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Can Najib transform Malaysia’s and Umno’s fortunes? PDF Print
Monday, 08 December 2008 16:09

Malaysian Insider , Ooi Kee Beng

Once Anwar was pushed out in 1998, and once Dr Mahathir had resigned in 2003, Malaysia entered a new period of leadership.

The country awaited a new type of leader to reform the system and to secure good governance after the excesses of the Mahathir period.

Not only are these men and women, whose convictions were forged in the fight against colonialism gone, the citizenry has become more sophisticated. Malaysians are now more educated, more widely-read, more self- assured, more global in their outlook, and less prone to swallow propaganda wholesale.

The challenges of the times have gone beyond the mere avoidance of inter-ethnic violence and the mere improvement of material standards. Politics of division based on ethnicity and religion no longer has the powerful effect that it used to have.

Such an electorate wished for a new type of leader and a new type of politics.

It was clear from the electoral successes he achieved in March 2004 that Abdullah had promised exactly the right things to the public. But he let the moment slip, and having failed to reform and repair the system, he fell from grace in March — in the eyes of the electorate and of his party.

Few observers believe that Najib is up to the job that Abdullah failed to carry out, and after suffering the failure of the Abdullah period, there is little wish for another such disappointment.

That is Najib’s big challenge. He has to win popular support as quickly as possible because he is faced with a disillusioned and impatient electorate.

His allies are insecure, at his heels snaps an opposition led by a wounded but nevertheless formidable leader in Anwar Ibrahim.

The crisis of leadership that a Malaysia governed by an uninspired Umno-led Barisan Nasional is suffering today is evidenced by the present show of strength from the sultans, the pre-Umno traditional Malay leaders. Where a modern democracy is concerned, only when a power vacuum exists do monarchs get a chance — or feel called upon — to provide moral leadership. — TODAY


The writer is a Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Comments (12)Add Comment
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written by Namolos, December 08, 2008 16:25:40
UMNO and BN hold on POWER [by postal votes,Money Politics''Corruptions'',Gerrymending election Voting Boundaries,Using Millions of Legally and Illegally issued new My Kad to New Voters from Indonesia and Phillipines...etc] must be broken up....otherwise they will NEVER CHANGE.

So it will be GOOD for the Country and its Citizens to make sure UMNO/BN lose POWER for Once...even if its for a year or so, just so that they know what they have to do the next time they got back Power, that is to SERVE THE PEOPLE and NOT ROB its Citizens....again.
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written by ahmadneil, December 08, 2008 16:35:28
He will be a dictator, many time worst than Racist mahathir.His wife will be the power behind the throne.His and her cronies will ripped this country's wealth until it ran dry .You all know why Mahathir at first hesitated to give the PM post to Najis.It's becos that 'oil drum' is cunning and greedy for power.She will play a big role in her husband's ways of running this country.Guys, get ready for Roastmahism!
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written by *********, December 08, 2008 17:06:45
DPM Najib Razak was quoted by Malaysiakini as saying that The BN was sure to win in the upcoming Kuala Terengganu by-election. Deep down inside Najib's void less heart he knows that the BN doesn't have a ghost of a chance to win in Kuala Terengganu. He says so because the so-called BN Election Machinery i.e. the Police, , the Military, the MSM, the Civil Service and the Elections Commission (SPR) will be at the BN/Umno's disposal to ensure a BN/Umno victory at any cost.

Najib knows that failure in Kuala Terengganu is not an option for him and for the Evil BN/Umno regime. The Scribe has in fact reliably learned that PM Abdullah Badawi is actually leading Najib to his Waterloo. Do you really believe the likes of Badawi and SIL would just give things up come March 2009 to Najib without any resistance? It will indeed be the Ides of March for Najib...The Man who would never be Prime Minister of Malaysia.

What we saw happen in the Permatang Pauh by-election is going to repeat in Kuala Terengganu. Despite of the fact that BN/Umno has it's 'Election Machinery', the outcome is going to be the same as in Permatang Pauh...More http://*********.********.com
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written by Motherchell, December 08, 2008 18:16:24
In the 90' when DSAI was knocked off --- the Umnoputras felt the road was cleared for the highway robberies.
In came a great man ---- Bill Gates! -- he transformed the landscape from the hills of Seattle 12k miles away -- they did not realize one day their abuses will all come out in the open . How is the connection??

This is one area Bill Gates played in causing the difficulty and reducing the plunder -- because -- records those days was just paper --- the thieves could just burn evidence.
One example was the phone records of the 2 UTK so called murderers of Altantuya ! In the same context Najib will be caught in his own traps soon ! He has to watch even the time in the washroom and over his shoulders . He has lots of enemies inside UMNO. and webcams all over his body!
His performance will be more overseas than in Malaysia . If ever he becomes PM --- he will spend more time outside the Country than inside !!! I will wager on this !!

http://sjsandteam.*********.com/
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written by SiHangChai, December 08, 2008 19:57:07
For heavan sake, vote against Najib!
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written by borneoman, December 08, 2008 20:17:09
yes najib can bring umno from tuan melayu umno bolehland to its final resting place 6ft underground till infinity very soon.
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written by educationist, December 08, 2008 20:45:14
In a word, NO!!
And, I sincerely hope he shall not have the chance the assume the PM post.
Granted his sullied reputation, I feel it's a disgrace to all Malaysians having him as the PM.
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written by densemy, December 08, 2008 21:26:38
How can he possibly achieve anything without the support of the people. He will step into power as a hated man

For proof of that see the upcoming KT by election
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written by malgal, December 08, 2008 23:39:56
Moral leadership? Do they even know the meaning of the word?
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written by Bigjoe99, December 09, 2008 09:30:17
The thing about Najib is that he was groomed and trained to hold a job. Being PM is not really just a job. Its a privillege, an obligation, an opportunity, a risky venture BUT its not just a job like any other. It takes TALENT and he has modicum. Anwar is the rightful heir no matter how you look at it. Najib no more the lucky inheritor.

Change Malaysia? If he is stupid enough to go all out for it, then he deserved to get creamed when he fails. At best what he does is hold on to his job by attempting some change. He is a leadership product of the NEP - mediocre but not great. The issue is not really what he can do but how lucky or unlucky he will be. Will luck fail what is a lucky country? With all kinds of forces pulling at this country but inherent luck in resources, productive minorities, geography etc., unless something really really bad happens, he should be able to hold on to his job for at least two terms by 'tax and spend'. BUT he can't do it more than that because luck runs out or more likely finances. If he is smart, he does what he can and knows when its time to leave. If he stays too long which he can because he is just 55, he will end ingnominiously. 10 years and the issue of end of NEP will crop up and that will be the day he decides if he ends his career rightly or wrongly and leave the mess for someone else to fix.
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written by so bold, December 09, 2008 09:50:04
Can Najib transform dirt into gold?
Can Najib transform water into wine?
Can Najib transform the dead into the living?
Can Najib transform Osama bin Laden into America's biggest fan?
Can Najib transform Mahathir into Badawi's lover?
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written by asguard, December 09, 2008 10:55:20
NAJIS only will bring more screw-ups!
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