LETTER | So we are at it again - while people are cheering a ‘new Malaysia’, we can see the ‘old Malaysia’ will not go away, as shown by the so-called ‘defend Malays’ rally last weekend. Their grouse? Recognising an education certificate for Chinese schools they (BN) had allowed to operate for decades, as a crumb for the Chinese (MCA) in exchange for servitude, among other forgettable.

And the ‘loss of Malay power’? The appointment of non-Malays into relatively mundane posts such as the attorney-general, chief justice, which has suddenly gained importance as posts of ‘power’, when in the past 50 years I doubt anyone could really remember who the ‘powerful’ ones who occupied these posts were. In fact, the only ‘power’ they exercised in the last 10 years, was to shut up anyone who questioned Prime Minister Najib Razak.

But such is Umno-BN-PAS racial rhetoric that has kept them alive for 50 years.

What is curious though, is how the self-proclaimed ‘effective opposition’ and ‘conscience of BN’ that is the MCA-Gerakan-MIC tripartite has meekly avoided commenting on all these ‘loss of power’ screams from the Umno big brother.

Worse, the biggest advocate, or rather, actor, in the UEC charade, has only attacked as usual DAP on the UEC issue, but not a peep on the demands of Umno-PAS that go against their very stand. And of course, they hope everyone has forgotten the Najib-BN manifesto promise in GE14 to recognise UEC. (Of course that came with a caveat - if they won, they would form a new committee to study the matter for another five years, till GE15, during which they would promise to recognise UEC if they won that election. And so on...).

And where was MIC when they attacked the appointment of Tommy Thomas to AG, with newspaper headlines that screamed, ‘Melayu Hilang Kuasa’?

And where is the sanctimonious Gerakan on all of the above? Still nursing their wounds, or trying to ‘reform’ their party? I don’t think there is any good in reviving these good-for-nothing BN clinger-ons, especially since Umno seems to care not what the less than a handful of non-Umno MPs (3 in total) think, but are more keen on PAS being the new faithful isteri tua.

And talking about PAS, where is MCA, who continued screaming ‘it was all DAP’s fault’ for Pakatan Rakyat’s cooperation with PAS for impending hudud law, now? If anyone is to continue to harp on Act 355, you can be sure it is BN-PAS. Of which Wee Ka Siong and the MIC MPs are part. No chest beating?

No warning of hudud if Umno-PAS’ main theme of ‘defending Malay power’ at the Sungai Kandis by-election gets out of hand?

Of course not. It’s just a different set, but the same tired play. MCA-Gerakan will attack DAP, MIC will attack DAP Indian leaders, and leave Umno-PAS to attack Bersatu-PKR.

It seems the three second wives are in fact merely waiting patiently for Umno-PAS to use their race game to try and win back power, so they can continue their glorious 50-year rule that left the country bankrupt. Effective opposition indeed.

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