When a party has no bigger cause to fight and indulges in racist and religious bigotry, then it is a sign that such a party has no substance and cause worth championing. It is important that we call their bluff as equal citizens of the federation. What evidence is there that DAP has belittled Islam and the issue of ‘bumiputra’?

The fact remains that DAP has continued as an effective party in Parliament for several decades. That they have had the courage to stand up to the bullying and harassment of Umno has to be respected. Why are they Umno’s number one enemy? Umno Malays have to be honest in this regard and grow up.

The fact that Malaysian Indians and Chinese have deserted MIC and MCA and other component parties within Barisan Nasional (BN) is because of the singular failure of Umno to give due respect and equal empowerment to these communities.

Umno’s attitude and self-righteousness is the reason why Indian Malaysians and Chinese Malaysians have deserted BN. Take the recent ‘hudud’ issue, a diversion from 1MDB, and the level of discussion and inclusion of BN component parties in decision-making.

Every institution from the royalty, the civil service, the Army, Navy, Air Force, regulatory bodies are all within the control of Umno, not to talk about the Election Commission, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the police and the Attorney-General’s Office.

What is it that Umno Malays fear? Perhaps it is their own shadow because they recognise their own incompetence. Even well-trained and educated Malays are disappointed with the establishment. It is who you know that matters and not your competence. The government-linked companies (GLCs) are another area and the more they take the more they want. The present level of corruption highlights the serious malaise afflicting the party.

What is left for other Malaysians is to fend for themselves by becoming self-earning entrepreneurs. Many are not envious of this situation because it has driven them to hard work and to become independent.

Why should such individuals vote for BN or its component parties? MCA and MIC have lost the self-respect of their respective communities. This is mainly due to the overbearing attitude of Umno. Do not blame these parties because Umno seems blind to their own leadership failures. Their condescending attitude is at best arrogant and overbearing.

Without trying to understand the reasons mere reactionary statements will not change anything but increase anti-Umno feelings in an already polarised situation. If not for alleged gerrymandering, BN would not be in power today. I would respond to any Umno leader who speaks for all Malaysians as well as for the bumiputras. To identify any group of Malaysians as their enemy is to insult the intelligence of all Malaysians.

DAP is today a very multi-ethnic party and is the envy of Umno. Expressions like ‘going to war’ provokes negative emotions and is unbecoming of a leader of a multi ethnic society to speak in such terms.

Playing the divide-and-rule card

The rhetoric at every Umno general assembly belittles Malaysians of other ethnic origins. It is as though Umno is sensitive as to how they are treated and remains very insensitive as to how they treat others. Umno is today playing the divide-and-rule card and has even joined with PAS to advance Malay hegemony in this nation. Such a scenario will breed injustice and will be un-Islamic in a fundamental sense.

The singular failure of the AGM is that 1MDB never featured. An issue that has embarrassed the nation in the international arena and involves fraud and misappropriation of billions of ringgit seems unimportant to the Umno Malays.

To claim that someone is in power because he or she is destined by Allah is at best an opinion. Even President Assad of Syria or the late Suharto of Indonesia can claim the same. Such are the rhetoric and blind logic that is advanced to propagate loyalty. I am sure the same would apply to Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin.

Do Umno Malays think that the Malays of today are that stupid? Is this the level and substance of debate in a party that has been in power for over five decades?

If a person’s ‘rezeki’ is to be in power so be it but this does not mean he can embezzle money in large amounts. When the end comes then it will be ‘takdir’ as God wills it. Perhaps, when leaders are drunk with power they imagine they are invincible but in reality they will end up like Marcos or Suharto.

To claim that Malay privileges and institutions will go extinct is to believe in fantasy. Even if DAP comes to power they will be part of a coalition and there would be enough checks and balances to ensure that this would not happen. We have a constitution that protects all Malaysians and it would be good for Umno Malays to recognise this reality.

Only a duplicitous leader who claims to champion the Global Movement of Moderates will distort fact in this manner.

A great leader is one who provides leadership and inspires all his followers to be inclusive and taps into the energies and capacities of his people. Diversity is our key unique selling point (‘usp’) and if the leader continues to divide and rule and polarises people on the basis of ethnicity then he or she is incapable of being a leader of this nation.

We must not fear the levels of stupidity that is being exhibited by a segment of our population. The sad part is that they represent the ruling sector.

It is time that other parties within the coalition speak out and stand up to Umno. If you do not say so and indicate your displeasure that many more will support DAP, Amanah and other alternative choices that we the electorate have to opt for in the next elections. Umno cannot any more take the Malaysian citizen for granted. Umno Malays do not enjoy any special privileges in so far as voting goes, apart from manipulating the votes.

Real justice is colour- and ethnic-blind

There is no bleak future for either Indian Malaysians or Chinese Malaysians. There are also many Malay Malaysians with a broader mind set than Umno Malays and to claim that our future is bleak is to deny the constitution and the capacity of ordinary Malaysians to champion and bring change. Real justice is both colour- and ethnic-blind and is a cause to which all Malaysians will respond. The recent Bersih 5 is a good example.

It is easy to divide and play on fears. Only bankrupt politicians play such games. This is a nation where there is enough for every one’s need and not for some people’s greed. Umno is in its final throes and the quality of its leadership is an example of a party that has no cause but relies on emotions and plays on ethnic and religious issues. Let us get rid of parties that do this whether they are in government or in the opposition.

Yesterday’s heroes have suddenly become the enemies of Umno today. To scandalise them but not address the substantive issues they have raised shows up Umno’s weaknesses. What is the level of democracy within Umno? These are the people who are today even questioning democracy? Not surprising when you have been in power for decades and now realise that the end time is near.

With digital Malaysia, online papers, the handphone and heightened communications, there is a lot of information available. Any party that thinks that it has domination over the channels of communication is doomed. Malaysia needs change and the power of the vote and the choice is in the hands of every Malaysian. If you want your future to be different do not act out of fear or be manipulated by a comedy of unreality.

It is no longer an issue of you and me. It is about our children and the future generations. Migration is a cheap alternative. The grass is never always green on the other side. Here we are presented with a cause and a purpose to give to this land and its people a more just and equitable society where everyone feels an equal sense of belonging.

Bersih is a tangible example of such a response. We have to lift the agenda beyond race but to do so we need to vote out of power the present group of incompetent politicians and those who are competent but condone what is going on by their silence.