LETTER | In essence, this is Umno president hopeful Khairy Jamaluddin’s aspiration for his party.

He wants Umno to remain “a Malay party that is inclusive and includes all Malaysians. A party that is magnanimous to other races and perhaps one day, BN can be rebuilt as a big house for all.”

To this, I wish to remind him that it is not quite possible for Umno to remain a Malay party but to serve all.

This has nothing to do with Umno being ‘racist’ or ‘Islamic.’ This has everything to do with the government of the people, for the people and by the people.

I am no big time analyst, but I don’t think it is sustainable or logical for a political party drawing support from one particular race and religion, but wanting to serve and be magnanimous to all other races.

Such an aspiration is at most incidental and at worst lip service.

To serve all, the party must derive its power from all people. The party must represent all people and be supported by them.

The people must feel that they have a stake in the party. The leaders must be beholden to all people, not just obliged to one particular race.

To govern Malaysia, a political party must think and act ‘national,’ not parochial. It must be deliberately and consciously inclusive, not pursuing it as an afterthought.

True, BN is multiracial, but over the years Umno has become de facto BN.  

Perhaps Umno has been thinking Malays and Muslims would become the overwhelming majority in the country going forward. Therefore, Malay- and Muslim-centric policies would probably be sufficient to deliver power to the party.

Be that as it may, I think the people, including the Malays and Muslims, are getting smarter. The people know race and religion alone can’t put food on the table.

On the contrary, they mainly serve the rich, the bigots, the more educated and the well-connected. Who really have benefited from Felda and the National feedlot Corporation, for example?

Political parties putting race and religion in the forefront are bound to be caught in their own predicament. Like addiction, the dosage on race and religion can only increase over time. 

I don’t know why it is so difficult for Umno to realise – it is losing ground despite putting race and religion at the forefront. In fact, race and religion have diverted Umno’s attention, rendering the party away from issues that are important for its survival.

It is time for the party to realise that race and religion can’t save them anymore. Race and religion can’t camouflage the rampant malfeasance within the party ranging from money politics, corruption, ‘warlordism’, incompetency to outright rudeness and obstinacy.

For modern progressive Malaysia, the new factors in this game are the need for better governance, competence, and less money politics and corruption. The people need leaders who are clean, competent, dynamic and willing to sacrifice.  

“Umno to remain Malay but serve all” is just rhetorical, nothing more.

Khairy has great potential to be an Umno leader, but to fuilfil this, he must go the extra mile and cut off any traces of lingering racism.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.