Ku Li's disappointing Seremban visit.

Wednesday, 25th. June, 2008.

I rode my motorbike in the very heavy afternoon downpour to the Chung Hwa School, Jalan Tun Ismail, Seremban at precisely 3 p.m. Aspan had called me several times the last two weeks about Ku Li's programme this afternoon, as part of his current campaign to contest the UMNO's President's post this December. As it turned out, it's not just the weather that was a wash-out - Ku Li's visit was,too. 

To start with, the original plan was to hold this gathering in Felda LBJ, but reportedly the MB put a stop to it by asking the Police to deny permission. Somehow or other Ku Li's people managed to get a permit for the Chung Hwa School venue.

Then came two forces, one divine and the other more mundane - the rain, and ( are we surprised ?) the Muhyiddin-announced gag on all campaigning. The rain didn't stop me and about 100 others, but the Party's order certainly stopped Ku Li from addressing the crowd, small as it was. When a member of Ku Li's entourage went up on the stage to announce Ku Li's decision not to speak so as not to run foul of the two-day old ruling for the time being, the crowd's disappointment was audible.

In my mind I immediately reacted "what a waste of time". The organizers turned the meeting into an informal get-to-know you event. As can be imagined the response was less than enthusiastic, though the small group of about 6-7 people immediately surrounding the prince were quite agitated in their exchange with him. The head of Dataran Senawang UMNO branch perhaps summed it all up for everyone present when he said to Ku Li "what is to become of UMNO now. We are not to talk to,  or give a treat to our family and friends as this would be deemed to be campaigning, so we should all become dumb - we might as well become Jakuns in the jungle. If we write in to complain to the Party's HQ they can easily deny the right of the Branch to hold elections and thus deny its right to participate in the choosing of the next Supreme Council members, leaving only complying Branches with their compliant voting".

At this point I haven't read nor do I know what exactly is the full instruction of the new "Code of Ethics" said to have been announced by Muhyiddin. Whatever it is, it is another blow for UMNO. If the practice of democracy isn't quite dead in UMNO now, this new order only further hasten its demise. 

How does the Supreme Council figure out how the Party members are going to assess their next leadership if no meetings and no campaigning is allowed. How much more ludicrous can these people get ? As someone said just now, even the Chinaman filling petrol into his tank is saying "this is all Dollah Badawi's fault". How much further is the end for UMNO ? Several ex-MPs and ADUNs were spotted just now, including a former Minister, and the son of a former DPM. If this cross section of a failed event is any indication, then UMNO incumbent leaders should start worrying about their precarious position. In spite of Muhyiddin's order, perhaps they should start campaigning.

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