STRATEGY: Umno general assembly was a major test of Najib’s leadership, and he has successfully regrouped the party
VIDEO clip purportedly depicting a then DAP man pitting Malays against Malays during the recent Sarawak election made its way to the Umno general assembly yesterday.
Shown during the closing remarks by party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the video served as a powerful reminder to the party faithful and Malays at large on the dangers of a DAP-led government.
The prime minister touched a raw nerve of DAP leaders when he devoted part of his policy speech on Thursday warning Muslims that DAP will do away with Bumiputera and Islamic institutions if it ever comes to power.
Najib said DAP, which struggles for extreme liberalism and dangerous secular ideology, could put at least 10 Bumiputera and Muslim institutions — such as UiTM, Mara, Felda, Risda, Felcra, Teraju and Tabung Haji — in danger.
“Hence, if you delve into what I am saying today about the nightmares that awaits us, you (Malays and Bumiputeras) too will feel worried and afraid and cling on firmly on Umno,” he said.
Najib’s vitriolic attack on DAP opened the floodgates during the subsequent debate from the floor with speakers taking turns to lambast the party.
DAP leaders tried to play naïve in their response, saying that it was not clear why Najib gave so much importance in his Umno speech to a party that by itself cannot come to power.
They were also off their mark when they said that Najib tried to ignore non-Malay voters by taking a swipe at the DAP.
Strategically, it will be foolish to assume that Umno doesn’t need non-Malay votes, just as MCA or MIC cannot win based on non-Malay votes alone.
Umno is the backbone of the multi-racial Barisan Nasional coalition that has not only ensured the well-being of Malays but Malaysians at large, a point Najib reiterated in his closing remarks yesterday.
Umno draws its strength mainly from the Malay heartland, Sabah and Felda settlements, three of its vote banks.
Given the importance of the 54 Felda constituencies to Umno and BN, Najib made it clear in his closing speech that the issues relating to Felda settlers would be addressed soon.
Is there an immediate danger of Umno, which has been upholding a moderate stance in government policies, turning to the far right by playing the Malay or Islamic card to defend or reconsolidate its power base?
It might be so, according to analysts, but Najib’s strategists saw the need to woo more Malays to their side while retaining its pro-moderate policies.
This assembly is also a major test of Najib’s leadership. By the end of the session, he has successfully regrouped the party following a purge and by using the coming general election as one of the rallying points.
He has also consolidated his position as prime minister. He said there was no need for him to second guess his No. 2 Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
What was more significant was that all party leaders used the occasion to pledge their wala’ (loyalty) to the party president.
Najib will now move to the next phase of election preparations. He also envisaged creating a series of popular waves to induce public sentiment towards the government.
BN also needs to improve its communications tools and provide the right soundbites to targeted audiences.
Najib’s deft in turning the Rohingya crisis to Umno’s advantage also worked.
“The Rohingya issue has played right into Najib’s hands to win over the Islamic ground, including Pas, which Umno has been wooing,” according to Yang Razali Kassim, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Party insiders said while the top Umno-Pas leadership appeared amenable to the idea of working closer, both sides have to work harder among the grassroots to win their support for any form of cross-party cooperation.
A veteran newsman, Jalil believes that a good journalist should be curious and sceptical at the same time