Umno and BN’s post-March 8 schizophrenia

Umno and Barisan Nasional leaders should end its post-March 8 schizophrenia – claiming to have finally heard the voice of the people and yet still refusing to “walk the talk” of reforms like closing down the Tamil daily Makkal Osai, continued detention of Hindraf leaders under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and stonewalling the proposal for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to create an efficient, incorruptible, professional world-class police service to keep crime low and make the country safe for Malaysians, visitors and investors.

Such political schizophrenia seizing Umno and Barisan Nasional has become a daily staple in the mass media, as illustrated by the following two headlines today:

Najib tells BN: Win over support of non-Malays

By : Azura Abas and R.S. Kamini



Datuk Seri Najib Razak greeting Selangor Umno members after a closed-door meeting with the division leaders yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional must do more to attract the support of non-Malays, said Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday.

"Umno recognises the importance of securing the support of other races like the Chinese and Indians.


"We will conduct at least one meeting every month with the BN components to come up with appropriate strategies (to get the non-Malays' support)."


Najib, who is also deputy prime minister, said this after attending a two-hour closed-door meeting with Selangor Umno.


Najib said Selangor Umno leaders pointed out the need to choose the right candidates to be fielded in a general election.


"The candidates must have the winning factors and be liked by members at grassroots level as well as the people."


Asked on his views whether it was necessary to fix a time frame for him to take over the party presidency, Najib said it was not up to him to decide.


"I believe that (the party president) has the wisdom to do what is right for the party," he added.


"The important thing is to remain united and work as a team for the revival of Umno.


"We cannot afford to disintegrate from within, which is why I have stressed a lot on the importance of working as a team."


Najib was also asked to comment on the possibility that the Pakatan Rakyat would form the government soon based on claims that some BN elected representatives would switch sides.


He denied there was any evidence to support such a claim.


"Still, we will monitor the situation and not take things for granted. So far, there is no indication of BN elected representatives wanting to cross over.


"I don't believe we are in a crisis to be toppled at any time."

Makkal Osai loses licence

KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry has rejected an application for renewal of the publishing licence of Tamil daily, Makkal Osai.

Yesterday, a letter signed by a ministry official by the name of Abdul Razak Abdul Latiff, on behalf of the ministry’s secretary general, said: “We regret to inform you that the licence will not be renewed.”

Following the rejection, Makkal Osai will soon file an appeal against the decision by the Home Ministry.

In poor spirits: Part of the editorial staff of Makkal Osaiin a dejected mood Wednesday after learning of the closure of the paper.

The newspaper’s general manager S.M. Periasamy said that they were informed of the decision by a telephone call from the Home Ministry yesterday.

“When I went to the ministry in the afternoon to check if the phone call was true, they handed me the letter rejecting renewal of our licence.” The letter did not state any reasons for the rejection.

“I pleaded with the Home Ministry officials, including Abdul Razak, and they told me to submit an appeal against the decision,” he said.

“It was a sad day for the newspaper because more than 100 people will become unemployed at the stroke of a pen.”

Periasamy said his staff was shocked at the decision, adding that the office received many calls from the paper’s readers, some of whom expressed anger over the paper’s closure.

“I’ve told my workers to calm down and continue to come to the office as usual pending further instructions,” he added.

Periasamy denied that the rejection was due to publication of opposition news reports.

“We published news covering both the Barisan Government and the Opposition, as was seen during the general election. We are in the dark over the reasons,” he added.

The newspaper started operations as Tamil Osai in 1981, and later changed its name to Makkal Osai in 2005. It has a daily circulation of 52,000 copies and 95,000 on weekends.

Periasamy, who joined the newspaper in 1989, said former MIC deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam met with Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar yesterday.

Makkal Osai submitted an application for renewal on July 16, 2007, three months before its permit expired on Oct 15 last year.

The day its permit expired, the daily continued publication with the understanding that the Government was in the process of considering its application for renewal.

Besides Makkal Osai, the other two Tamil dailies are Tamil Nesan and Malaysia Nanban.

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