FORMER law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim suggests that UMNO can be revived if the scandal surrounding the 1MDB scandal is unearthed.
The 1MDB scandal, a scandal that drained over RM4 bil from Malaysia’s coffers and reverberated beyond its borders, is a global financial crime.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, now on trial, is viewed as the principal actor in this massive scheme, though he was not alone; others involved have managed to escape prosecution.
Zaid believes that only by thoroughly exposing the foundations of 1MDB can UMNO, once a powerful Malay party, be reawakened.
However, while Najib played a prominent role, it was ultimately UMNO’s entrenched culture of greed, power, and arrogance that allowed him and others to become ensnared in such scandal.
While 1MDB may be the most notorious corruption case in Malaysia’s history, it is far from an isolated incident.
During the tenure of another former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, other scandals had emerged, although Mahathir never faced prosecution after leaving office.
Najib, however, was less fortunate. When Mahathir returned to power through the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, he pursued Najib, who had been unseated, with great determination.
This pursuit of Najib, though just, also illustrates how UMNO’s crisis extends beyond one leader or administration.
UMNO’s woes are systemic, rooted in leadership from top to bottom. While understanding the origins of the 1MDB scandal is essential, the broader malaise – corruption, money laundering, and misuse of public funds – cannot be cured by addressing one high-profile case alone.
Now in its 78th year, UMNO’s glory days are a distant memory. The Malays, once the backbone of UMNO’s support, have largely turned to opposition parties like Perikatan Nasional (PN).
A party that has been abandoned by its core constituency cannot expect revival by merely confronting a single scandal’s source.
Notably, other senior UMNO leaders have avoided accountability, shielded by political connections and influence.
Corruption appears woven into UMNO’s fabric, making it nearly impossible to disentangle the party from financial misconduct.
Like many nationalist movements that deteriorated after achieving independence, UMNO seems destined to follow a similar trajectory.
Its recent by-election victories offer no reassurance of political relevance. As the saying goes, a single swallow does not make a summer. – Nov 1, 2024
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
