The old man was in fine form. He did not disappoint. As always. He let loose his feelings, in this, his penultimate speech at an Umno general assembly. The end is in sight. The Umno president went into it with all hands flailing and warned Umno and Malaysia of the perfidy of the Anglo-Saxon powers, which he did not identify but any who did not know it is the United States and the United Kingdom is better off in a lunatic asylum.

What a speech it was! He did not mention or refer to his deputy, who takes over from him in four months, by name or title, but did his nemesis, now confined to his wheelchair in Sungei

Buloh prison, offhandedly, and gave few any doubt he would hold office until the day he retires.

It put paid to the belief of some of his cronies and aides that without him the country, and they, would suffer irreparable damage. If persuasion and hectoring was not enough, there were the copious tears, when he talked of the future of the Umno he destroyed.

Should he have given the speech the focus he did? Should it not have been a nostalgic look at what he has, and has not, achieved, accept his mistakes and the credit, and look at the future in the hands of those he chose.

For make no mistake of it: every one, even those of the other National Front (BN) partners, he chose. He must take responsibility for the mess in Umno and the poodle the BN has become. He is one who demands his respect.