Razak's UMNO, Mahathir's UMNO Baru Dilemma.

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Let the people think they govern
and they will be governed.
-- William Penn
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The rise of UMNO was none other than an elaborate scheme involving some Malay aristocrats and the British.
Laws were formulated after the great 1947 Hartal (still enforced today) to suppress dissent and handicap other parties (and render them enemies of state). Those who fell in line and "toed the line" were rewarded, while the rest were "punished".
Among those who were "punished" was non other than the Father of UMNO himself, who dreamed of a nation based on trust and cooperation.

Razak wouldn't let it be, though - He knew how the party and state worked (stuff he learnt well from the Brits and Japanese).
He was a visionary, no doubt (although being one that differed greatly, from that of Onn Jaafar and Tunku). Tunku was simply Razak's poster-boy he knew nothing about the workings of the state - it was Razak who wielded power.
Razak did his homework well in planning for his rise to power and the continuation of his legacy (some say that he rigged all elections in the party to favor him!!).
And Mahathir was his "anointed".

We've had 'watershed' moments almost every decade since Merdeka was proclaimed.
1957 - Merdeka
1969 - May 13, Mahathir sacked (followed by meteoric rise through the ranks upon his return in '72 under Razak - possibly planned?)
1978 - Mahathir becomes DPM (then
1988 - Mahathir-UMNO-Judicial Crisis/ UMNO Baru
1998 - Asian Financial Crisis/ Anwar Saga
2008 - BN electoral losses/ return of Anwar and what else?

What has happened recently is nothing short of a watershed in our Nation's history. The mighty BN/ UMNO Baru machinery was no match for the people's voice.
So, what happens next?

We are now faced with stark choices as a result.
It is primarily the question of the (UMNO pretender's) political/ cultural hegemony - Are we willing to do away with it?

There are still many among us who still want to believe that the divisive race based politics is the only way forward - even if it is only for selfish interests. More so among a people who pine for sectarian glory that existed only in UMNO (Baru) myths.
UMNO Baru philosophy for nationhood appears to me, as simplistic and silly as this - "Everything, has everything to do with Power, Money, Race & Religion" .... period.
Let us not fool ourselves into believing the propaganda "BS" that UMNO Baru is Onn Jaafar's UMNO of old that "fought for Merdeka".

The two entities are as different as night & day - It is simply a tall tale that the some aristocrats would want 'peasants' to believe - and there definitely are a whole lot of peasants out there who swallow it all up lock, stock & barrel.
To these peasants, ignorance is bliss, and denial is sweet.
Over 25 years, peasants have been programmed to think that there can be no alternative to what we had for 50 yrs, and all that mattered was that the "stability & peace & status quo" at all costs.
To them, there's supposed to be nothing worth more than going about with their daily routine in "peace, harmony and stability" .... and so they unwittingly become their own oppressors.

In the last Elections, that appeared to change somewhat although not significant enough- some have started thinking again, even though with misgivings and a heart bleeding for the UMNO of old.

The allies of this UMNO Baru entity are actually (willingly) blind to the fact that it is parasitic in nature. It survives on rhetoric that appeals to the "basic instincts" & "siege mentality" amongst the members and electorate, devoid of ideas on Nationhood. They are all ultimately reduced to sectarian parties begging for handouts, to enrich themselves and facilitate UMNO Baru's hegemony.
This might, incidently explain its current leadership, membership, representation, conflicts, dilemma/ crises.

How does it work?
Besides the "peasants who only end their days as "runners", first & foremost it courts a potential threat to the planned leadership with "promises".
It then "kills off" the intellectuals within its ranks who may rock the boat - unless they are willing to be docile, obedient and mindless zombies to ascertain the planned leadership. (They will of course be used to propagate its feudal system)
Then comes the so-called "allies" .....
UMNO Baru's survival depends on its ability to suck the political life/will out of its "allies", based on the hallowed "social contract". The allies are tempted into the BN with promises of material gain and are thus "drugged, neutered and corrupted" into impotence, while remaining there grinning for posterity.

Contrary to their convictions - The impotence of UMNO Baru's allies, their tendency for racist delusions and the absence of Malay intellectuals are its Achilles Heel.
The very fact that a septuagenarian is the alternative candidate attests to this fact - there simply isn't any other viable candidate that's trustworthy enough!

These would be the main contributing factors to the impending "implosion" of UMNO Baru, which effectively translates into the collapse of the Alliance/ BN juggernaut - and of course the rise of BR.



Further reading:
Where is the Spirit of Merdeka?
A Social Contract of "Asian Values".
"Asian Values" 101
The "Social Contract" - A Malaysian "Cold War"?
Progress of a Nation - the flip-side.
Class Politics - the Other Option?
A Malaysian Disease of Fear and Apathy


***The above is a personal perspective on the Malaysian political scene and as such may be debatable, depending on the shades through which one looks.

Mahathirisms.

Here are a few Mahathirisms to consider from BBC & Wikiquote:-

"There were times when I was elated with what I thought was my success. But mostly I feel disappointed, because I achieved too little result from my principal task, the task of making my race a race that is respected, a race that is honorable, a race that is highly regarded." - June 21, 2002,

"It is good governance by good people that we need. And feudal kings, even dictators, have provided and can provide good governance." - April 26, 2002, speech.

On Bumiputras........

"The Malays are spiritually inclined, tolerant and easy-going. The non-Malays, and especially the Chinese, are materialistic, aggressive and have an appetite for work. For equality to come about, it is necessary that these strikingly contrasting races adjust to each other." - 1970 book, "The Malay Dilemma."

"They know it, they see it right before their eyes but they learn nothing. Next time they will do it again."

".....We tell them if you use crutches, you will not be able to stand up. Throw away the crutches, stand up straight because you still have the capacity."

"........ I know very well the meaning of crutches but somehow or rather they want the easy way out. If I get an AP and I sell it and make some money, it’s all right, they say."

"..... But every one of them sold their contracts. Sold and sold and sold until finally the last man could not sell and had to do the work. He then found he would make terrible losses and so he tried to cut corners, used bad materials and the labs collapsed."

On Muslims....

Disunited, confused about Islam, fighting each other for power and lacking in essential knowledge and skills... Muslims today have reached the lowest point of their development. - January 2003

"We [Muslims] are actually very strong, 1.3 billion people cannot be simply wiped out." - OIC Conference, Oct 16,2003

On Jews ......

The Jews for example are not merely hook-nosed, but understand money instinctively.
- 1970, the Malay Dilemma

"But today the Jews rule the world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them. They invented socialism, communism, human rights and democracy so that persecuting them would appear to be wrong so they may enjoy equal rights with others. With these they have now gained control of the most powerful countries. And they, this tiny community, have become a world power"
- OIC Conference, Oct 16,2003

"The Jews robbed the Palestinians of everything, but in Malaysia they could not do so, hence they do this, depress the ringgit."

"We may suspect that they, the Jews, have an agenda, but we do not want to accuse. And incidentally, we are Muslims, and the Jews are not happy to see the Muslims progress." - Oct. 10, 1997, speech during Asian financial crisis.

On Europeans .....

They are very clever, brave and have an insatiable curiosity... unfortunately they are also very greedy and like to take forcibly the territories and rights of other people.

The culture and the values which they will force us to accept will be hedonism, unlimited quest for pleasure, the satisfaction of base desires, particularly sexual desires. Our way of life must be the same as their way of life. Asian values do not exist to them. -June 2003

"The Sept. 11 attack on America, which supported Israel, has made an excuse for the Anglo-Saxon Europeans to return to their old violent ways. Their strategy to fight terrorism is through attacking Muslim countries and Muslims, whether they are guilty or not." - June 19, 2003, speech.

On Australia..........

This country stands out like a sore thumb trying to impose its European values in Asia as if it is the good old days when people can shoot aborigines without caring about human rights. - December 2002

"... white trash of Asia".

"If Australia wants to be a friend to Asia, it should stop behaving as if it is there to teach us how to run our country. It is a small nation in terms of numbers and it should behave like a small nation and not be a teacher."

On America .....

"American voters are not astute and will be fooled by President George W. Bush's propaganda."

"The American people are, by and large, very ignorant and know nothing about the rest of the world.... Yet they are the people who will decide who will be the most powerful man in the world".

"I've never seen anybody so rude" - on Al Gore's speech at the KL APEC summit.