Umno must not overestimate its luck like PH did, says analyst
It is good that some Umno leaders are now talking about political reforms, says political analyst Wong Chin Huat.
PETALING JAYA: A political scientist has warned Umno against repeating Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) mistake in overestimating its luck when it was the ruling government.
Wong Chin Huat explained that PH had taken on a “gambler’s mentality”, where the coalition believed it had enough good luck to avoid suffering any big losses.
He said the PH government collapsed after just 22 months because it had forgotten about the two-coalition system and hoped to replace Barisan Nasional (BN) as the dominant coalition.
“Therefore, it was not keen to do away with selective prosecution nor implement full-fledged parliamentary reform. I think that if Umno is on the rise, it must not repeat the mistake of PH,” he said.\
Wong Chin Huat explained that PH had taken on a “gambler’s mentality”, where the coalition believed it had enough good luck to avoid suffering any big losses.
He said the PH government collapsed after just 22 months because it had forgotten about the two-coalition system and hoped to replace Barisan Nasional (BN) as the dominant coalition.
“Therefore, it was not keen to do away with selective prosecution nor implement full-fledged parliamentary reform. I think that if Umno is on the rise, it must not repeat the mistake of PH,” he said.\
Wong Chin Huat.
He was speaking at a webinar titled “Recall Elections: A Solution to Party-Hopping in Malaysia?” organised by Bait Al Amanah today. Other panellists included Umno leaders Shahrir Abdul Samad, Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Shahril Hamdan and DAP’s Wong Shu Qi.
Wong said it was a “given” that Umno would be part of the next government, but it was still unclear whether it would play a more senior or junior role.
However, he noted that it was a “good sign” that certain Umno leaders were now talking about political reforms, as such matters were previously pushed by those in the opposition.
“In the past, if you think about reforms from Umno politicians, it normally happens in their splinter parties like Semangat 46, PKR and PPBM. This is the first time that mainstream Umno is taking political reform seriously,” he said.
He also reminded Umno that in order to make a difference, Malay nationalism should not be linked to authoritarianism or clientelism, which was a point all party members must keep in mind.
Wong said it was a “given” that Umno would be part of the next government, but it was still unclear whether it would play a more senior or junior role.
However, he noted that it was a “good sign” that certain Umno leaders were now talking about political reforms, as such matters were previously pushed by those in the opposition.
“In the past, if you think about reforms from Umno politicians, it normally happens in their splinter parties like Semangat 46, PKR and PPBM. This is the first time that mainstream Umno is taking political reform seriously,” he said.
He also reminded Umno that in order to make a difference, Malay nationalism should not be linked to authoritarianism or clientelism, which was a point all party members must keep in mind.
Wong Shu Qi.
Meanwhile, Kluang MP Shu Qi said there was a need to understand the public’s perspective when implementing political reforms in Malaysia.
She noted that the public had grown cynical of local politics because elected representatives have “let the people down and made a mess of the country”, citing last year’s Sabah polls.
“Recall elections or an anti-hopping law won’t have any effect on Sabah at all. The Sabah people’s interests have been neglected for a long time, and regardless of who is in power, nothing has changed,” she said.
To successfully establish reforms, Shu Qi said, it is important to educate the public and let them know that politics cannot be an elite game.
She said the people must be empowered and have a say on their elected representatives during their tenure, not just once every five years.
She noted that the public had grown cynical of local politics because elected representatives have “let the people down and made a mess of the country”, citing last year’s Sabah polls.
“Recall elections or an anti-hopping law won’t have any effect on Sabah at all. The Sabah people’s interests have been neglected for a long time, and regardless of who is in power, nothing has changed,” she said.
To successfully establish reforms, Shu Qi said, it is important to educate the public and let them know that politics cannot be an elite game.
She said the people must be empowered and have a say on their elected representatives during their tenure, not just once every five years.
UMNO made some bullshit noises about reform in the aftermath of its first shock defeats in 2008.
ReplyDeleteAfter that, Najib became top guy, and his preferred mode was Cash Is King.
Of course, he needed megatons of Cash, and somewhere along the way, 1MDB became the vehicle.
2014 UMNO appeared to have recovered much lost territory, and Pakatan Rakyat appeared to be headed for complete disintegration, especially with PAS steadily aligning with UMNO.
Again, the pressure to reform receded further.
2018 came the shock defeat, but quickly recovered within 22 months.
Again , many in UMNO considered, no need for reforms.
y need reform? the malay breed like rabbits while the chinese runaway like hker n 6% china born american to avoid the communist rule, even pas now realise being racist n communist is the magic way to achieve power.
Delete& u, a mfering 犬养 katak?
DeleteStay to serve fir crumbs or running back to that f*cked island selling pineapple tart?