Najib's Rule of Three

The big bad wolf at Perak’s doors.

HRH the Sultan of Perak has proclaimed that there shall be no dissolution of the state assembly. Before the Sultan made his decision, Nizar the MB said, he believed HRH Sultan will make a just decision. Now that a decision has been made and it is not favourable to PKR government, why are they conducting themselves in defiance? It seems to me, according to PKR’s definition, a decision is just if it is favourable to them.
Many people were less than enamoured at the way UMNO got the government in Perak. I did an article on that, following the footsteps of greater political luminaries such as Tun Mahathir and Tengku Razaleigh. While Tun Mahathir points towards the fragility and vulnerability of an UMNO which takes in questionable characters into its bosom, Tengku Razaleigh has been more direct and forthright in telling the wrongness of the whole thing, ab initio.
Yes, the whole drama strikes at political decencies. It has shaken the foundations of democracy when one of its most important pillars, which is the election of a government through the ballot box is abandoned.

Now that HRH the Sultan has decided, we must keep our peace. There must be compelling public policy reasons as to why HRH the Sultan of Perak decided on such a course. A government, which is continually exposed and threatened by the vagaries of volatile loyalties, can never serve the rakyat. An unstable government is not good for Perak.
The PKR government is one such government. Its ability to rule is continuously being threatened by its own scorched earth policies which have proven very divisive. Nizar’s defence of his land policies for example, under the guise of ,’we must be fair’ has not gone well with the Malays as well as even the Perak Palace. Nizar must have ignored the subtle signals from the Palace regarding this particular issue. I think it was HRH Raja Muda who spoke about this by way of using Felda as an example. To make matters worse, the perception that Nizar is but a puppet in the hands of the Ngeh-Ngah twin terrors of chauvinism, is sufficient to keep Perak on perpetual tension.

This political episode shows a side of Najib rarely seen. Having beaten Anwar at his own game, there are a few lessons that must be learned by political novices like Nizar. Nizar’s only weapon, was essentially his reliance on the reservoir of support from the rakyat which he hoped was sufficient to persuade HRH Sultan Perak to decide in his favour. But that reservoir of support remains in potential. Unless it can be translated into (a) a popular vote through elections or (b) through representation by the elected assemblymen, NIzar’s claim of the rakyat’s backing remained, just that, something in potential. He is denied the first option and he lost on the second.
What he needed was proof that he has the confidence of the majority of the assemblymen. Clearly he did not and could not show proof of that.
Najib on the other hand, showed his carefully planned course of action. He must have known or was counselled that HRH Sultan could be persuaded to decide in BN’s favour, if proof can be shown. He therefore corralled all the 28 +3 friendlies to assemble at the Perak Istana and produced the proof that BN commands confidence of the majority. That was a better and deciding move. Where Nizar came with a handful of party leaders, Najib came with the people who matter. Najib was able to show BN commands the bigger support of the house, Nizar could not.
Now the big bad wolf is assembling thousands of people in a mammoth assembly to save the imperilled government. The slogan is save the Perak/PKR government. That is very good, but self destructing. Public policy reasons of not having a dissolution must have been high on HRH’s Sultan Perak’s decision than having a dissolution.
What has Najib done? By assembling the majority of state law makers under BN’s leadership and presenting them as a united front against NIzar’s claim in the form of a potential, Najib has made a brick house for himself. The big bad wolf in the form of Anwar can huff and puff while Najib can say, not by the hair of his chinny chin chin.
In Permatang Pauh,Najib made himself a house of straw. Big bad wolf entered the house and ate him. In Kuala Terengganu,Najib made himself a house of sticks which was stronger. But the big bad wolf entered it still and ate him. In Perak, Najib has made himself a house made from bricks. Anwar is trying to enter through the chimney, but Najib has a cauldron of boiling water waiting. Najib can say, not by the hair of my chinny chin chin.

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Perak's Political Pirouette.

The Perak Mess.

yesterday,was a very unsettling day. I first received an sms saying that PM2B is set to announce the formation of a new Perak Government. At 4 pm yesterday. next came smses that said Nizar, the Perak MB is announcing the dissolution of the PerakDUN. One sms ended with the caustic remark- sape cepat la beb.this of course refers to who will cross the line first. yesterday, the race was between the pengerusi perhubungan Perak and the Perak MB.

then yesterday night, we were entertained on TV with a beaming PM2B with the king of frogs( the man from Bota), the two PKR defectors and the emotionally hurt,deputy speaker of the Perak DUN. the writings are on the wall for the PKR government in Perak. the 4 friendlies entry into BN,3 into UMNO and 1 probably into MCA is just a formality.

I think those who subscribe to the ideals of democracy are a dying breed. nowadays, it seems that only romantics are keen to observe the niceties of democracy. by that i mean,subscribing to the idea that the way to displace a government is via the ballot box, where the rule of law is respected, the wishes of the majority observed. it looks like all these things are just garnishes and condiments. in the end, the ends justifies the means.

the majority of umno operatives are able to say unashamedly and facetiously, that it was anwar who started it. yes he did, that was why we denounced him for that. just because anwar did it, it is all right that we also do it?. that man has no scruples.

when i wrote the article UMNO's Hall of inFamy, i said the people will gravitate towards a Nik Aziz or will now adopt the lion of Jelutong as the political icon. it was he alone that resisted the idea of taking power through unconstitutional means,when anwar was floating the idea. i was clearly wrong here- there are so many right thinking people in Malaysia who find this latest sleight of hand political trick particularly loathsome.

The Perak pirouette on Najib.

my first reaction to the fall of the Perak government, was the PM2B accomplished what he could not by the ballot box through a politically devious means.he or his agents,must have done a threat of altantuya-ing, bala-eing, on these fellows. he has made Don Corleone looked like a sissy.

but my own assessment as to how Najib and BN achieved this end is closer to a local example. how the renegades were coerced is like the Chinese logger deals with forest rangers in Pahang.the chinese towkay invites the rangers and casually places on the table, a gun on one side and a wad of RM notes on the other. that is the local version of an offer nobody wants to refuse.

what does this episode show? it shows that Najib is nor partial to playing dirty. when it comes to the crunch, he will do it especially if it furthers his political interests. maybe the one redeeming feature of this episode in our political drama is, after this, sivaji Anwar will never underestimate Najib anymore. Najib has beaten anwar at his own game.

so i ask the pkr people, not to be bashful and sanctimonious. admit it; when the sivaji pedalled the idea of taking over the government by the crossovers of BN lawmakers, the PKR supporters regarded his maneuverings as deft moves. they were ready to elevate anwar into the most profound master tactician. and so, Najib should be accorded the same adulation.

with Najib, Anwar eats humble pie,managing only a dry remark, than the BN is trying to form a government by hook or crook, more by crook. why is it, that if the idea came from him,it is morally justifiable but from others, morally reprehensible? obviously, Anwar is not a good moral adjudicator.

this single move will increase the value of najib's political stock.this will erase his embarrassing defeats in Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu. that will establish his political dominance in UMNO not in terms of profound political thoughts or exemplary righteousness but in terms of political ruthlessness. undoubtedly,Najib will be seen as the man UMNO needs.

but before we go out to paint the town red and uncorking the wine bottles, let us analyse further.

indeed what Najib does is a political coup shaming and beating anwar at his own devious game. however, i wouldn't go as far as to elevate Najib to the status of a political grand conjurer. he was able to corner those 4 renegades simply because they have lent themselves, susceptible to political blackmail. thus to persuade and encourage people with a rotten core is fairly easy. the initiator who pushes the pillow to an already sleepy head, hardly merits to be called a sensational lullaby singer.

The man from Bota is easiest to handle. he was a former Feclra chairman, an institution better known for conferring sudden wealth to the post holder. is it a coincidence, that many Perakians served as chairman of Felcra?previous chairmen of Felcra are hardly moral luminaries- Hamzah Zainuddin is a known Najib's lackey, Nasarudin Bota and now Tajudin Rahman. the point here, these people have too many skeletons in their closets. if i were Najib, all i need to do, is to display Nasaruddin's Felcra's records and thereafter persuade him to do a pirouette. no big deal. the only thing is, all this while, i thought when snakes copulate, they entwined themselves literally into knots. now i know, those entwines are nothing compared to Nasaruddin's political pirouette.

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UMNO Reforms: Talking and Doing

The PM we never had, Tengku Razaliegh Hamzah recently made some very interesting proposals. His, followed on the heels of certain proposals on UMNO's structure made by the chairman of UMNO's Disciplinary board, Tengku Din. As many remember, many were aghast at the proposals and Tengku Din drew a lot of flak. He was also termed quite unfairly and rudely, senile by untutored and uncouth UMNO riff raffs.

Perhaps these riff-raffs are the collective backbone of UMNO. The DPM2B told everyone, (although the prospects of Muhyudin as the DPM2B are fast dwindling) don't underestimate UMNO which has 3.5 million members. These are indeed brave words from the man who suffers from atrophy in his facial muscles preventing him from smiling more.

Well, with the majority of UMNO members composed of riff-raffs, with people who think a different set of laws apply to them because they are after all, UMNOputras a subspecies of Bumiputras perhaps, every right thinking people CAN underestimate UMNO.

These people protesting a more active MACC are like a bunch of cattle stealers and rustlers complaining to the cattle owners, not fair for calling in the sheriff. As the cattle rustlers would have it, the fair thing, is to allow cattle owners' committee in the form of the ineffective Disciplinary Board does the catching. For GOD/TUHAN/ALLAH sake! The man heading the UMNO D Board is throwing up both his hands. I bet you, if it's possible to raise hands and feet together, he will do it. Where money politics is concern, without the political will to use the big stick, UMNO is a gone case. What is even more insulting, is the foot shuffling, tongue slipping, mind vanishing- oh, it's not the MACC that they don't like; it's the methods employed by MACC. Dei, tamby, ayya, ah so, ah ma, pakcik, atuk, nenek, haven't you taught us, you spare the cane, you spoil the child.

But the DPM2B only manages to insinuate that UMNO will carry out structural reforms? The extremely vague public announcements brings immediately the recall what Blackadder said to William Pitt (Pitt the young). Blackader is of course the much loved BBC series on political parody, Blackadder.

Pitt the young announced to Blackadder that he will field his younger brother as candidate in a by election. Seizing the moment, Blackadder asked- and which Pitt shall that be? Pitt the younger?, Pitt the toddler? or Pitt, the glint in the milkman's eye? In the same manner, Malays are asking, which reforms are DPM2b talking about- reforms on the drawing board, reforms dreamt yesterday, or reforms the glint in UMNO's eyes?

The axiom, justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done has its corrupted version in UMNO. It is not necessary to have reforms done, it is necessary only, to make it appear that reforms are done. In the absence of concrete evidence, I would say, what Muhyiddin says is just verbiage. The more substantive proposals on reforms were recently mooted by Tengku Razaleigh.

That will be discussed in a separate section.

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Malay and Chinese Politics(2)

Malay and Chinese politics….continuation.

Or we (the Malays) will change them. We have already shown UMNO leaders that we can do it. I have said repeatedly about the data on Malay voting trends in the 12^th GE. Suffice to say, UMNO has lost the Malay ground.

When I wrote the first part, I was surprised to sense that this article could turn into a racial mudslinging free for all. I used the Chinese as an example and comparison, because there is much Malays can learn from them. I did not write so as to confer any superiority complex on the Chinese in order for that acknowledgement to be used as the excuse to deprecate others. Chinese sense of their worth (I am not confining myself to Malaysian Chinese only) is not a function of my or any other non Chinese subjective feelings. If they feel they are great, they can easily defend that feeling by pointing out to the history of their 4000 year civilization. When I used the Malaysian Chinese as an example, I am merely stating as fact, what has borne out in Malaysia. Learning from the Chinese on certain matters, wasn't said by I alone. I cited the Chinese here as a compliment.

So, I am not going to be drawn into a futile debate to unravel the issue of racial purity being the precondition for greatness as suggested by a commentator in my blog. He posits that the reason why the Malay is less able to progress is because the Malay is not a monolithic bloc. The Malay blood is adulterated as it were. He compares them to the Indians and Chinese which he says, have remained pure as far as bloodline is concerned. That kind of reasoning, if we were to push it to its extreme conclusion, will give rise to shuddering generalisations.

The main thrust of this article is to show, that the politics which the Malays and Chinese practised is a major factor explaining their relative economic strengths. I want to show, that the particular practice of politics by the Chinese is more conducive to economic prosperity. On the other hand, the particular type of politics practised by Malays is less supportive of economic prosperity.

How so? The relative independence of Chinese from government has enabled the Chinese to develop the various positive cultural traits such as perseverance, deferment of present enjoyment for future benefit, thrift, diligence hard work etc. In this article I am less interested in a compendium of these cultural traits. I am more interested to establish the enabling environment which is the particular type of politics practised.

The root cause, if you may, and this is my contention, is the particular practice of politics. That particular practice of politics should be aimed for, by the Malays. Why? Because by establishing the enabling environment, those cultural traits so conducive for economic prosperity can be generated. But more important than this realisation is; what the Chinese arrived at which was forced upon them, the Malays can devise as a DELIBERATE POLICY.

The Chinese were forced to look out after themselves because as one commentator said, due basically to their immigrant status or career in the civil service was closed to them. In that sense, the Chinese was forced to be outside the normal route. The Malays can use the idea of having to look out after their own selves using whatever resources they have, to establish an enabling environment.

Now, let's look at the Malays. The UMNO leaders were drawn mainly from the Malay aristocracy or as is now, the pseudo aristocracy. The pseudo aristocrats are the politically conscious whose aim in life is to induct themselves into the original elite. The aim is to foist themselves as a class of leisure onto the political stage. They speak the language of democracy, but it is hardly certain, they are voicing the interests of the majority who are drawn mainly from the kampong, urban poor and indifferent middle class.

It was generally accepted that the Malays have a tradition of being led by the aristocracy and would appear taciturn and diffident if left to their own devices. The aristocratic leadership knows this and feeds on this dependence. The dependence nourished since ancient times by a symbiotic relationship between the ruler and ruled. A relationship best encapsulated by the oft repeated slogan- the rakyat and the king, never shall they be broken. Here I am using the term king as a generic representation of the ruling aristocrat.

But where has that kind of politics, call it a master-servant relationship if you want, taken the Malays? Well, don't let my own subjective feelings persuade you where it led the Malays to. I will let, one of the earliest and foremost Malay thinkers say something about this. Let Zaaba share with you his thoughts:-

' maka sebab yang pertama itu tak usahlah kita bahaskan disini, tetapi yang kedua itu boleh, persaksian tarikh ada menunjukkan dengan tidak syak lagi bahawa keadaan kehidupan Melayu pada zaman kerajaan raja rajanya terdahulu dari kedatangan British ini sangat lah di penuhi oleh kesempitan, azab sengsara, dan kebuasan yang tiada terderitakan, istimewa pada masa yang tiada berapa lama terdahulu daripada kedatangan yang tertib itu. Maka keadaan kehidupan demikian itulah yang telah di pusakai oleh anak anak Melayu sekarang, dan ialah satu daripada perkara-perkara yang terutama sekali telah menjadi acuan menempa akan orang orang Melayu ini kepada rupa bentuk nya atau keadaan yang ada pada hari ini, dan menjadikan mereka waris kepada beberapa tabiat dan perangai dan kebiasaan yang lemah yang rendah yang telah menjadi lazim pada zaman nenek moyang dahulu kala itu, beratus ratus tahun lamanya mereka telah kena perabdikan dan kena picit dan perah dan ramas di tangan pemerintah pemerintahnya yang pada zaman dahulu itu- iaitu pemerintah pemerintah daripada mereka sendiri.'

I don't think I can do any justice to say it in the words like Pendita Zaaba said. And this people, was in 1927. By the way, Zaaba wrote the original piece in English for the Malay Mail at that time.

To my mind, those paragraphs immediately place Zaaba as one of the earliest and indeed foremost thinker on this subject. The Malays inherited this 'genetic memory' from its ENABLING ENVIRONMENT which was the particular kind of politics they were subjected to and practised until today.

Malay politics would have moved along a predictable trajectory if it had not been for the 12^th general elections, 2008. 2008 was therefore a watershed year for the Malays, I think. It was the tipping point or point of inflexion. The Marxian thinker would have termed it the nodal point, at which Malay society transforms itself into a qualitatively different social entity. What the 12^th general elections showed was the incompatibility for two dissimilar things to co –exist. In other words, the symbiotic nature breaks down on account of their internal contradictions. .

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Malay and Chinese Politics

 

Our obsession with the current politics entitles some of us to ask, who is minding the store? Our economy seems to be on auto pilot, a trait that is also becoming part of a tradition. I hope, running the country is not an extension of how our UMNO leaders are running UMNO.

The ones jumping up and down, obsess with politics are the Malays. The Chinese, less so. The ones less prosperous are the Malays. The Chinese on the other hand, are more prosperous. Is there a link here? Could it be possible that it is the politics the two races subscribed to, that explain their relative prosperity? Perhaps it is because of the obsession with politics that explained their economic performance.

I don't want to beat around the bush. In the olden days we asked, how do we explain the differences between Chinese and Malays. By that we mean, why are the Chinese more prosperous and the Malays less so?

We would probably answer, oh, it's because the two races are made up of different cultural constitution. That is reflected in things like we differ in our work values, our appreciation of wealth, our attitude towards work, etc.

The Chinese has a long tradition of commerce. It's in them. The Malays have no such tradition. They were mostly peasants and farmers. This perception ignores the fact the early Chinese who came here in substantial numbers in the 19^th century were not from the commercial class. They were displaced peasants, in other words, the same as the Malays. Yet in one generation, they have become prosperous. Many were subjects of fabled from rags to riches story.

That cultural thing, seems to me, would be the plausible conventional explanation and a starting point for discussion.

My own theory is, perhaps attachment to politics is the key to unlocking the mystery. It's the type of politics which the different races subscribe to, that explain why the two races are different. That will also explain, why the successful Malays are those willing to re-examine their relationship with the type of politics they are attached to. That sets them apart from their own brethren unwilling to re-examine their kind of politics. Those Malays who are successful are those who are willing to conduct revolutionary change in their politics.

Let me explain the politics of the Chinese and in particular their perception of government.

The Chinese it seems are less attached to the government. They are independent of the government. Being less dependent imbues the Chinese with differing world outlook. I use the term differing instead of different purposefully. The term, differing suggests a behaviour that is a product of conscious decision, while different would suggest an innate behaviour. The implication is that changing perception towards government and politics for the Malays is very possible. Changing is a doable thing.

The Chinese developed the talent of looking after themselves rather than tying up their interests in government. Perhaps it is safe to say, the Chinese has a more detached view of government.

The Chinese view government as a work of leisure and that, by definition requires people who attached greater importance to leisure. The Chinese who came here in the 19^th century wanted to work, make money and sent them back to China. Government would distract their endeavours of working hard, making money, and go away. They were not interested in anything that would distract them from opportunities for the acquisition of wealth.

The Chinese view of the government is a practical one and also businesslike. As L.A Mills the historian observed, the Chinese looked upon governments as something that are to be placated, to be evaded or to be bought when they are oppressive. Most of the times, government is to be obeyed passively. It's a practical policy of live and let live. You do your thing; don't disturb me kind of thinking.

Hence to the Chinese, independence- of- government is an arrangement and even an attitude that is actively cultivated. That outlook serves the community better in making wealth because it cultivates the very important behaviour trait of relying on one's own resources to succeed. A good by product of this kind of thinking is, it gives the government less room to impinge on you and its relevance, less in your life. This is the kind of politics more favoured by the Chinese. Government is less relevant.

In contrast, in the type of politics where dependence and attachment to government predominate, a different behavioural pattern emerges. It is one that robs the independent streak. Once attachment and dependence sets in, you allow the government greater room to impinge on you. The flipside of this kind of politics is that it allows the government to manipulate you. Because its relevance is very great in your life and the government knows this, it pays for the government to continue preserving that dependence.

I am not sure that UMNO, with its tradition of rule by patronage wants to change its politics with the Malays. As the Malays realise that it is the kind of politics which they subscribed to which inhibits better progress, they will be looking for opportunities to change the government. Unless UMNO appreciates the importance of real change, blind attachment to tradition will hasten its demise.

Malays need and demand real change masters to be at the helm.

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UMNO’s Hall of Infamy

I was revising my notes of my article on Najib's choice of ketua pemuda when I received a comment from a friend in Blogsphere. Pak Zawi from Kelantan has expressed his disappointment over the desertion of the 2 PKR reps. If I understand it correctly, it's not with the desertion of the two that he is more depressed with as it is with the impact on UMNO's moral uprightness. He wanted to know my thoughts on this. Here are the thoughts of a sidelined politician.

PKR Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Radzi and his Changkat Jering colleague Osman Jailu have been reported "missing". The PKR duo was at the centre of a bribery charge last year. Last August, Jamaludin and Osman, along with three others, were charged with 16 counts of corruption involving a RM180 million housing project spanning 36 hectares in Sri Iskandar, south of Ipoh. Their trial is scheduled to begin on Feb 10. If convicted, they could face a maximum of 20 years in jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount of gratification, or RM10, 000, whichever is higher. According to rumours, they were offered to have the corruption charges against them dropped if they switched camps.

Suppose the rumours are true. UMNO has used both the carrot and stick to persuade the YBs to realise the errors of their ways. And after an SMS I received from an UMNO parliamentarian reporting the latest goings on, I am inclined to believe that that will be true.

That set me into thinking. Is that an occasion to celebrate? To rejoice at UMNO's success of persuading 2 PKR people to accept the ideals of UMNO? What UMNO shows is that, it is no different from Anwar Ibrahim in terms of values that it has. Despite its trumpeted remonstrations and pompous righteousness against party hopping, when push comes to shove, our acceptance of the two renegade PKR man proves that we are as opportunistic as Anwar Ibrahim. But then Anwar Ibrahim is just the other side of the coin, No? Of course we will rationalise our behaviour as pragmatism and doing what any ordinary party will do.

That brings me back to the declaration by the DPM that the way to combat political corruption, exemplified commonly in the form of money politics, is to (a) make enforcement more efficient and (b) moral exhortation. Both of which are very tall orders. As I said, the ink from the press reporting what Najib said has not even dried, when a group of UMNO street fighters staged a noisy demonstration. They want a stop to MACCs intrusion into the morality of UMNO politics and expel the well meaning Tengku Din. That public declaration of political righteousness is immediately rendered hypocritical when we used the same tactics to induct the two political deserters. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah may be on to something when he said: so far, the most high-profile alternative suggestion against "money politics" has been to have stricter enforcement and moral exhortation. By the same leaders who elected through money politics, presumably.

That will only show, UMNO has no ideals. It only has expediency which is just a gloss to the classic saying that in politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies, just permanent interests. We have no permanent friends. We have no permanent enemies. We just have permanent interests." These words were said by Benjamin Disraeli, the British PM in Victorian times. Thus we are able to translate: UMNO has no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.

This depressing episode demonstrates again and again, that UMNO is on the throes of death. It seems to attract likeminded opportunists, the dregs of societies, the rejects who prostitute themselves. Just look at the two prospective inductees, they are allegedly involved in corruption. If they are indeed guilty, they can also be bought on the same terms. In the end, there will no longer be honourable men in UMNO. The inductees in UMNO's Hall of infamy include an ex minister with a penchant of putting his hands on the rear end of cigar girls, an ex MB who flouted the laws of a foreign land, the morally depraved, the contract junkies and so forth.

What options do the Malays have now? Honourable politicians such as Tengku Razaleigh are spurned in favour of political degenerates, the UMNO system all fucked up, and money politics has infected every sinew and marrow of UMNO. The Malays will gravitate towards Nik Aziz or will extol the political uprightness of the lion of Jelutong, Karpal Singh. He has remained stubbornly steadfast in rejecting political frogging as a means to secure or retain power. And UMNO? UMNO will be the refuge of political scoundrels.

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Najib’s Ketua Pemuda(1)

The few articles I wrote about the Ketua Pemuda race.gave rise to very intense feelings. Those not for KJ, were very vociferous in their objections. I too wasn't spared from being vilified. There was even one fellow who said KJ and I have no business being in UMNO. Another questioned my consistent cynicism towards Malay nationalism. There was one commentator who said no wonder Sakmongkol is on KJ's blogroll, insinuating that I am a hired gun for KJ. I can assure readers, KJ and I have never met.

Those for KJ are contented to assess the man on the basis of WYSIWYG- what you see is what you get. Most of the times, he appears to be very intelligent, articulate and intense. He is attractive to the younger generation. It has not gone unnoticed that lately; KJ has changed his demeanor and exterior bearings. He doesn't seem to be that brash and cocky young man. As older people, we can discount that once-upon-a-time behavior as a product of youthful hormonal rampage. In years to come, KJ will likely conform to the demands of his environment.

It was interesting to note that in the interview with Off the Edge recently, KJ mentioned his gratitude at DS Najib's neutrality in the issue of the Ketua Pemuda. The typical stance of DS Najib, given the little advantage I have of knowing him at close quarters, is- all these guys are my men. He can't afford to take sides given that his own position hasn't been officially made certain. Perhaps people may accuse, justifiably, that DS Najib is playing politics. Najib is a political Switzerland, inscrutable to most but the trained observer.

Who does DS Najib prefer? He must be feeling very uneasy. He must have felt like King Henry in Shakespeare's:

Canst thou, O partial sleep, give thy repose
To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude,
And in the calmest and most stillest night,
With all appliances and means to boot,
Deny it to a king? Then happy low, lie down!
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

Henry The Fourth, Part 2 Act 3, scene 1, 26–31

Political Expediency is the name of the game.

How will Dato Najib play it so that he will find it easy to wear the crown of PM? There are 3 contestants for the Ketua Pemuda post. I remember I wrote an article projecting on who will get the nomination for Ketua Pemuda in Pekan. Pekan is the parliamentary seat of Dato Najib. Whoever gets the nomination from Pekan can always draw a strong inference that securing a nomination there is equivalent to getting an endorsement from DS Najib. Nowadays, everyone wants to secure nominations from Pekan.

I predicted at that time, Mukhriz would get the nomination. Among the 3, Mukhriz would be first placed, Khir Toyo would be second and KJ would be third. It turned out to be exactly that. Needless to say, I received a very uncomplimentary remark from KJ's people.

I have my reasons though. At that time, I was reading the temperature of the Pemuda delegates in Pekan. They do read the papers, read in between the lines, sufficient to enable them to perceive what seems to be going around. They huddle together in numerous nocturnal tete-a-tetes, listen to gossips and rumors and formed opinions. The stories and insinuations going around then, were not favourable to KJ.

I have said as it was. What seemed to be going around at that time was a universally accepted opinion that KJ is the source of many of DS Najib's problems. The air was thick with rumors and innuendos that KJ was conspiring with politicians at large to ensure that Najib will not become PM after Pak Lah.

All these were translated into perceived comfort level with DS Najib. Delegates decided on the basis of who they perceived Dato Najib is most comfortable with. And so, at that time, the Pekan delegates consider Mukhriz as the person whom Najib is most comfortable with. Plus other things which they think Mukhriz can bring to Najib, like the father's endorsement. In other words, who the Pekan delegates nominated at that time was solely judged on account of offering DS Najib the biggest of advantages.

But general level perception is seldom similar to particular perception. DS Najib has particular and specific considerations. He actually sent words he wanted the nomination to go to KJ. Unfortunately his particular perception formed by better information and practical political considerations, was not the same as general perception held by the Pekan youth delegates.

That was then. But now, the fate of the ketua pemuda will be decided by 4 delegates from each division. The playing field as it were, is smaller and more controllable. We may assume that those delegates that go on to the PWTC this march 09, represent the more promising of the youth leaders. Accordingly, it is safe to assume that they are better able to read the subtle messages from top leadership.

In particular they will be looking at the messages, both spoken and unspoken, from DS Najib. Who among the ketua pemuda candidates is perceived to be most useful to Najib?. It is to this aspect that now, we turn our attention to.

DS Najib's guiding principle now will be expediency. He will be looking BEYOND UMNO. With an UMNO in tatters, Najib will be looking at any resource that will not only rejuvenate UMNO but increases its prospects of winning the future. And the future belongs to the younger generation with leavening influence from progressive UMNO leadership. Najib will be a dud if he does not recognize the future of UMNO is being determined also by who he endorses as ketua pemuda.

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