Umno general assembly: Racist and Religious Bogeyman game replay

Despite chest-beating on progressive politics and wasatiyah (moderation), such elements were few and far in between at the Umno general assembly.

In its place, there were further justifications for racial politics and increasing religious conservatism leading up to some good old fashioned PAS bashing.

If once PAS was once the "extremist" and Umno the "moderate" of Malaysian politics, the tables have turned, with PAS showing a more inclusive face at its recent Muktamar, and delegates at Umno waging war against anything from the LGBT community to liberalism and even universal human rights.

If Umno Youth under Khairy Jamaluddin (right) is taking a drive to the centre, its parent body under ‘Mr 1Malaysia' Najib Abdul Razak, is taking a headlong plunge to the right.

Or at least that's what soundbytes from the debates which took place over Dec 5-7 suggest.

From frowning on the greeting Salam 1Malaysia in favour of Salam 1Melayu for the Umno assembly to reviewing election strategy to dump the inclusive face and appeal only to Malays, Umno is simply living up to its name - the United Malay National Organisation.

Contractor class reigns supreme

But Umno is still stuck in its Malaysia Inc form, thinking mostly of the contractor class by urging the carving out of government procurement for bumiputera firms only.

Bachok Umno chief and former deputy minister Awang Adek Husin claims it is a win-win situation, that the advancement of 67 percent of the population is advancement for the nation.

But is bumiputera empowerment only about carving out government contracts to the contractor classes? The younger portions of Umno seem to not think so.

Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, and the debators in the wing during its assembly on Wednesday, spoke of solving working class issues, something that would benefit all races.

He argued that helping the working class will automatically benefit the majority of Malays, something which PKR, too has repeatedly said to justify its non-racial policies.

Puteri delegates debating at the central assembly also argued that close to two-thirds of Malays are actually the salaried class, and not contractors or traders, so what will Umno do to help them?

Only Malacca delegate Akbar Ali echoed this concern, while the others focused their efforts on lobbying the leadership to milk the government-linked companies as much as they could.

After all, the delegates echoed, aren't GLCs formed to help bumiputeras? (Taxpayers from other races may wonder why they missed this memo.)

Proving that the marhaen concerns were far from Dewan Merdeka, PWTC, one delegate even made jokes about the extravagance of the prime minister and his wife.

But a party that raised its takings in the general election by a commendable nine seats cannot be a party that is out of touch.

Religious champion

At the end of the day, working class woes afflicting the most Malaysians are more difficult to address when there is the convenience of flashing the religion card.

The pinnacle came when party vice president and resident sheriff Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his winding up speech said that the Home Ministry is giving the green light to act against Shiite leaders like the "PAS number two".

He was referring to PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu who accused of being a Shiite follower mainly due to his extended stay in Iran, but who has denied the claim.

Conveniently Ahmad Zahid is both home minister and chairperson for the committee that vetted the motions submitted by the delegates at the 67th assembly.

Who else will defend Malays if not for Umno, who else will defend Islam if not for Umno?

And this is not just according to Umno, party president Najib Abdul Razak in his closing speech said.

Even the opposing factions of Palestinian politics, Fatah and Hamas, whose leaders attended an Umno AGM pre-conference say "Malaysia under Umno" is a "role model", he disclosed.

But Umno realises that it does not exist in a vacuum, and although the AGM is a place for some Ketuanan Melayu catharsis, it still needs support from other races in the 14th polls which it has labelled the "father of all battles".

The introduction of a cadreship system, equipped with KPIs for branch levels for instance, shows the party is serious about getting its house in order early for the polls which could take place as early as 2016.

"Under Umno other races are treated fairly, but Malays may not be treated fairly under other parties," Najib said.

May Malaysians judge Umno just as fairly.

By Aidila Razak