Umno general meetings of the past were displays of strengths, a podium from which the course for the future was plotted out and where problems were debated.

It is sad to see that the GA this year was anything but. Far from showing strength, one came away with the feeling that Umno is increasingly desperate and bankrupt of ideas. Harping on a glorious past, asking the delegates and the nation to " Ingatlah " (remember) perhaps because they would rather not face the present or contemplate about the future?

How else can one describe such negativity, hostility and shortsightedness? Is something wrong? Politik wang (money politics)? Too few bumiputra professionals? It's not Umno's fault we were only in charge of the country for the last 43 years! Blame the imperialists/foreigners/globalisation/the Jews/fundamentalist PAS/the bumiputras themselves - anyone, as long as it's not us.

The low, base demagoguery that passes off as speeches and keynote addresses would be funny, if they did not touch on such serious topics. The strident calls to use the Internal Security Act against PAS and the accompanying of chants championing ISA a la WWF matches confirms once and for all that this cruel, anachronistic, draconian law is used not to maintain peace and stability as our 'leaders' claim, but as a weapon to be used against anyone who opposes the government.

What can I say about the lashing out against the Chinese community by attacking Suqiu and the Chinese newspapers? If the Chinese voters decide that compared with Umno, PAS isn't really all that bad, they might cross over in the next general elections in 2004.

All the goodwill that Umno and the BN have accumulated from the rakyat from the real development that they have brought to the country Poof! Gone.