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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright July 2024
Ah, yes, Umno—the party that never fails to provide a spectacle.
This time, it’s the grand show of concern over Najib Razak’s house arrest. If you thought Umno was serious about supporting their beleaguered former prime minister, think again.
Tan Sri Noh Omar, a recent defector to Bersatu, has exposed the farce for what it is: pure theatre (or wayang!).
Noh’s revelations are as unsurprising as they are damning. According to him, the Umno Supreme Council had solemnly resolved to champion Najib’s house arrest. They promised movements, signature collections, and royal audiences. But here we are, and where is the fervent campaign? Nowhere. Puad Zarkashi, a member of the Supreme Council, seems to have a convenient bout of amnesia about these grand plans. Or perhaps, as Noh suggests, these decisions were never more than a 'wayang'—a show to placate the party faithful while doing nothing of substance.
It's almost poetic how Umno manages to disappoint both its loyalists and detractors simultaneously. Noh’s critique that Umno has become “UmDap,” aligning itself with the DAP, strikes a chord with many grassroots members who feel betrayed by the leadership’s opportunistic alliances. This discontent simmers while Zahid Hamidi and his cohorts put on their pantomime of dedication to Najib’s cause.
The grassroots aren’t buying it. They see through the charade. Their anger isn’t just about Najib; it's about a leadership that has lost its way, more concerned with political survival than principle. Zahid’s failure to act decisively on the house arrest issue is emblematic of a broader malaise—a leadership adrift, devoid of conviction.
Noh Omar’s switch to Bersatu might seem like just another political maneuver, but his reasoning resonates. He’s ditched the sinking ship of Umno for a party that, at least in rhetoric, promises to stay true to the original Malay struggle. His parting shots at Umno underscore a critical truth: the party is out of touch, out of ideas, and out of time.
The real tragedy here isn’t just Najib’s plight but the erosion of faith among Umno’s base. Zahid and his Supreme Council can continue their theatrical performances, but the audience is dwindling. For a party that once commanded loyalty with unwavering conviction, this descent into farce is both pitiable and predictable.
So, what’s next for Umno? More shows, more empty promises, and more defections as the party’s credibility crumbles. Noh’s defection is a symptom, not the cause, of Umno’s terminal decline. Until the leadership confronts its failures and reconnects with its roots, expect the curtain to fall on this once-mighty institution. And when it does, there will be no encore.
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