JUST AS the appearance of a swallow doesn’t render the season as summer, Barisan Nasional (BN) or UMNO’s victory in the recent Nenggiri by-election is no guarantee that the party is riding on waves of Malay support.
The particular circumstances of Nenggiri, the Orang Asli support and the taken for granted approach by Perikatan Nasional (PN) gave the political edge to UMNO.
Let not UMNO or the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who was overjoyed by the former’s performance believe that this is going to be the future political trend.
The Mahkota state by-election slated for next month (Sept 28) is certainly not going to be a walkover to UMNO even if Malays traditionally supported the party.
The fact that Johor is the birthplace of UMNO is no guarantee that the younger generations have a good memory.
If the statute of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who is Bangladesh’s freedom fighter could be torn in the recent student upheaval what historical memory then are we talking about?
As they say, those who bask in the memory of the past might be condemned to the pages of history might be true to UMNO.
In recent times, the BN ‘big brother’ has benefited from Chinese and Indian votes by virtue of its political association with DAP.
Yet it was the same DAP that was not invited to campaign in the Nenggiri by-election. Such is the hypocrisy of UMNO.
Given the sizeable non-Malay voters in the Mahkota by-election, let us wait and see whether UMNO will ask DAP not to campaign in the soon to be held by-election in Johor.
Don’t be overjoyed
The political opportunism of UMNO is so blatant that ordinary Malays cannot help but notice it. Crass materialism is largely responsible for the downfall of the party. It would take a stupendous effort to revive the party that thrived on the Bangsa, Agama and Negara slogan.
UMNO had never insulted MCA the way DAP has been insulted and ridiculed to the extent that their political alliance has been called into question.
Yet DAP stoically puts up with humiliation in the name of national unity. But deep beneath this often-repeated slogan is the greed for power, political positions and the related material rewards or perks.
Perhaps the PN opposition coalition was not well-focused in discrediting UMNO during the Nenggiri by-election. The opposition’s predilection by focusing on religious matters might have shifted the balance in favour of UMNO especially on the bread-and-butter issues.
Kelantan might be the traditional base of PAS yet the Islamic party has done little in looking after the affairs of the Orang Asli.
PAS leaders should take time to ascertain the political thinking of the original inhabitants of the country. The Orang Asli prefer a better life on earth rather than the promised heaven.
Anwar was ecstatic that UMNO had won and that the long-lost Malay support has found its way to UMNO again. But Anwar should not count the chickens before they hatch. There could be more by-elections in the country and the next national poll itself not too far off. – Aug 19, 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.
Main image credit: Zahid Hamidi/Facebook
