3rd. Veteran UMNO AGM.

15.12.2009.

Since its belated inception, this was the third General Assembly of Veteran UMNO Malaysia, held at the Puteri Resort, Air Keroh, Melaka. Muhyiddin officiated at dinner; Ali Rustam footed the bill. Neat. 

We  from NS got 70 ringgit each, exactly the petrol and toll costs incurred. Other states were more fortunate because they have more caring MBs. In a way, this was a downgrading. Last year and the year before it was the PM who came, and the venues were "higher class." This year it was just the poolside for dinner, and the meeting hall could hold all of 500 people sitting in close rows without tables, while the Supreme Council sat in two rows in front facing the delegates on the same floor level. Other than the meals prepared specially for the delegates, no other food, for sale or otherwise was available. And all the rooms were converted for 3 or 4-person-occupancy by fitting in a third or fourth bunk. Still Ali reportedly complained that the 250,000-ringgit bill was much higher than expected.

The belated inception I referred to is arguable, of course. In the first place, surely it takes time for UMNO to produce veterans of any kind. On the other hand, the party didn't quickly warm up to the idea of having another internal movement that might compete for popularity. Seeing as to how incumbent party leaders speak out nowadays, maybe the veterans can play a role in voicing caution to caustic comments causing complicating crisis to caucus. 

In the conversations at dinner and breakfast the next morning, everyone  voiced disappointment at the eroding manners of Cabinet members when giving comments in public.   What is the necessity of going out of your way to be nasty ? Is it really macho, or is it being plain  tactless ? It's this sort of foul-mouthing that turned many UMNO members themselves from casting their votes in protest in the last GE. 

The appointment of the assembly chairman that morning was a joke, if not a faux pas . The Secretary had announced that the Supreme Council had deliberated and selected this SC member to be the chairman for the assembly, but  failed to table it to the floor for endorsement.  This technical error was rightly pointed out  by a few members.  Unfortunately, the selected person   spoke up without diplomacy. Riled up  members joined a chorus of objections. The 15-minute verbal fracas was settled when one sane delegate stood up and said "I propose that Mr X (this same candidate) be appointed as the chairman of this assembly".  The  majority of the 440 delegates shouted  "I agree !". When the idiot  tried to save face by starting to say something more about the issue, everyone shouted "proceed with meeting !".  He took off his songkok and proceeded with the meeting. 

In all the excitement, everyone forgot to sing the UMNO song.

And I left the meeting at 10, two hours before time. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------