Amidst the sound and fury of sensitive issues of race and religion, most of it bordering on sedition, the Umno annual general assembly last week was eerily silent on the greatest scourge that is slowly but surely destroying the country - uncontrolled corruption.

Equally sidelined during the meeting was the one policy (hitherto taboo) that is most likely to revitalise Umno and the country - restoration of meritocracy.

Instead of confronting the real threats of economic challenges through globalisation, the delegates were overwhelmingly obsessed by imaginary threats to race and religion.