The very recent incident of a light bulb going off, leaving the portrait of Dr Mahathir Mohamad in darkness while those of the other six Umno presidents flanking him on the right and left remained lit at the headquarters of the political party in the federal capital, has got tongues wagging and tempers flying in the country.

In retrospect, was it a case of Murphy’s Law in action, i.e. when things go wrong, it always goes wrong at the least expected moment?

If it was indeed a case of Murphy’s Law in action, then the next legitimate question is how long does it take to quickly replace a burnt bulb before it spirals into a crisis?

The Umno-led government has been relying on highly paid public relations services involving an international company, an expatriate and more recently a local advertising mogul. Despite having the resources and counsel of such prominent and seemingly accomplished public relations support and event managers at their beck and call, how could a potential crisis be overlooked, giving media a field day?

Can you fault the public from wagging tongues when this incident comes close on the heels of the widely-held opinion that the former prime minister is taking his successor to task over the 1MDB issue?

People are asking, suppose the light bulb that went off at the Umno event was the one over the portrait of Najib Abdul Razak, what would have been the eventuality? Some are even, though unkindly, going the distance to volunteer their mischievous opinion that Malaysia’s ‘first lady’ would go ballistic because she is believed to be a sticker for meticulous precision.

Now, that is not right. But that is how the market place is opinionating.

So, instead of eating humble pie and taking the rap for this public relations ‘disaster’ given the prevailing political climate here, several Umno leaders boomeranged their displeasure onto the media for seemingly twisting the situation out of perspective.

For the sake of a rational argument, what would the Umno leaders say if the faulty light bulb was one over Najib’s portrait or worse, that of His Majesty’s? How would they have dealt with the ensuing embarrassment and tongue waggers?

The immediate fall guy would have been the head of maintenance. No?

So stop attacking the media.

And hope this will be a good and edifying lesson for people responsible for managing staged events.

If we are to accept that there was no hidden hand with a malicious agenda to grind in this failed light bulb then this incident must serve as a timely learning opportunity for Umno. Its leaders must recognise that they would fare better in the marketplace of public opinion by taking a more contrite and apologetic disposition instead of going ballistic when their failings, inefficiency and oversights are peddled in the public sphere.