YOURSAY | 'Umno is right about the loss of 'alliance' spirit - it is the one that killed it.'

Dissolve BN since 'alliance' spirit no longer exists, say Umno veterans

Asitis: It was Umno and its insistence on racial politics that destroyed MIC and MCA. For how could MCA and MIC, which represent their own specific races, are seen to be colluding with Umno against their own races in Umno's “ketuanan” policy?

Chinese and Indians in Malaysia, for the most part, accept the special position of the Malays as given in the constitution. But Umno's “ketuanan” policy goes far beyond the provision of the constitution.

This is the bone of contention. MCA and MIC could not defend their own against this gross injustice.

They are seen to be weak and under the control of Umno. This is what destroyed MIC and MCA. Gerakan, though a supposedly multiracial party, is also largely a Chinese-majority party. So it suffered the same fate as MCA and MIC.

But Umno, without BN and its component parties which represent a cross-section of the Malaysian society, would only be representing one part of the Malaysian society, the Malays.

And with the Malay votes having been split, Umno will never be as strong as before. But it can still make a comeback by stirring up issues of race and religion.

Harapan needs to be wary of this and work hard within this five years to prove to the Malays that it can survive without Umno, or for that matter, PAS. Harapan has to prove that it is, in fact, a much better alternative for the Malays, that they can do and fair better under this government.

But ultimately, Malaysia has to gradually wean itself off racial politics and move towards a more issue and policy-based politics.

Appum: I always have this idea that, one day, Peninsular Malaysia will split into two distinct geopolitical areas, whereby the whole West Coast of the peninsula will be designated as a “Malaysian Malaysia”, whereas the East Coast states like Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang will form the Islamic/Malay states.

Apparently, the 14th general election has unintentionally created this formation, and perhaps that is what the future political development in Peninsular Malaysia will follow.

If Pakatan Harapan governs well and implements positive policies, we will see the great leaps and bounce in development in the western belt, which will eventually make the eastern belt desire to follow suit.

So all this talk of Umno going alone, with MCA, MIC and Gerakan being kicked out, are small issues. Harapan will be in for the long run, if it gets its act right.

Turvy: Perhaps Umno is right about the demise of the “alliance” spirit. It ought to know because the party is the one that killed it.

It can wash the blood of BN from its hands, but can Umno wash away the stain of corruption and betrayal that goes to the heart of what is left of the party?

MCA, MIC and Gerakan are not Umno's enemies. Greed and corruption are its undoings.

Anonymous_ede84a93: I agree that it was Umno that destroyed the “alliance” spirit. With the politics of racial divisiveness, comments like “pendatang”, acting Umno deputy president Hishammuddin Hussein's wielding of the keris and racial threats, et cetera, it is easy to blame Najib Abdul Razak when the seeds of all these were sown and watered much earlier.

I am Chinese, and I never had any issues with affirmative action that favoured the Malays, because I believe no one should be left behind in order to progress together as a nation.

Yes, there was glaring neglect of other groups, but on the whole, the policy was generally acceptable. But when it turned into scorn and verbal abuse to the extent of fanning racial disintegration, it was enough.

Why did so many declare "I am Malaysian!" after the results of GE14? It was because, for the first time, all races came together to reject and remove a government that had become corrupt, one that allegedly blatantly and openly stole rather than served the people.

Anonymous 2319461440035118: Umno Veterans Club secretary-general Mustapha Yaakub, the Alliance’s weakness was not MCA, MIC, Gerakan and other parties.

The true cause is that Umno was too arrogant and bullied the other parties up until now.

Because Umno has been dominating the Alliance/BN, Umno does not listen to the other parties, and hammers them with racist remarks.

With 61 years of oppression from Umno, the other ethnic groups gave up on MIC, MCA, Gerakan and others because they couldn’t get things for them.

Basically, it is not that they are weak, it is Umno that has killed the hopes of other ethnic groups.

Fair and Open: If MCA, MIC and Gerakan do not get out of BN, or more specifically, sever ties with Umno now, then it really confirms that they are weak and parasitic in nature.

They were bullied and subservient for decades. A good reference is former deputy MCA president Lee Kim Sai, who was ostracised for speaking up.

This unequal alliance must end if they wish to be relevant in future and regain their dignity. May 9 had given these three parties the perfect moment to redefine themselves, but they must leave BN to start the process.

NA: MCA, MIC, Gerakan - what are you waiting for?

You’ve been on the losing end since 2008. You’ve taken hammerings because of Umno. The party has treated you so shabbily, almost akin to abusing you. It has put all the blame on you.

Show some pride; ditch Umno before it ditches you. Walk away, press the reset button, you may still have some hope to reinvent yourself as a credible opposition - but you have to win more seats first.

XED: With the misuse by Umno of bumiputera special privileges; corruption; cronyism; electoral malpractices such as gerrymandering and malapportionment in the constituencies leading to the dilution of the voting power of non-Malays, it is no surprise that non-Malay parties in BN became electoral lightweights.

Such wrongs also had the unintended effect (for Umno) of alienating non-Malays from Umno and by extension, its “partners” in BN.

BN can become more relevant and appeal to all Malaysians if Umno will stop being racist and religiously bigoted, and act with the fairness and the sense of justice that is required of a democratic society committed to the rule of law.

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