I just came back from my Raya holiday when I heard the shocking (to me, that is) news: Isa as BN's candidate for the Bagan Pinang (BP) by-election, and Omar Ong as a director in the Board of Petronas.
Candidature of Isa
It never ceases to make one wonder what was Najib - and the UMNO leaders in general - thinking in selecting Isa. Many have already come out not only lauding the choice but also supporting it with lines of reasoning that are easily open to debate. In choosing Isa, they reasoned, the "people first" slogan of 1Malaysia was used. Isa was chosen because this was the choice of the rakyat in BP. I cannot see a more hallow reasoning than this. Which rakyat are they talking about? Rakyat the UMNO/BN voters or rakyat the general voting public in BP? We don't need rocket science to figure out the answer, do we? Even if they are referring to UMNO/BN, how do they know for certain, given the prevailing political climate, that the UMNO/BN supporters in BP will actually vote for BN?
A case was also made of Isa's good deeds and struggle in the past and, following Anwar's example, of the argument that fielding a tainted candidate is not entirely unacceptable. This is a moot point. We are talking about elections here where the voter's voice is supreme. In the eyes of the voters who will be voting in a prevalent anti-BN mood, good deeds do not necessarily wipe away past misdeeds; the sins of the past do not put things rights by good deeds. Anwar was driving on the coattail of a sweeping anti-BN sentiment in the post-GE 08 period. That sentiment is still prevalent now, and there seems to be no indication that it will go away. In any case, Anwar is a different breed and thus cannot be compared to Isa. Then there was the harsh lessons of failing to choose the right candidates in the Permatang Pasir and Kuala Terengganu by-elections. So why has UMNO remained blind to their failings? Are UMNO leaders suffering from amnesia?
Now that Isa is chosen, what can he do to ensure a victory for BN? One of his key tasks is to persuade the anti-BN and on-the-fence voters to swing their votes for BN. But just how is Isa going to do that when he himself is carrying a baggage load of misconducts and is readily exposed to PR's mud slinging? Make no mistake about it: his past misdeeds are indefensible. Already PR has started their attack on Isa. True, the BN machinery can, and will, counter with PR's own records of wrongdoings, but will they make any difference? Didn't BN do that in Permatang Pasir and in other by-elections, and still lost? Can BN hope to win when its defense is indefensible?
Whatever happens at Bagan Pinang, UMNO faces a lose-lose situation. A win for Isa, whatever the margin of victory, will do nothing to repair UMNO's dented image. Can anyone see comfort in having a tainted ADUN exposed like a sitting duck, and sitting in an assembly of a state where the ruling party's majority is razor thin? And what are his supporters and defenders going to say if he loses? Are they going to come out with the usual predictable excuses when the truth should already be obvious to them. The mistakes they make cannot be reversed, neither are they forgivable. Any effort to deflect the issue or turn the table on PR will be of no consequence. When you have an employee who keep repeating the same mistakes over and over, you can safety conclude that he/she has to be shown the door. So, what can we conclude if we have a behemoth like UMNO/BN, a coalition that has ruled the country for 52 years, keeps repeating the same mistakes?
Omar Ong
Omar Ong's appointment was first reported in Rocky's Bru's post and picked up by A Voice and Unspinners. The latter two have presented a convincing case for rejecting Omar's appointment. According to A Voice, "...Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak vehemently insisted on the appointment beleived (sic) to be at the behest of Omar Ong."
What is puzzling is, what is the real motive(s) for Najib's insistence? It has been said that Najib needs someone he can trust to be in Petronas. This is a hardly plausible explanation. Why does Najib need Omar to get information or whatever he needs from Petronas? He is the Prime Minister, period. Haven't anyone heard of the saying, "whatever the top brass say, goes"?
The appointment at "the behest of Omar Ong"? Now that is a shocker! If true, who then holds the big stick - Najib or Omar? What is it that Omar has in his hands that force Najib to give in? By implication, who will Omar served in his capacity as a Board Director - Najib or other interests (local as well as as foreign)?
The Omar situation reminds me of the "push and pull" factor that is not only well-known in physics but is also always in play in local and international politics. A leader who wants to "push" for reforms or other positive measures for his country is, at the same time, "pulled" backward or inward because of negative forces. The negative forces can take many forms, such as failed policies in the past, history of personal indiscretions, opposition from within, etc. Is Najib, while always - and sincerely - wanting to push for reforms and other policies for the good of the country, being pulled back by certain negative forces that are privy to Omar and his infamous 4th Floor cohorts?
Whatever Najib's rationale, the government could do well to remember that Petronas is a national concern and there are indisputable national security considerations involved in the running of the organisation. The questions raised above should pose serious security concerns to all those who care about our country.
Candidature of Isa
It never ceases to make one wonder what was Najib - and the UMNO leaders in general - thinking in selecting Isa. Many have already come out not only lauding the choice but also supporting it with lines of reasoning that are easily open to debate. In choosing Isa, they reasoned, the "people first" slogan of 1Malaysia was used. Isa was chosen because this was the choice of the rakyat in BP. I cannot see a more hallow reasoning than this. Which rakyat are they talking about? Rakyat the UMNO/BN voters or rakyat the general voting public in BP? We don't need rocket science to figure out the answer, do we? Even if they are referring to UMNO/BN, how do they know for certain, given the prevailing political climate, that the UMNO/BN supporters in BP will actually vote for BN?
A case was also made of Isa's good deeds and struggle in the past and, following Anwar's example, of the argument that fielding a tainted candidate is not entirely unacceptable. This is a moot point. We are talking about elections here where the voter's voice is supreme. In the eyes of the voters who will be voting in a prevalent anti-BN mood, good deeds do not necessarily wipe away past misdeeds; the sins of the past do not put things rights by good deeds. Anwar was driving on the coattail of a sweeping anti-BN sentiment in the post-GE 08 period. That sentiment is still prevalent now, and there seems to be no indication that it will go away. In any case, Anwar is a different breed and thus cannot be compared to Isa. Then there was the harsh lessons of failing to choose the right candidates in the Permatang Pasir and Kuala Terengganu by-elections. So why has UMNO remained blind to their failings? Are UMNO leaders suffering from amnesia?
Now that Isa is chosen, what can he do to ensure a victory for BN? One of his key tasks is to persuade the anti-BN and on-the-fence voters to swing their votes for BN. But just how is Isa going to do that when he himself is carrying a baggage load of misconducts and is readily exposed to PR's mud slinging? Make no mistake about it: his past misdeeds are indefensible. Already PR has started their attack on Isa. True, the BN machinery can, and will, counter with PR's own records of wrongdoings, but will they make any difference? Didn't BN do that in Permatang Pasir and in other by-elections, and still lost? Can BN hope to win when its defense is indefensible?
Whatever happens at Bagan Pinang, UMNO faces a lose-lose situation. A win for Isa, whatever the margin of victory, will do nothing to repair UMNO's dented image. Can anyone see comfort in having a tainted ADUN exposed like a sitting duck, and sitting in an assembly of a state where the ruling party's majority is razor thin? And what are his supporters and defenders going to say if he loses? Are they going to come out with the usual predictable excuses when the truth should already be obvious to them. The mistakes they make cannot be reversed, neither are they forgivable. Any effort to deflect the issue or turn the table on PR will be of no consequence. When you have an employee who keep repeating the same mistakes over and over, you can safety conclude that he/she has to be shown the door. So, what can we conclude if we have a behemoth like UMNO/BN, a coalition that has ruled the country for 52 years, keeps repeating the same mistakes?
Omar Ong
Omar Ong's appointment was first reported in Rocky's Bru's post and picked up by A Voice and Unspinners. The latter two have presented a convincing case for rejecting Omar's appointment. According to A Voice, "...Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak vehemently insisted on the appointment beleived (sic) to be at the behest of Omar Ong."
What is puzzling is, what is the real motive(s) for Najib's insistence? It has been said that Najib needs someone he can trust to be in Petronas. This is a hardly plausible explanation. Why does Najib need Omar to get information or whatever he needs from Petronas? He is the Prime Minister, period. Haven't anyone heard of the saying, "whatever the top brass say, goes"?
The appointment at "the behest of Omar Ong"? Now that is a shocker! If true, who then holds the big stick - Najib or Omar? What is it that Omar has in his hands that force Najib to give in? By implication, who will Omar served in his capacity as a Board Director - Najib or other interests (local as well as as foreign)?
The Omar situation reminds me of the "push and pull" factor that is not only well-known in physics but is also always in play in local and international politics. A leader who wants to "push" for reforms or other positive measures for his country is, at the same time, "pulled" backward or inward because of negative forces. The negative forces can take many forms, such as failed policies in the past, history of personal indiscretions, opposition from within, etc. Is Najib, while always - and sincerely - wanting to push for reforms and other policies for the good of the country, being pulled back by certain negative forces that are privy to Omar and his infamous 4th Floor cohorts?
Whatever Najib's rationale, the government could do well to remember that Petronas is a national concern and there are indisputable national security considerations involved in the running of the organisation. The questions raised above should pose serious security concerns to all those who care about our country.
What Now?
Will the above two events signal a pending disaster for BN? I don't want to sound too pessimistic or portentous, neither do I want BN to fail again. The signs are however too ominous. The title of this post could easily be interchanged with "Countdown to Disaster?" or "Final Nail in the Coffin?" It's that deeply worrying.
As regards Omar Ong, I share the same views as A Voice, Unspinners and other like bloggers and individuals, and I fully support their plea to have his appointment rescinded. I strongly urge all bloggers who share the same concern to collectively submit a petition to Najib.
alizul, hopefully you are wrong about the coffin in the making. together we pray their nominations will not affect the BN and UMNO facing the next general election.
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