BN must focus on the big picture

Barisan Nasional should focus on the big picture instead of calling for the restructuring of the ruling coalition or for it to be turned into a single multiracial entity, said political observers.

They said the coalition should be training its cross-hairs on tackling money politics, picking the right leaders and winning back the support it lost in the March 8 polls.

According to Bernama , the observers regard as inconsequent, for the moment, the proposals to turn the coalition into a single multiracial party or even restructuring it.

Prof Dr Ahmad Atory Hussein of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) said restructuring the top posts in the BN supreme council would not have any significant impact in the coalition or to the people in general.

"To me this is trivia. I understand they want to get the support from their own people but I don't think this will benefit the masses in general.

"After all, the top posts in BN are merely in name only as all decisions are made based on consensus regardless of their posts in the supreme council," he was quoted as saying by the national news agency.

Ahmad said BN was established based on understanding without a legally binding constitution.

"It doesn't matter who sits where as those in the supreme council are actually on equal footing. Umno was given the chair and deputy chair seats based on the understanding that it is the largest party, and it remains so today," he said.

'Find the root cause'

Instead of this, he added, Ahmad said BN leaders should be focusing on the more vital issue of winning back the people's confidence.

"They really need to go back and study the whole situation and find the root cause of the problem, then come up with brilliant ideas to really help the coalition woo back voters in the next general election.

"You can get your own party members' support but, at the end of day, what matters is the masses," he said.

Meanwhile, Assoc Prof Dr Ahmad Nizamuddin Sulaiman of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) also commented on MCA's request for the creation of a second post of BN deputy chairperson for the party to hold.

He said entertaining the request would be opening the door for other component parties to make similar demands.

"Besides, I am of the opinion that there are other pressing matters that need to be addressed by BN leaders, more vital reforms like dealing with money politics, for example," he said.

The academic also pointed out that BN leaders were digressing from the real problems.

"Each of the component parties, be it Umno, MCA, MIC or even Gerakan, have leadership problems.

"I think they must resolve this first before talking about reforming the coalition structure," he said.

The right leader

Echoing a similar view was Prof Dr Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid of the Tun Abdul Razak University who said the priority for BN component parties was to elect the "right leaders".

"I am of the opinion that what matters most now is for all component parties to choose the right leaders. Then, later, they can discuss ideas for reform," he said.

Ibrahim said it was critical to elect leaders with vast knowledge in various fields as well as broad networking either in the country or overseas.

"We have outstanding leaders in the corporate world, in the public service and in the education sector, just to name a few. Therefore, in my view, political leaders also must be among the best," he said.

These leaders must find ways not only to strengthen their own parties but also the BN as a whole as well as steer the country towards taking on the current global financial onslaught.

At the same time, these leaders have to win back the voters' confidence if BN wants to remain in power after the next general election.

Therefore, said Ibrahim, it was vital for BN leaders to identify the root cause of the problems which had landed the coalition in "hot soup" in the first place.

He said every proposed change must be considered carefully based on the principles of each component party and most importantly, they should focus on the people's interests while ensuring continuous stability in the country.

"Reforms should be based on several factors, both external and internal. Some would like to have radical changes but for me they should be an ongoing matter," he said.