Over at the other end, traders are enjoying good business selling everything from food, tudung, baju and songkok to DVDs, books as well as party paraphernalia – you name it, you can probably find it here, just like your favourite pasar malam.
On Level 2, a big crowd of makcik and pakcik and those a bit younger are gathered. Many are clad in red and white — Umno colours — and sit in front of a giant screen following the proceedings of the Umno assembly. Very political.
Then people in Umno uniforms turn up and start throwing into the crowd boxes of drinks, cookies and keropok from Terengganu. The crowd stands, hands at ready to catch the ‘flying’ goodies.
Momentarily, nobody cares about the serious stuff Datuk Reezal Merican Naina Merican, representing Umno Pulau Pinang, is dishing out in Dewan Merdeka on Level 4.
The air is festive as the crowd laugh and poke fun at each other. And one could never guess that the same folks are preparing to face the “biggest ever” general election – one described by their leader as “pilihanraya luar biasa” or an extraordinary election.
Are they ready? It’s obvious that Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s presidential speech at the assembly is aimed at firing up party leaders and members alike to be ready for battle. True he had given reasons why “Malaysians should continue to vote for BN”.
All delegates taking the rostrum to debate resolutions took turns to hit out hard at Anwar – prompting pro Pakatan folks to tweet “they must really miss or rindu Anwar”.
Especially at a time when the opposition is coming on strong. The last thing Najib needs is for his party to feel defeated before the battle.
In short Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) are about to face a very strong challenge from an opposition eager to take over ruling the nation.
But he allocated a big chunk of his speech to outline to Umno how to win the election. Along the way he took big swipes at the opposition from the Lims – Kit Siang and Guan Eng – to Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, and of course, “keeping the best” for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim .
The Pakatan bashing and Najib’s speech, says an Umno observer, “are nothing new”. Including the apology to the rakyat for past mistakes of the BN.
But delegates counter that by saying with election coming soon that is to be expected. And in fact that’s the logical thing to do. But the Pakatan bashing and Najib’s fiery performance can be viewed as “trying to instill the winning mentality” in Umno.
Especially at a time when the opposition is coming on strong. The last thing Najib needs is for his party to feel defeated before the battle.
That apart there are contradictions, of course. For one, when dealing with PAS. While lamenting that PAS often accused Umno of being “not Islamic”, party leaders – Najib included – are on record saying Umno will never do such a thing.
But hundreds if not thousands of pamphlets printed on high quality paper and in colour are being distributed at the assembly, accusing PAS of being “a party which has deviated from Islam”. Umno obviously feels the pamphlets are important “to expose the real PAS
But whether the tactic can work in getting Malay votes is debatable, to say the least. – TheEdgeDaily
Speaking of Malay votes I must end with this . A journalist friend took a taxi from Sri Damansara to PWTC. The taxi driver asked why he was going to PWTC. When told it was to cover the Umno assembly, the taxi driver said he used to support Umno but not any more. Why?
“Because Umno are just interested in making money for themselves. They got money to last tujuh keturunan (seven generations)”, said the cabbie. Needless to say he is Malay. And rightly or wrongly, that’s his perception of Umno.
Perhaps Najib’s speech at the Umno assembly is also meant to help his party get rid of negative perception. But to erase perception is easier said than done. Umno has got its work cut out for it.
Many believe politics is all about perception. Najib is among the believers. Umno must hope that the taxi driver’s perception is not shared by other Malays.
Perhaps Najib’s speech at the Umno assembly is also meant to help his party get rid of negative perception. But to erase perception is easier said than done. Umno has got its work cut out for it.
