Najib's wish and reality on the ground

There is this article published in the Bernama's website last night.

It's on the wish of PM DS Najib Razak for the Umno general assembly which starts tomorrow.

My comments in blue.

I Want UMNO To Remain United - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister and UMNO President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants UMNO to remain united and does not want to see the party in chaos.

Of course as a party president, Najib should want the party to be united and not in chaos. However, the reality is that, sentiment on the ground indicated that many members and supporters are not happy with what has been happening to the party over the last few months. To deny this reality will be foolish.

The party president said this was among issues troubling him, especially with the UMNO General Assembly 2015 starting this week.

It's not only troubling Najib, but the rest of us who have been supportive of the establishment. There seems to be a huge dark cloud hovering above PWTC where the event will be held.

"I want the party to remain united...I do not want to see the party in chaos or divided...I want party members to close ranks," he said in an interview with TV3 that was conducted by the Group Managing Editor, News and Current Affairs, Media Prima Bhd Datuk Seri Mohd Ashraf Abdullah, Group Managing Editor of The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd, Media Prima Bhd Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid and Utusan Group Editor-in-Chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Ishak.

To say it is one thing, but to do something about it is actually something else. Talking is after all rather cheap. I wish Najib had instead said "Umno people, I will do something so that you all can be united again and forget about all the nonsense that happened the past few months". All those three interviewers who are supposed to be the most brilliant minds of Malaysia's main stream media should assist Najib by asking him questions towards that instead of letting him sounding rather sad for wishing for unity without being seen as doing something about it.

The video of the interview has been uploaded on the website www.newsplus.my/live-tv.

This is clearly an attempt to reach out to those who use the new media as their main news source. The interviewers by right should also include someone reputable from the news portals or other internet media and not just the MSM bigwigs of the three news outlets which were known to be aligned to the establishment. Credibility which could be attained by appearing impartial is important in order to deliver the message.  

The Prime Minister said at the general assembly, the delegates must have confidence in him and the party leadership as what happens during the assembly would get the attention of many people. "The mood of the assembly will be scrutinised, not just by the people in the hall, but also by those overseas.

Party members' confidence in their leader is indeed important. However, it should be nurtured instead of just being called upon. It is hard to fake confidence if you don't have one as others who are observant enough will see that confidence as what it truly is. 

"The party's image must be preserved, show a good image and as members of the ruling party, we must show that we are responsible and can look after the interests of the party so that friends and foes continue to show respect," he said in his message to 2,762 delegates who will attend the assembly from tomorrow at the Putra World Trade Centre.

Respect is to be earned, and not demanded. Umno's image should be preserved at all time and not just at the general assembly. Projecting a good image is actually more important than all the rhetorics. For instance, I became supportive of the establishment after closely observing the leadership of former Johor MB TS Abdul Ghani Othman. The guy is simply incorruptible and conduct himself as what a true Malay leader should be. It's not his words which won him my support but the proper way he is. And I swear in the name of Allah that he never gave me any money or even asked me to support him. 

He said at the assembly this year will be an exhibition on Barisan Nasional's achievements in fulfilling almost all of the manifesto during the 2013 general assembly.

If we look at the results of the last general elections, we can see that BN's promises and those which it fulfilled do not really matter that much. I remember the fun-fair "Jelajah Janji DiTepati Program" and I don't think such theme won BN any extra votes. The people actually expect more than what BN promised them. That's why BN actually won the last general election without winning the popular votes. It would be better if Umno and its BN allies could promise and deliver to the people a better standard of living and quality of life. The people want to feel that their life is improving, not promises which sound good but do not change anything such as the currently high cost of living. 

Najib said based on the status, Barisan Nasional had a good chance of winning the general election although a few problems need to be ironed out.

I wish Najib had said "surely will win" instead of "a good chance of winning".

"This is because if we look at the alternative (opposition), they are in chaos. I feel they have a problem to decide their leader. However, though our position has dropped a little due to issues played up by certain people, we still have time to make up," he said.

The way I see it, both sides are equally in chaos. It's now a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils. Personally, I still support the establishment but bear in mind that the opposition has DAP which commands up to 90 per cent of the Chinese votes. The Chinese as they appear will remain united under the DAP banner no matter how chaotic the opposition will be in the run up to the next general election. Malays who are the core supporters of BN on the other hand are more divided than ever.

Asked if there was a conspiracy to oust him, the prime minister said what was important was to show that he had not done anything wrong morally or against the law.

I agree with Najib on this one.

"There are more than 20,000 UMNO branches and only a few may not be happy. They are those who may have lost and therefore not happy with their division leaders," he said.

I think Najib needs to win back those who are unhappy no matter how small their number supposed to be. BN needs every vote that it can get in the next general election.

-- BERNAMA