UMNO: How to compete
There's a simple test to see whether UMNO is stupid or not. If it takes in Zahrain who recently jumped ship from PKR, it is stupid.
It's already showing it's stupid by accepting the rejects from PR in Perak allowing BN to secure a majority in that state by forfeit. It didn't win through the ballot box but needed assist from the law. But, UMNO was able to capitalize only because of the low quality leadership the PR has in Perak.
There is a lesson here. Where is the low quality leadership located? The source of low quality didn't come from leaders of the opposition. Nizar wasn't the one who wanted to abandon ship. The two DAP stalwarts n Perak, Ngar and Ngoh weren't the ones who wanted to turn coat. The source of bad news came from the middle level. They were the two guys who received sedekah in the form of amoy services and the DAP lady. They were mid level guys.
The lesson for UMNO is, it must pay attention to its mid level people. That is the source of good or bad leadership. The vital principle of 360 degree leadership is that 99% of leadership comes from the middle level.
So UMNO adds to its woes if it accepts bad apples from elsewhere at a time, when UMNO itself is currently busy re-engineering its own leadership quality. Zahrain can go jump from Penang Bridge for all we care. Just don't come into UMNO.
If UMNO accepts this joker in the PKR pack, that shows UMNO is willing to compromise its values. Yet it has declared to the world, that it wants to change so that it will remain relevant for many more years. If it accepts Zahrain, it only goes to show, its declaration about wanting to turn a new leaf is just hype.
What it must do right now from the beginning is to put back quality leadership. As we all know, 99% of the leadership comes from the middle level- the ketua cawangans, the ketua bahagians, the AJK Bahagian, across the party. You put back quality leadership by demanding that UMNO accepts quality. Zahrain is already a reject. If UMNO accepts him, it accepts rejects.
One of the things taught by Michael Porter is- we must demand high standards from our suppliers, from sellers and producers. We don't compromise on quality. That's how we compete. By offering top notch products. By demanding suppliers and producers supply us the best.
Our demand is expressed by the price we are willing to pay. We vote through our wallets. This explains why some products which are expensive continue to be sought after and their sales grow despite steep prices.
UMNO is useless in this respect. It doesn't demand the highest quality from its candidates and leaders. Hence, the ketua cawangans are dominated by riff raffs and ne'er do wells. Its top leadership is questionable. Its representatives are full with out of line characters.
15 comments:
Dato
You are among very few smart politicians can talk honestly about fixing your own rumah (Umno) instead of jumping to any opportunity to condemn others. Unfortunately not many upper UMNO echelon have same view instead they seem to be clamoring upon Dato Zahrain departure from PKR. I would think it would have been a smart political strategy for UMNO top leaders to just keep quiet and instead focus on their work i.e. fix the economy and create opportunities. They silence worth gold as they should allow the public to decide outcome of drama within PR without UMNO deciding for them. I am sick to stomach just to read that a UMNO minister invited Dato Zahrain to rejoin UMNO.
Again, smart and educated politicians are very hard to survive long in politics even more so to climb to top positions in UMNO. You explained it well in your article.
Sayang Bangsa
I have a question which is also in the form of assumption:
What if Zahrain is actually a leader which has too much high quality for the low quality Pakatan?
Think about it, Pakatan Penang is in shambles because LGE does not know what he's doing; CAT is just a hyped rhetorical slogan which LGE couldn't walk the talk; mismanagement and ignorance rule the CM's office; and too much politicking by Pakatan made Zahrain and Tee Beng shouted "Enough is enough! I am getting out of this rudderless ship!"
What do you think Dato? Maybe Zahrain is not a reject. It was Pakatan that was rejected by Zahrain.
Slumdog
Dato,
If UMNO is full of questionable and lack lustre characters, why are you still an UMNO member?
UMNO/BN doesn't listen to your advice though you have been dispensing it via your blog.
Save your breathe ...you should quit UMNO.
Idris
Dato',
Well said....but what about this?
February 13, 2010 20:54 PM
Zahrain Hashim Urged To Join BN: Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
JOHOR BAHARU, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- The former chairman of the Penang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim has been urged to join a Barisan Nasional (BN) component party, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Penang Umno liaision committee chairman, welcomed Zahrain's decision to quit PKR and hoped he would join BN.
"We hope he can draw his fellow colleagues who are not satisfied with the the opposition party leadership in Penang to leave the party," he said.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Defence Minister, said that Zahrain could be a BN "friendly" member of parliament. He said this to reporters after officiating a branch of the Koperasi Bekas Tentera Malaysia Negeri Johor in Simpang Renggam some 71km from here Saturday.
On the suggestion to appoint Penang Chief Minister I, Mansor Othman, as chairman of the Pusat Urus Zakat Pulau Pinang, he said the appointment was under the jurisdiction of the Majlis Agama Pulau Pinang (MAIPP).
"Anyone who is not a member of the Majlis Agama Pulau Pinang has no right to be a chairman of the zakat fund and only the council's president can be the chairman as before," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Zahrain already booked his ticket for the next bungee jump.
will be received with open arms by umno.
Dato - looks like you are one step behind. lol.
Sayang Negara.
Zahrain a quality leader,Mr Idris?
He was rejected by UMNNO when he was heading UMNO Tanjong not because he was a good leader that didn't suit UMNO then. He is NO difference now either. I do agree with you, Zahrain can jump off the penang Bridge or better yet from the gantry cranes he procured when he was Penang port chairman.
As for Zahid Hamidi's invitation to Zahrain to rejoin UMNO or any BN parties, I have this for him, "Use your brain, Dr Zahid!, before you utter a single word". Your doctorate in mass communication is showing its true value.
Salam Dato Sak,
While I wholeheartedly agree with your assertion about the need for quality, I doubt UMNO's top leadership place any value on it. The decision will always be based on what's justifiable at the point in time.
In this case, if it means getting more members to your side to reduce the other side's majority, then so be it. Zahrain's leadership quality does not come into the equation.
Nonetheless, your point about the ketua cawangans is something I concur... something need to be done about it.
following your reasoning, Gani's trip to Uruguay is yet another stupid act sanctioned by the govt......
as if getting back a couple of useless engines is all that is required to patch up the failings in the armed forces......
another case of semuanya ok!
Dato'
You said;
"UMNO is useless in this respect. It doesn't demand the highest quality from its candidates and leaders. Hence, the ketua cawangans are dominated by riff raffs and ne'er do wells. Its top leadership is questionable. Its representatives are full with out of line characters."
It would not come as a surprise if they do accept Zahrain, after all.. EZAM was given the red carpet and still awaits a "good" position that was promised to him.....
Greetings Dato
Tq 4 replying to my comments posted in n earlier article of yours, though ur reply was sadly not very convincing.
Anyway, i got to agree with u with todays article.It is very evident, u see many incompetent fellas heading the cawangans, bahagians etc.heck many are heads of deparments in various sectors in the country,
so how come they are get to the top rung of the ladder? well they way i see it is, much easier to control and manage the not so good ones,the problematic ones,they will never go against the boss koz if they do then they are done for.The boss already knows of thier shortcomings.The boss is only concerned about his position ,he wants to stay in power for as long as possible.
I have personnaly met a few awesome young leaders in UMNO, but sadly, they dont make it very far.Y? They are too dangerous for the liking of someone up higher in the order.Rest my case.
The nation is in shamble Dato'! Well said... but what to do!!! Been in UMNO... been there, done that!!!
There are many Zahrain in UMNO anyway, except they may not want to jump seat as the perks to remain loyal no matter how hypocrites over ride everything!!!
It looks like the young turks in UMNO fast becoming like Zahrain as they are lead by the same kind.
Just like 'Telan mati emak, buang mati bapak'... Najib will soon be losing all his hair as long as he continues to play safe and "main wayang kulit." Hopefully for once the UMNO top leaderships will read your blog and use their brain for the sake of national interest.
Just a point of interest...any indications that the UMNO leadership is taking que from what you wrote Dato'? Or they are ready for implosion and you saw the tipping point.
Alahai...Nasib lah Parti politik Melayu!!! Biarkan biarkan!!!
2 brilliant pieces in one day (the MaulidurMarch and UMNO Mktg 101...ur an extra ordinary thinker..
Just a thot>>politics is very much MLM rather then consumer mktg.As u very well know MLM is more of instant sustenance then substance..myb Mr Zahrain fits in nicely then?
Anyway..u don't suffer fools gladly even if he is ur big big boss.Thats a dangerous route to GPS in Malaysia
I bet my bottom ringgit that UMNO will have the red carpet for the REJECT.
Datuk,Your article is excelent and you hit the nail right on the head.It's about time those people in UMNO take note and take heed from what you said.I have been wanting someone to point out those weaknesses to them and the reason why many people lost faith in UMNO.Thank goodness you have pointed it out presisely what should have been said.With all intent and purpposes no matter what advise is given good or bad UMNO ,i think, is a has been come next PRU.Mark my word!Unless!!!
It's galling to read some Umno leaders inviting Zaharin - Zahid Hamidi is one. Do these `leaders' give a thought as to what the grassroots would feel? Apparently not..they seem to think that those lower should just keep quiet and meekly follow since they "are the leaders". Regardless of whether some are dumbos? Yeah, like hell - as if this is the 70's.
As for the two Perak kangaroos, despite their 3rd class quality, the political situation at that time must be taken into due consideration. There was still the danger of Anwar pulling off the `Sept 16 crossovers' in parliament, albeit on a delayed schedule. Or at least he would threaten.
But it can't be denied that, stunt or not, it put him on the offensive and sapped the BN's concentration. So, why not give him a bitter taste of his own (threatened) medicine and put *him* on the defensive for a change. Well, 3rd assemblymen or not, they did have a lot of value then.
However, the situation is different right now. Zaharin is just an early rat jumping off the sinking ship. So, he should be treated as such.. that he must plead, bend down and bow for the privilege of joining Umno.. Certainly not as with Zahid; rolling the red carpet and all as if this is a "prime capture".
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