Save the nation, ban Umno elections
Erna Mahyuni, The Malay Mail
Right now is a great time to leave the country for a long break and return… after the Umno elections are over.
Do it for your health. The news headlines reporting what Umno politicians are saying in a bid to out-Melayu each other are so toxic, I think I need a medical checkup.
I can imagine the news summary of my coming death now: “Breaking news: subeditor/columnist dies of massive brain injury from prolonged exposure to Umno election campaigning rhetoric.”
But in all seriousness, I feel like the news is constantly being hijacked by candidates vying to say the most racist, idiotic or sensationalist thing probably just to get into the news.
Or maybe they all have secret shares in Malaysiakini or The Malaysian Insider. Who knows?
I quite like my job but these days I feel bone weary before my shift even starts. The content of my work inbox can be summarised as “Really stupid things our politicians say”.
It is depressing as I really did think that the racist, divisive chatter would calm down a little after the general election.
How was I to know that Umno was only just getting started? Please-lah, stop recycling your election strategies.
GE13: Alienate the Chinese community to get more Malay votes.
Umno elections: Alienate the Chinese community to get more party votes.
You know things are getting bad when being locked away indefinitely without trial under the newly amended PCA looks really good.
In all seriousness, though, Umno campaigning should be minimised to, say, a week?
You’re not being reasonable, Erna, I can hear Umno members say.
Well, you’re not being reasonable with all the bullcrap the potential candidates are saying just to win votes.
Umno, like it or not, is not just the leader of Malays but the source of leadership for most of the country.
Umno candidates are expected not just to look after their Malay brethren but to care about their country and everyone else who happens to live in it.
Like, oh, very not Malay me.
Or make it really simple. Just make Umno elections Facebook contests. Whoever gets the most likes on Facebook wins.
The nation saves money, I don’t get an aneurysm and the news can be filled with more important things. Like kittens.
Less Umno, more kittens. Now, who’s with me?
