[Bayangkan ahli Umno bertepuk sebegitu gemuruh sedangkan bangsa sendiri dikutuk sehingga perkataan haprak menjadi baru kembali. Kalaulah orang melayu itu memang tidak ubah seperti dulu itu bermakna Umno sendiri sudah gagal walaupun telah diberi peluang banyak kali. Malah usahawan Umno sendiri gagal walaupun pelbagai bantuan diberi sehingga wang KWSP dan dana pencen pun turut dicemari. Ada banyak orang melayu yang pakar seperti Datuk Aziz yang menerajui MAS dulu - mengapa beliau ditukar dengan Tajuddin Ramli? Bukankah itu kerja tangan Umno sendiri sehingga berbilion-bilion rugi? Sekarang TNB sedang bermain bon dan 'bom' Bakun yang mungkin akan menjahanamkan lagi syarikat itu.

Umno sebenarnya telah mencacatkan minda orang melayu kerana mencengkam akhbar dan pelajar. Padahal di sanalah terletak pelbagai permata yang berharga yang mungkin akan menyelamatkan Malaysia. Inilah dua sumber atau input intelektual dan kepintaran penting untuk negara malangnya ia telah dibunuh dengan zalimnya. Buku Said Zahari itulah gambaran betapa dahsyatnya Umno..... - Editor]

Harakah

http://202.157.186.6/Julai/fe3jul2001_1.shtml

Tuesday 3 July, 2001 4:32 PM

The problem is with the Malays, not Umno!

by Sadirah K

The annual UMNO 'sandiwara' has just ended. The party President added to his annual 'Malay' bashing philosophy. He acknowledged that certain parties might be unhappy with the contents of his address but "there is nothing I can do about it." "Some people do not like to be told the truth.

However, they have to be told that they are not doing the right things and that it's time to correct them," he told a press conference at the end of the second day of the general assembly. To claim that one's opinion represents the "truth" sounds arrogant. At best these represent flawed perspectives that even social scientists would disagree about.

Mahathir claims that Malays made no attempt to change their attitude and overcome their weaknesses and they are unwilling to acquire knowledge, work hard, study business management or face business risks. "They still seek easy ways to get rich quick, and this included bribery. We have to make an effort, be hard working, strive hard to seek knowledge and all skills, hold strongly to good values and reject all sins and practice good deeds to improve our performance."

Are these human frailties unique only to the Malays? The same can also be said for Samy Vellu"s tribe and many other communities across the world. He confessed, "But power by itself will not ensure success for us. Power can actually destroy us, and today we see how power has made many of us irresponsible and very greedy until the goals we set out when struggling for independence are now forgotten."

The only good thing about this statement is his personal identification with the sentiments expressed. Talking down to your people and highlighting perspectives about their weaknesses represents the height of irresponsibility coming from a Party President who has been at the helm for twenty years.

In the final analysis it is his party that framed policies, implemented these and worked to reach certain goals. If there was evidence of failings then these should have been corrected. But if the Party's goal was to create Malay millionaires rather than entrepreneurs then the party has to acknowledge its weaknesses.

Talking about power and greed let us evaluate the leaders of the component parties of the Barisan Nasional. In many instances their wealth is disproportional to earnings. Let us not talk about the credentials of their own children or that of other Cabinet Ministers.

People who live in glass houses should never throw stones. Dr Mahathir himself could be UMNO's greatest liability. No action has been taken over the several police reports filed against him. Let us highlight scandals that remain unaddressed starting from the numerous Bank Bumiputra fiascos right up to the recent PUNB Bond scandal and Perwaja.

He now feels uncomfortable that his name has been dragged into MCA's "Nanyang" controversy. The fact remains that he gave the 'green light' to proceed with this takeover. He remains upset with the loss in Lunas and the role of the Chinese newspapers in highlighting 'Suqui' demands, Chinese education and other Chinese related issues.

Fundamentally Mahathir is unable to stomach perspectives about himself. He remains the only custodian of truth. This is why he is very keen to control the press in the country. The Malay press is subservient and recently we had news of a director of Utusan Malaysia resigning rather than apologise to Mahathir for an initiative he undertook regarding Anwar Ibrahim.

Journalists have highlighted through the Internet how subtle are the means employed to control the Press. UMNO is unable to deal with its own problems let alone address the crisis facing the nation much of which is its own creation.

Yet, these very leaders are able to pontificate virtues and values to the people at large. Under microscopic examination many of them will not stand the clear light of the day. Their unscrupulous ways and means is exhibited by their own lifestyles.

One has just to stand outside some of their homes and count the number of luxury vehicles parked within their car porch. These will highlight the weaknesses of UMNO and its leaders and not the weaknesses of the ordinary Malay. What example have they set? This is the same underlying mindset that promotes 'mega-projects.'

There are many ordinary people who live straight-forward lives. They earn honestly, live sincerely and pay their taxes on time. Their brilliant children do not own companies listed in the Stock Market though in many instances their children may be more brilliant compared to the children of the Prime Minister or his Ministers.

We have many over-rated politicians who have talked down for too long to citizens at large. It is time that some of them looked at their own backyards that are filled with stench and filth and deal with this rather than talk about the weaknesses of the community.

More than anything else this reveals the mindset of UMNO leaders. The party seems bankrupt both for ideas and leadership. What more can we expect from those who disregard their earlier convictions about the judiciary as purely academic and now emphasise that ISA is necessary. The chameleons that left Semangat 46 now have new found convictions.

Such fair weather politicians are at best opportunists. Can we ever trust them? Daim has left, yet, questions remain regarding MAS and other corporate bailouts. I wonder how many UMNO members understand and appreciate the financial position of UMNO itself? Few have the courage to highlight the weaknesses of UMNO's leadership and how they have failed the Malays. Instead many sit and clap acknowledging the weaknesses of their community. It's a shame!

UMNO should reflect the Malay community. If the President after twenty years in power is unable to shift them then either his prognosis is wrong or the time has come for him to give up his post. We have had enough of 'his truth' or it may be too late for UMNO itself to change.

A leader must lift his Party and its members, inspire the movement to positive and creative action. It must be forward looking. To do so it must be charged with ideals higher than 'bangsa, agama dan negara'. These were very valid during the colonial days. Ethnicity, religion and nation are no great virtues for nation building in the context of a multi-ethnic society when compared to honesty, unity, service, justice and integrity.

Every UMNO gathering undermines the larger cause of nation building through expressions that are ethnic based. The same can be said for MCA and MIC annual gatherings. In each case the ethnic 'ghetto' mindset reveals itself. This undercuts the spirit of being a Malaysian. Yet, our leaders espouse ideals like Vision 2020.

What a paradox? There seems to be many split personalities at the helm of political leadership. They say one thing today and another to a different group. Their speeches are tailored to the needs of the audience and rarely based on foundational convictions. The ordinary man can only shake his head and accept humbly that democracy requires the exhibition of stupidity by over rated politicians.

Will the Opposition be any better? They represent an ideal that has yet to be tested. However, they remain equally vulnerable to the vagaries of human nature. Checks and balances would still be necessary. Hopefully they would learn from the exhibition that UMNO has treated Malaysians to over the last weekend. Alternative views are important.

These provide additional perspectives and not the 'truth'. By controlling the Press and viewing contrary expressions as anti-government the ruling elite deny themselves options. It is important for the Government to tap the intelligence of its citizens and an open press is critical in this regard. All of us love Malaysia as much as our revered politicians within Barisan Nasional.