I managed to catch up with the Oracle of Syed Putra. He has been away for sometime accompanying his friend, a former senior leader of the government, abroad. As usual, we talked some politics.
Have you met Dr. Mahathir? he asked.
Not yet said I. His press officer hasn't called me.
I am not sure he will after so many uncomplimentary passages about the man who can walk on water, I wrote in my passages.
But I suppose you know of developments in the country?
Yes, I read the latest speech by Chua Soi Lek. That's going to be a problem. Can the PM handle it?
What's the difference between Dr Mahathir and Dato Najib? The former begun his career branded as an Ultra Malay. That initial image stuck throughout his life. He was an icon to the Malays. His was the voice of the inner Malay. Having cut his teeth deeply which left a permanent mark in the Malay psyche, Dr. Mahathir has that reservoir of 'goodwill' to identify with the inner feelings of Malays at large.
In later years, when Dr Mahathir was to relax this ultra image, people still believed in his core values. Dr Mahathir has the fundamentals. He has that hero image of looking out after Malay interests. He can draw down from his initial fixed deposit. The principal remains, he is reaping the dividends. Whatever he does in those years while in power, even if they seem contrary to his Malay-first persona, were excusable. People still think of him as having the fundamentals of Malayness.
Profound observations , I thought. My own thoughts are as follows.
What about our PM Najib? Dato Najib has none of that. He hasn't build a reservoir of core Malayness values large enough from which he can draw down. People are not sure whether he can really empathize with the plight of the Malay lumpen-proletariat. In the 1980's I thought he had the making of a Malay ultra when he made fiery speeches at the TPCA stadium in Kampung Bharu. Never mind if that was a show of brinkmanship- it could have left an indelible mark on the Malay psyche as did Dr Mahathir before him.
Alas, that was just a low octane spark that wasn't capable of lighting a prairie fire of Malay activism. He became quiet after so many UMNO people and others got sent to the University in Taiping. Those sent got a degree in Ops Lalang.
Everyone knows Dr Mahathir can be funny sometimes. In a matter-of-factly way. Once during a speech he was giving, Dr. Mahathir likened Anwar to one of the Hindu Gods. I don't know which one, but the one which a few heads enabling that god to see all around. So when Anwar speaks at one place, he will say one thing, at another place, he will use another head and speak what that particular audience may like. Many heads make a wise man? A tricky fellow?
Najib has somehow contracted this dangerous disposition. Here he speaks on of one thing. At another place he speaks of another language. He was uneasy at Perkasa's Bumiputera Economic Congress. He had to throw away a prepared speech and dug down deep into the fact he is Tun Razak's eldest son- the architect of NEP. This he proclaimed, is the reason he is not going to be person who besmirches the memory of the father. He quickly said, the affirmative polices, to wit, the 30% requirement shall remain. Perkasa members pee-ed in their pants with excitement.
At the Chinese Economic Congress he sang a different tune. He went back to his NEM mantra. He was at ease at the MCA Chinese Economic Congress. His speech at the Congress actually has entrapped him. His pronouncements on the role of the Chinese Business community is a clear signal that at this moment, he is more accommodative to the Chinese. Because he thinks, his priority now is to regain Chinese trust and win the next elections. He may but this is achieved perhaps at the cost of forfeiting a lot of Malay support. He should have asked about the speech Chua Soi Lek wants to make and do some editing. Soi Lek was crafty enough to corner the PM at the Congress. And I don't think it was a coincidence the MCA invited Nazir Razak given his thinking inclinations.
The problem with Najib, he is always ambivalent. He is a fence sitter. Not a risk taker. Never a politician with steely resolve.
If Dato Najib doesn't have the personal constitution of a Mahathir, what can he do? He must surround himself with the ablest, toughest and dedicated leadership material. The Oracle's friend, a former very senior member of the government, has been a long advocate asking the PM to build a new team. Loyal followers and team members can be rewarded in other ways. Najib operates with people he is comfortable with- no matter if they are ignoramuses.
If he thinks the MInang Rais is super loyal, he can reward Rais by appointing him to the cultural capital of the world. There, Rais can showcase his literary and cultural skills. His 'Doberman' Nazri Aziz can be rewarded by other means too.
Otherwise, a supreme leader with weak constitution, is cannon fodder for the more aggressive second tier leaders.
The one redeeming thing the PM has is the awareness that past policies are not etched in stone. They are not fixed. So they can be changed provided his alternatives are well thought through, articulated well enough and shared by his team members.
I can accept his reasoning that we don't need the 30 per cent requirement as in the old days. Meaning he doesn't need to merely fill up that 30% requirement with just any Bumi material. Better education has resulted in a bumper harvest of abler and tougher BUmiputera material which he can leverage to craft his new affirmative strategies.
He must go back to the basic values that underscore success. These basic values will help him achieve his NEM and an economy with high income. He needs first of all to set up an exceptionally strong government with the ablest, the toughest and dedicated leadership material. What are the basic values?
Leadership material
of high integrity. A person moves up based on merits, an enabling environment that offers a level playing field for talent- undifferentiated in the form of race or gender, articulate leaders who can move others and communicate with people. These are some of the foundational elements that make a successful country.
But has to look past his small plot of vegetable patch. He has to headhunt within UMNO first and then others.
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