The Umno warlords’ quest — The Malaysian Insider
MAY 7 — In four days, Umno will be 64. One would expect a slew of changes, some maturity and “statesman”-like behaviour from one of the oldest political parties in the land.
Perish the thought.
In what is becoming an annual push, Umno politicians — particularly the warlords in their crisp linen shirts, toting iPads (BlackBerries and iPhones are so yesterday) and being driven in Porsche Cayennes — are clamouring to snare top positions in government-linked companies (GLCs).
Most GLCs have been in the hands of professionals from the time state sovereign fund Khazanah Nasional Berhad took an active interest in their management, rather than being passive investors. There have been some hits, and some misses.
This is where the stock standard Umno warlord is coming from. They think they can do a better job and helm such GLCs to greater heights.
Some are using Malay groups as the beachhead for their objective. At the recent Umno retreat, a couple of them asked Prime Minister and party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak to set aside positions in GLCs for politicians.
Their rationale is simple: by securing top positions in GLCs, they can ensure that employees in GLCs like Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Telekom Malaysia Berhad and Pos Malaysia Berhad will support Umno/Barisan Nasional.
Hence the outcry and outrage, plus snide remarks, about the proposed disposal of Pos Malaysia by Khazanah.
But beneath this veneer of party interest are avarice, greed and self-interest at play. The politicians, especially those in Opposition held states, have been “starved” of opportunities to obtain funds. They view top positions in GLCs as nothing more than their entitlement to raid the larder.
They claim that they are supremely qualified to be chairmen or executive directors of GLCs, but fact is many of the state economic corporations which they head/or have headed, are in serious financial difficulties.
This episode really shows that despite the usual bluster of change and reform, the Umno politician of today is not much different from the Umno politician of 2008. Or the ones before that.
The party might be 64 but the warlords remain juvenile with delusions of grandeur. While Umno should change with the times, what needs greater change is the attitude of some warlords who think the country’s wealth is their largesse by privilege and right.
It isn’t. It is for all Malaysians.
MCA...are you that different?
ReplyDeleteSo. What is MCA going to do about it? Keep quiet as always? Congratulate the warlords for their success? What?
ReplyDeleteUMNO warlords can be UMNO warlords because they have the support from MCA and MIC.
ReplyDeleteWithout MCA, what is UMNO?
ReplyDeleteAre you keeping track of that too pak guai, J?
ReplyDeleteHe lost the lawsuit and now he is trying to pressure CSL to put his men from the youth section in the exco.
Penang glorious days have gone, there is nothing to brag anymore, only death is awaiting for the vulture to feed. The current Penang state government is make up of a bunch of tactless rowdy people whose substances is only blaming and looking for other people short coming to shout to gain political milages, on the other hand is the UMNO racism on the opposition bench who have no qualms to incite racial hatred... both are master provokers trying to out done each other to win popularity contests...probably the speaker's square in Esplanade change to duel square so that they can settle their score there and not to disgrace the state assembly with their fighting. Surely they will attract many spectators and the bookies will be happy to take bet who go to hell....
ReplyDeleteIn Sibu, DAP challenges Lau to state on Allah case...this is lack of sensibility and malicious by playing up on religion issue, they simply have no real substance to offer. Where else BN offer 1Malaysia, see the differences...Wanna bet, the Chinese in Sibu will surely dump DAP...
If only MCA people have listen and take the Chinese seriously to put DS Ong Tee Keat as their president instead of the tainted fellow who is a joke, then DAP could find itself under extreme pressure to maintain what they have achieved during the 12th GE......
One wonder why the Malaysian government gets so heavily involved in commerce. Any book on economics will tell you that businesses will be best served by private enterprises. Look at the GLC, they are mind boggling big. The simple and layman answer for this happening in Malaysia is for the ease with which the chieftains use to transfer wealth/largess to political affiliates. For too long since the formation of UMNO, the elitists or the so-called warlords have the illusion that the power that they weld is conferred upon and given in perpetuity. Well it is not, certainly the rakyat will have the final say for we are now more politically aware than before. Most of us are disgusted by the way they dip their hands in the cookie's jar with impunity, and without a shred of qualm as though it was their birthright. The caudillos must be made to understand that the rakyat is the master, the nation's wealth must be shared, not plundered and definitely not to line up their pockets with gay abandon ...
ReplyDeleteCannonball
Bro,
ReplyDeleteYou better read what this idiot wrote about you in Margeemar blog.
Here's a sample:
I'm waiting for you Justice4OTK. If you are man enough call me and we can meet face to face. If you can't muster enough guts you can also call that faggot Omar Goh to come along.
read more here http://margeemar.blogspot.com/2010/05/allah-will-defeat-evil-zionist-bn-in.html
Chew
i thought J4OTK had the good sense to spit out that moron omar goh...
ReplyDelete