Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s stand of “Malay First, Malaysian Second” has already blackballed him in the eyes of many Malaysians, although he and his advisers do not believe this to be so.
Instead of desisting, they are pushing forward on the premise that Malay racism can still win the day in Malaysia - a country that is almost 40 per cent populated by non-Malays including the indigenous people, Chinese, Indians, Bengalis, Pakistanis, Eurasians and many other small minority groups. This may be the right tack in helping him wrest the Umno presidency from incumbent, Prime Minister Najib Razak, when party polls are held next year.
But it certainly will not help change the direction of Malaysia's long-term decline that coincidentally began when Najib's dad, Abdul Razak Hussein, took over as the second prime minister in 1970. It was then that an affirmative action policy named the New Economic Policy was implemented but it was soon twisted to betray its original purpose of distributing the nation's wealth to the poor, and used instead to benefit the most powerful Umno chieftains, their families and cronies.
How long can Muhyiddin last?
Through the years instead of becoming fully satiated and slinking off to rest like a python stuffed full with the best goodies, the greed got worse. What used to be taken in hundreds of thousands just jumped exponentially to hundreds of millions. And now, if you don't have an extra billion or two, you don't even qualify to be called one of the Umno elite.
Muhyiddin too had his day when he was chief minister in Johor. There he was accused of massive corruption, but because of his grip on Johor divisions, he was promoted to the federal Cabinet rather than for a nice grilling session by the anti-graft agencies. This is the how the game is played in Umno and BN since 1957, when independence was won from the British colonialists.
And this also explains why Muhyiddin feels his best chances still lie in reviving the nationalist fervor amongst the Malays in the country, rather than open up the community and convince them to become more inclusive. Sorry to say but his analysis is out.
It is one thing to refuse to acknowledge that the coffers have been run almost to the ground because that may signify that he also wants to tap the riches that absolute power brings. But refusing to learn the bitter lessons of 5th premier Abdullah Badawi and 6th premier Najib Razak, who both ended up looking like clowns because they chose not to battle the extremist but powerful minority within Umno is sheer stupidity.
How long can Muhyiddin last? Najib may have agreed to give way to him but if Najib had to U-turn after less than a year of trying to liberalize the economy and society, does Muhyiddin think he can succeed with refusing to acknowledge the rights of the non-Malays? Does he think that by merely continuing to out-champion all the other ultras, he will be able to maintain his lead as the defender of the Malays?
If he does, for sure Malaysia will bankrupt before 2019. Do envision a capital flight - no less - should Muhyiddin and his right-wing gang take over. These guys still live in a world where they think no body can tell when they are lying through their teeth and when they are just bluffing. That's right not an iota of credibility left.
MLM Umno
Umno-BN is like a gigantic multilevel marketing scam. The best and the longest was creamed by Mahathir. Badawi managed to get quite a nice slice too, Najib as well. But Muhyddin will be left with the baby! And he deserves it.
In March 2010, he waded into controversy by stating he was "Malay" first rather than "Malaysian first". He defended his statement by stating that there was nothing wrong for other races to do the same i.e. the Chinese could claim themselves to be "Chinese first, Malaysian second" and same for the Indians.
Those who think there is nothing so awful with such a statement must consider that for every action, there is a reaction. Already there are millions of non-Malay chauvinists in town. If you use fire to fight your fellow citizens, surely they will use fire to fight you back. Then, Muhyiddin's next line of thought might be - doesn't matter, we will still win because we outnumber them and the keris or sword of righteousness is on our side. Now, do you see why investors will flee if Muhyiddin becomes PM of Malaysia, although they won't care much if he is just president of Umno!
What about letting Najib continue, did you say? Are you nuts? Or perhaps it is fairer to to put it this way - how do Malaysians want to die?. A slower, more torturous but sure-as-the-sun-will-set death, aka the Najib and Rosmah way? Or quickly and less painfully like a massive heart attack, which is the Muhyiddin way? Hobson's choice? There is Pakatan Rakyat, and Umno has only itself and its false heroes like Muhyiddin and Mahathir to blame for painting the party into a corner. Watch out, but floor space has just run out!
Even to the point of endorsing corruption?
Make no mistake, Muhyidden Yassin is biding his time. He distances himself from the shenanigans affecting Najib and Rosmah. He picks and chooses issue to comment about and he makes sure he stays firmly on the right. As already said, this is fine for the president of the United Malays Nationalist Organization, but not for the prime minister of a Malaysia where nearly 40% of the people are non-Malay.
Muhyiddin's one big Malay flip-flop has been the PPSMI issue, where he was held back by biggest boss - Mahathir. To wobble and allow Mathematics and Science to be taught in English after vowing there would be no concession shows him to be as less a leader as Najib. It has exposed Muhyiddin's Achilles heel. Without the racial cloak, he has nothing - as little if not even lesser talent and intellect than Najib.
But the DPM is not giving up. Already he is calling for audits on the use of Bahasa Malaysia and we can be sure he will support the re-writing of History, the demonization of the LGBT and even come as close to an inch of endorsing corruption so as to win the sweetheart nominations of the greedy Umno warlords.
A very different version of reforms
Under Muhyiddin, racial, religious and sexual politicking are likely to continue to be the Umno-BN's modus operandi. A true and tried method of scaring the Malay vote into maintaining Umno’s grip on power. This is Muhyiddin’s playground, one where he excels as the master opportunist. Tactics to topple and put down political rivals are nothing new to this man. After all. it was how he moved up the political ranks.
He attacked Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's original 2010 transition plan as "too long". During the 2008 general election, the DPM managed to keep his seat, but he was shocked by the election results. He then called for reforms but what he meant as reforms are very different form the Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat reforms. Muhyiddin's reforms do not mean greater democracy but much lesser. His reforms do not mean social justice or racial equality but much greater injustice and inequality.
Now, because there is no one else in the minds of Umno members, Muhyiddin is the obvious choice to replace Najib or to oust Najib. It remains to be seen if the everyday Malays in Umno will wake up in time to save themselves from the brink. For if Malaysia goes down, the ones who suffer the most will be the Malays. They not only form the biggest portion of the population but by insulating themselves with unnecessary racism and religious bigotry, they have become the least professionally mobile in the country.
No, Muhyiddin is no different from his peers. As the last player in the Umno MLM game started by Najib's dad and turned into major big-business by Mahathir and Co, Muhyiddin - if he makes it as PM - sits on the cusp of a new chapter in Malaysian history - The Bankruptcy Years.
Malaysia Chronicle
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