Tok Mat seen as making push for open-mindedness in Umno
Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan says the party’s survival hinges on its ability to win the support of non-Malays. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: An analyst has described Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan’s speech at the party’s general assembly as “very surprising” for its call for moderation, diversity and the need to ensure non-Malay support for Umno.
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara told FMT he saw it as a brave address aimed at pushing Umno’s grassroots towards open-mindedness.
He said it was also a message to the party’s potential partners.
“Come GE15, Umno wants to form the government and it needs all the help it can get from non-Malay voters,” he said.
Azmi Hassan.
“But first of all, the grassroots need to be open to this. It will be interesting to see how the three party wings debate this.”
On Wednesday, Mohamad, commonly known as Tok Mat, said Umno’s survival hinged on its ability to win the support of non-Malays, adding that the party could not rely on its allies alone for this.
Azmi said Umno faced a difficult challenge and would have to do more than field non-Malay candidates or simply chant the narrative that Umno and BN were moderate, inclusive and a party for all.
He acknowledged that Umno could survive with Malay votes alone, but warned that the party could not depend solely on those voters to form a stable federal government.
“If it wants to be the federal government, it needs to change its tactics to gain the confidence of non-Malay voters,” he said.
“Maybe Tok Mat is trying to gain some votes from non-Malay voters, but maybe he is also trying to convey the message to other political parties that Umno is open to them.”
“But first of all, the grassroots need to be open to this. It will be interesting to see how the three party wings debate this.”
On Wednesday, Mohamad, commonly known as Tok Mat, said Umno’s survival hinged on its ability to win the support of non-Malays, adding that the party could not rely on its allies alone for this.
Azmi said Umno faced a difficult challenge and would have to do more than field non-Malay candidates or simply chant the narrative that Umno and BN were moderate, inclusive and a party for all.
He acknowledged that Umno could survive with Malay votes alone, but warned that the party could not depend solely on those voters to form a stable federal government.
“If it wants to be the federal government, it needs to change its tactics to gain the confidence of non-Malay voters,” he said.
“Maybe Tok Mat is trying to gain some votes from non-Malay voters, but maybe he is also trying to convey the message to other political parties that Umno is open to them.”
James Chin.
James Chin of the University of Tasmania’s Asia Institute told FMT Mohamad’s speech did not surprise him as the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar had always been seen by non-Malay communities as a moderate and progressive figure.
However, he said most Chinese and Indians viewed Umno as a party perpetuating the idea of Malay supremacy.
“There is no way the mainstream Chinese or Indians will support Umno,” he said.
“Mohamad’s call is not unique. You go to every Umno convention, and there is always one speaker who talks about working with non-Malays and what have you.
“But, as you know, talk is cheap. It is the actual policies you pursue that are important.”
James Chin of the University of Tasmania’s Asia Institute told FMT Mohamad’s speech did not surprise him as the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar had always been seen by non-Malay communities as a moderate and progressive figure.
However, he said most Chinese and Indians viewed Umno as a party perpetuating the idea of Malay supremacy.
“There is no way the mainstream Chinese or Indians will support Umno,” he said.
“Mohamad’s call is not unique. You go to every Umno convention, and there is always one speaker who talks about working with non-Malays and what have you.
“But, as you know, talk is cheap. It is the actual policies you pursue that are important.”
Whatever moderation, diversity and the need to ensure non-Malay support UMNO talks about is just superficial prattle.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it had a chance to be like that under Tunku Abdul Rahman, but that was 53 years ago.
UMNO is at its roots a Racist, Race Supremacist, Corrupt party. It will take another 53 years to climb back out of the sewage tank it has crawled into, assuming there is even the will to do it.