was made. It doesn’t matter too, if some people actually described Najib as a medicine peddler selling some snake oil solutions under the trees at the Kuantan Padang.

 

The effects on opposition parties are not Najib’s and UMNO’s concern. His speech and the contents therein are for the UMNO soldiers. The message is abundantly clear – BN will do whatever is necessary to retain Putrajaya. Otherwise its curtains down and an end of the Tattler lifestyle.

 

Maybe Najib spoke on high notes because he has the ultimate weapon of mass destruction – that everyone has his price. UMNO and BN are ready with a war chest. 11 Bumi companies are going for listing. There may be huge amount of promissory notes from the big corporate boys whom Idris Jala and Pemandu have identified.

 

Let us see beyond the rhetoric and the forced smiles. What happened to the big ideas of Najib? 1 Malaysia, NEM, NKRA, New Political Model? These are the things that we need to analyze. See whether they have taken any hold among the delegates.

 

The elation and the euphoria that accompanies Najib’s Presidential speech are no measures of success. Sharizat Jalil can say she feels re-born and others can say this is the best speech so far. Shahrizat didn’t say she feels re-born as what and how she wants to be reborn?

 

Let us not forget, these are the same sentiments that followed every UMNO President’s speech before Najib. Najib is getting the same fawning responses previous UMNO presidents got. When Mahathir spoke, some people pee in the pants. The point is UMNO delegates’ response to presidential speech is likely to be ephemeral and brief.

 

They have little bearing on the shaping opinions on those that matter – the voters outside. Let us also not forget- that Najib is speaking to his same kind in a controlled environment. You are not talking to the outside. You are talking to division heads and committee members most of whom came to PWTC in big flashy cars designed to make Puteri UMNO members and young vixens salivate and some designs of their own.

 

You think the UMNO delegates would later break out into smaller groups and debate what the President spoke in workshop sessions? As soon as the day’s session end, many would eagerly patronize the dangdut bars nearby or go shopping in the city. Najib’s speech was good only while it lasted. It lasted as long as delegates’ attention span. Which is very short.

 

Consider this. Today we read UMNO delegates reaffirmed their commitment to have affirmative policies ala NEP. There you are.

 

To me, this very public refutation is a slap at Najib’s face. He is the author for NEM, GTP, ETP, NKRA, NKEA, PPP etc. these are concepts not compatible with the wishes of the majority. He has paid those bloody Mckinsey boys a lot of money. Damn Omar Ong. Damn the consultants – Najib must be cursing them.

 

At this assembly they spoke. But they spoke in direct contrast with what Najib wanted.

 

In other words, what Najib wanted really – his big ideas of market driven affirmative policies and accommodative social relations were rejected by the delegates. That forced him to capitulate. None of the speakers came out defending and promoting the ideas of 1 Malaysia, GTP, ETP and all the NKRA’s. These were mentioned as cue from Najib. Hardly any speaker spoke on these.

 

On the contrary who spoke on the President’s debate wanted more Malayness be infused in government policies. Some wanted equity to be raised to 60% to reflect the ethnic composition. Nobody wanted to have access to privileges, shortcuts, and all that to be abolished. That’s what UMNO has fought for, say the majority of them.

 

This also confirmed my earlier impression. The delegates were more taken in by the rhetoric and high drama. The substance? Lost in the crowd.