YOURSAY | ‘A visionary leader is required for Umno and for BN.’

Umno exodus: Khairy wants 'immediate' party polls

David Dass: There is no question. We need a strong opposition.

But we do not need an opposition headed by leaders who are tainted by wrongdoings. They will use the party to conduct their defence in the public and political sphere. The party will lose its credibility.

We also do not need political parties that promote racial and religious division.

Umno has lost its way. It has abandoned its former partners and these partners have no option now but to look for an alternative way to survive.

The truth is that there is no place anymore for parties organised along racial lines. Bersatu exists only to reassure Malays who want another Umno-type party that will defend and pursue Malay-Muslim interests exclusively.

A visionary leader is required for Umno and for BN. Someone who will pursue politics for the interest of the nation. And not for self-enrichment or self-aggrandisement. Will that person, or if more than one, persons stand up and be recognised?

Myviews: Yes, despite their crooked ways, BN should not disband. They should instead consolidate and reinvent themselves.

The present Umno leadership should step aside, have fresh elections, and let the new team lead.

Malaysia needs a two-party state in order to have a proper democracy. Pakatan Harapan must not be allowed to get too strong by having a supermajority, or else it will end up as BN 2.0.

Level-headed leaders, like Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin, should be allowed to lead. MCA and MIC, even with their minuscule representation, should stay. Revive the original Alliance spirit.

Sit as a good opposition bloc and make Malaysia great again.

Anonymous_1531693563: Looking at the scenario, I think Umno is the winner.

Under normal circumstances, it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to get rid of these old, stubborn, corrupted, authoritative and weak fogies. So, it’s good that they are leaving on their own.

The opportunity is now there for Khairy to seize, and he is the best person to reinvigorate the party through new and young faces.

Anonymous_1543410736: Umno can only survive if completely fresh untainted faces take over the leadership and new talent is brought in.

Former party president Najib Abdul Razak and all other corrupt-tainted leaders should be sacked from the party to face the music on their own. There is no other way.

Simple Malaysian: I agree with @Anonymous_1543410736, that only a totally cleaned-up Umno can survive.

If this is not possible, then the honourable thing to do would be for the "clean and untainted" members and other genuinely concerned members for a better Malaysia to start a new party.

Please do not attempt a backdoor entry to the ruling party. Malaysians need a credible and clean opposition to keep all parties in check. Only then can we as a nation move forward, and rid ourselves of the rent culture and easy path to self-enrichment.

Am I dreaming? I sincerely hope not.

Mission Accomplished: Perhaps, it is wise of Khairy to court Bersatu and form a new coalition together with Umno frogs-turned-independents.

If they play a responsible role as a worthy opposition, who knows, they may even become the new government after GE15 minus PAS and Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

To salvage Umno with a few new faces will not be the solution for the sinking ship. Drastic changes are needed for it to survive or Umno will slowly wither away like an evening sunset.

Abd.Karim: We need party heads who are not racists. We want a healthy Malaysia and healthy politics. I feel Khairy is the right man to lead Umno.

Anonymous 770241447347646: With only 40-plus members and also a few more to lose their seats as soon as the cases are completed, will leave Umno with only 30-over MPs. This is not taking into consideration the unknown number that might leave in between.

What is Khairy saying? Umno is doomed. They might end up even with fewer MPs than PAS in the future. Umno better wake up and get its act together before it becomes another MCA or MIC.

Fookchin: Khairy, don’t waste your time trying to salvage Umno. Just quit and form a new party.

Since GE15 is at least four years away, you have ample time.

Your staunch supporters are bound to follow you. Umno is beyond redemption and will sink even deeper to the point of no return.

Vijay47: By intent or by accident, Khairy, you are now standing at the cusp of a crucial junction, a new direction for Umno. The party quite justifiably is being cursed by everyone, but in all fairness, it was not always evil throughout its 60 years.

Like Julie Andrews once sang in the Sound of Music, “Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could, so somewhere in its youth or childhood, it may have done something good.”

Almost every hour now we hear of more party leaders leaving Umno, though a better description would be of rats deserting the sinking ship.

Their hope of joining the ruling party is of no credit to Harapan, not when they are low-life traitors who should have stayed on discarding the chaff and fighting for a renewed, better Umno.

The call is yours. I have never been convinced of your sincerity, but I will admit there is promise in you yet. Remain in the party, reform Umno from within, make it a credible, honourable opposition.

It would be the height of arrogance on Harapan’s part if it believed it can rule without an opposition to check and balance it, a chalice that Umno fatally sipped from.

The future is yours to grasp, Khairy, and no doubt you know it is not a piece of cake, it is not going to be a walk in the park.

Like the Mother Abbess who also sang in the same movie, “You have to climb every mountain if you are to find your dream.”

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