Democracy dying in Umno

Oleh Ibnu Hakeem

Five UMNO members have filed a complaint with the UMNO disciplinary
committee on 29th September 2006 that money was used during the Kubang
Pasu Divisional meeting held on 9th September 2006 to ensure former
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was not elected as a delegate
to the Umno general assembly. It remains to be seen if the Umno
disciplinary committee will thoroughly investigate the complaints by
the Kubang Pasu Umno members.

But can the disciplinary committee do a good job? Well, for starters,
ex Menteri Besar of Kedah, Osman Aroff, is a member of the panel. But
Osman Aroff is also one of the culprits who were campaigning against
Tun Dr Mahathir in Kubang Pasu. So exactly how much justice can we
expect from the disciplinary committee?

When the complaint was first lodged on 29th September 2006, the five
complainants were told that their complaint could not even be
accepted. Only after much argument was it reluctantly accepted by one
Brig General (Rtd) Husainay Hashim. Disciplinary matters are usually
resolved in two weeks -- meaning a decision is due on Friday 13th of
October 2006. According to the Hollywood movies, Friday the 13th is an
unlucky day. Since party president Abdullah Badawi is a firm believer
in superstition and fortune-telling, and perhaps Hollywood, he will
most likely ask the committee to postpone its decision to another
date.

The fact is democracy is dying in UMNO. For the first time the party
has made known a new official policy that members who criticize the
party leader can be terminated. This official policy was confirmed by
Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, UMNO Secretary General, after Zaharin Yassin who
runs the blogsite Sang Kelembai -- a vocal critic of the party
president -- had his party membership terminated. When asked if
Zaharin's sacking was a warning to other bloggers who are Umno
members, Radzi said, "It sends a clear message."

This is the new culture in UMNO. The leadership is assuming the role
of extreme 'control freaks'. No criticism of the party leader shall be
tolerated. Anyone who criticises the party leader suffers the risk of
having his party membership terminated. However, this privilege does
not extend to other lesser party leaders. Hence, Selangor Menteri
Besar Mohd Khir Toyo is frequently assailed in the Press. Khir Toyo is
perhaps seen as a potential threat to the party leader's family
members.

The cause of this whole problem is the party president and Prime
Minister Abdullah Badawi who is just bungling and snoozing his way
through his job. And things are already falling apart. The stock
market is following the example of the Prime Minister and snoozing
along too. The GLCs or Government Linked Companies are now seeking
more protection behind the Official Secrets Act or OSA because many of
them like Khazanah Nasional Bhd and their subsidiaries do not want to
divulge how much money they are losing -- usually in disastrous
investments overseas.

Even the disastrously failing readership of the New Straits Times
bears testimony to this fact. As the Prime Minister's cheerleader and
chorus line, the NST is suffering a declining readership of only
494,000, not too far away from The Sun which has improved its
circulation to 342,000. According to recent market surveys, The Star
on the other hand, enjoys a circulation of almost 1.5 million, a
million more than the NST. In sharp contrast, Malaysia Today enjoys
hits of over 1.5 million a day. This means that even this column, The
Straight Times, has a larger readership than Kalimullah's or Brendan
Pereira's 'cium buntut' writings in the New Straits Times.

Accurately reflecting his popularity, the decline in the NST's
readership has worsened after Abdullah assumed the premiership. The
bungling snooze-ball just does not make good copy. But when a leader
is incompetent yet insists on staying in power, something has to
yield. That something is freedom and democracy. Hence we will see more
restrictions on freedom in UMNO and perhaps on the rest of the country
as well. And other than in UMNO, there will also be manipulation of
the various instruments of power in Government.

Mathias Chang has correctly objected against the Public Accounts
Committee making any ruling over the sale of Government owned Avenue
Capital to Kalimullah Hassan's ECM Libra. Mathias' fear is that if the
PAC finds in favour of Kalimullah it may affect his legal suit against
Kalimullah that is pending in the courts. And if the PAC discovers
wrongdoing, will Kalimullah be pulled up? This is yet to be seen too.

In the present scenario, Joe Si Tanggang or Johari Baharom, the Ketua
Bahagian of Kubang Pasu, seems set to walk scot-free even if
wrongdoing is proven in Kubang Pasu. So even if the Public Accounts
Committee admits to wrongdoing in the Avenue Capital caper, it remains
to be seen if any lawbreakers will be brought to book.

But what happens when the party president has to step down? What
happens to people like Joe Si Tanggang and Kalimullah? One is reminded
of disposable tissue. Folks like Kalimullah and Brendan Pereira will
need quick exit plans -- their future may not be very bright inside
Malaysia. Brendan can look across the Causeway. But where can
Kalimullah go to? The weather in London is just too nasty. And 'balik
kampong' to Maslampatti in Azamgard in India is also not a great
option.

What goes around must come around.

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