The Next Ketua Pemuda (2)

I am not going to do a SWOT analysis in analysing who is better in this Ketua Pemuda race. This isn’t a term paper in management 101. A long time ago, some OF KJ’s people did a SWOT analysis. I discounted that analysis by saying; the ketua pemuda race is not susceptible to this esoteric analysis. Hence, when a commentator invites me to do another SWOT analysis presently, I must decline that invitation. It is so passé.

Thus far, the impression I get from those who reject KJ is the idea- I liked A, I groom A. I don’t like B, so we must reject B. what do you have then? We have a self perpetuating system, based on the personal preferences of the present leadership. You want leaders who are mirror images of you. You want to have a system, in conformity to the idea that the acorn does not fall far from the tree kind of thinking. Leaders that come after you are your clones as best as possible.

This is a not a good system by which we want to choose our leaders. What we want is a self continuing system. A system worked on by people, committed to a set of ideas, not a system grounded on unquestioning loyalty to personalities. The commentator in my previous article on next ketua pemuda was peeved off and said, padanlah Dato najib dumped me. I feel sorry for this chap who has to resort to hitting below the belt for his failure to advance cogent reasoning. He is a person who subscribed to this self perpetuating system. What does this kind of system perpetuates? It perpetuates mediocrity, blind obeisance, corruption, callousness, arrogance and so on. How? Because you are against the process of natural selection- that is what entails in democracy right? The inept and less able are displaced in favour of the adept and adroit and more able by way of democracy. By insisting on a system that is self perpetuating, you are in fact supporting a system which strengthens oligarchy. Sadly it is an oligarchy of mediocrity.

You know the much hyped RAHMAN theory which has it that Najib should be the next PM? Well, let’s have it that Najib closes the chapter on selecting leaders based on the principle of self perpetuation. Let us have Najib as the closing chapter to a method of selecting leaders that is only a modern version of selecting a leader based on bovine vomit. For those who have forgotten the story in Sejarah Melayu- the first Malay rulers came from Muntah Lembu.

My article on choosing the next ketua pemuda has generated a lot of unkind criticisms. These are expected because the subject matter is unpopular. I also see a lot a criticism being levelled at, unfairly I think, at my presumed lack of moral compass. They suggest that I make light of corruption and moral depravities. Nothing is further from the truth. I do not condone any form of corruption and abuses of power. But I find it reprehensible, that suddenly we become sanctimonious and appear to be over eager to slap this moral sanction on KJ. If we were to apply this principle generally, then UMNO will be left with no one. So let’s not try to have this holier than thou kind of thinking. I don’t want to sound self righteous, I am in UMNO and I know what kind of people are in there. I stand by what I say- if you want to apply this morality compass ruling on KJ, apply that to everyone. Then UMNO is no more. Every single UMNO leader is tainted.

If KJ is a lost cause, then there isn’t any worry to my supporting him, is there? My supporting him and others will not affect the outcome which will be determined by the delegates this March 2009. The UMNO elections will not be an exact science. Hence, that explains my reluctance to apply the SWOT analysis. Apa? You orang baru keluar university kah? Can't get over the infatuation to apply exact science on politics, huh? But please go ahead if you want to. I won’t be offended.