AHMAD A. TALIB Najib's reality check for party
2009/10/14
By Ahmad A. Talib
IF not for the tone of the speech, Datuk Seri Najib Razak's pre-assembly briefing to delegates at the Umno general assembly would have been described as harsh and hurtful.
It was hard-hitting no doubt, said delegates coming out of the closed-door session. In fact, the Umno president took the delegates to task for some of their questionable behaviour and got away with cheers and applause.
A delegate from Perak, who declined to be named, said he felt embarrassed when Najib highlighted the known bad habits of members. He was sure that many in the Dewan Merdeka at the Putra World Trade Centre where the session was held felt just as ashamed.
"But the light-hearted way in which Najib outlined these party-survival issues made the whole exercise less painful. But make no mistake, the words hit us deep. He ripped us apart, but did so with a big dose of humour and measured cynicism. He made us feel guilty and embarrassed," the 40-something delegate said.
| Party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the pre-assembly briefing at the Putra World Trade Centre last night. |
A seasoned campaigner from Negri Sembilan said he had not heard a speech delivered like that in recent years.
"At this point in time, Umno needs someone who can rally us and give us a reality check. I can tell you, we got it yesterday. We need to atone our misdeeds quickly," the man said.
The session was closed to the media. But delegates who shared their thoughts with reporters were in unison giving Najib the thumbs up.
Delegates came to the assembly expecting their president to speak from the high ground but were pleasantly surprised when he spoke in a language they could all understand.
They were happy and came out of the briefing with a renewed sense of purpose after hearing Najib's hour-long speech. Najib, delegates said, touched on money politics, ego problems, internal bickering and destructive behaviour which had alienated many good Malays from joining and serving the party.
A member of one of Umno's bureaus, who came from Terengganu, was also glad that Najib paid tribute to the ongoing efforts to consolidate the party in his state.
The internal dispute has lingered for several months and threatened unity and party machinery.
The delegate explained that what Najib did was to highlight the negative elements in the party and thrust them in the face of those present.
He did so with the right balance of humour and serious warning that if the members were to rest on their laurels, the important win in the Bagan Pinang by-election last week would have been meaningless.
Indeed, Najib set the tone for the proceedings over the next three days on a high note. It is now up to the delegates to move with the party leadership to chart a new way forward for Umno as it faces challenges ahead in the next few years.
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