Former Prime Minister of Malaysia (Tun Dr Mahathir) is driving the son-in-law of
current Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi), Khairy Jamaluddin, to
the wall recently. Khairy who is also the deputy chairman of the youth wing of
United Malays National Organisation(UMNO), in a bid to maneuver the focal point
away from himself, warned the members of UMNO about the danger of a weakened
UMNO will give rise to opportunity for other component parties within the
National Front Coalition(BN), especially the Chinese-based parties to demand for
more rights and benefits. The BN will be strong only if UMNO is strong. Sure
enough this draws outcry from leaders of Gerakan and MCA(Malaya Chinese
Association),especially the younger ones. The strongest protest came from Ling
Hing Leong, vice president of the MCA youth. Incidentally, Ling is the son of
former MCA president Datuk Seri Ling Liong Sik. He demanded an explanation from
Khairy for belittling the Chinese parties and for forgetting their contributions
towards nation building in the past. The two subsequently met behind closed
doors, but it was clear that Khairy still maintains his stand and no explanation
was given for his remarks.Ironically, what Khairy said is basically right. All
other component parties of BN benifited from the strenght of UMNO. Everybody
knows it and admits it since day-one of the formation of the BN alliance. I
still remember the opposition parties used this fact extensively to attack the
Chinese-based parties during election rallies in the 60s (when public rallies
were still legal).The speakers on opposition stages would always yell, "What is
MCA anyway? They are but some opportunists hiding under the protection of the
Malays' sarongs!" Remarks like this would always receive thunderous applauds
from The audience.But with the banning on all public rallies, this kind of
remarks slowly die off, and the Chinese have begun to accept MCA as their
reprsentative in the government alliance since. The fact remains that UMNO is
still the backbone of the BN coalition. But should some one go and dig it up
after it has been buried there for so long? Let's give a crude analogy here :
Everyone knows very well that sex is part and parcel of a marriage, but must we
go round telling others about this fact? People will feel offended even what you
tell them is right and is a fact. It is just not proper to do so. Khairy did
what he did shows not only he is cracking under the pressure of attacks from Tun
Dr Mahathir, but also his lack of creativity and originality. What he should
have said is that a weakened UMNO will give rise to the opportunity for the
opposition coalition of PAS and Keadilan, probably DAP, to over throw the ruling
party. Won't it be better? Stirring up racial sentiments is a stale and worn out
method used by many extremist politicians before him, yet he still chooses to
apply it. How sad!
