'Najib's transformation saved BN'

This was the view of former Temerloh MP and Umno supreme council member Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah during a forum organised by Sinar Harian here today entitled "Ke mana haluan politik Melayu.(The direction of Malay politics post-GE13)"

"Yes, (I admit) there was not enough reforms but at the root of it, it was Najib's tranformation programmes which saved BN," said Saifuddin, who questioned whether the BN team is in line enough with Najib's reforms.

He said that there should not be a blame game of the Chinese or anyone else post GE13 but BN itself must step up on making changes within.

"GE13 happened within a new reality. The party that won is the one that can overcome this new reality which talks about the new media, the new social awakening, and the beginning of the third stage of democracy, " Saifuddin said.

He said that in this transitional stage of Malaysian politics has shown an increase in participation and a new front of younger politicians taking up leadership positions.

"Politics today is becoming colour blind," he added, repeating his call for more direct BN members to open up the coalition.

"What is the most important for me is that in this election, the rakyat has given us the third manifesto, it is the rakyat's manifesto through the ballots, and it is our responsibility to interpret that," he said.

Saifuddin said that political differences should not lead to disunity and added that politicians who cause divisiveness should be opposed.

"There should be a white line drawn (for BN). We have to apologise for our mistakes, promise never to make them again and start again with new governance and new politics," he said.

Saifuddin said that government agencies should be politically neutral, admitting that certain agencies have been seen siding with certain parties.

"We know what is happening. There are those who are more yellow, those that are more orange, it has happened. That should not happen in a government."

He also said that there should be a decentralisation of decision making proccess.

Saifuddin also said that Umno is still a party for the Malays but said that it was not one that was "anti non-Malays". However, also stressed that future policies and programmes should be needs based rather than raced based.

At the forum, panelists alongside Saifuddin included PAS Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad and DAP's Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari.

All three panelists did not answer specifically about 'Malay politics' but indicated that modern day politics would soon phase out racial elements.

Zairil argued that a new generation of younger politicians that have emerged will change the Malaysian political landscape in the next 10 to 15 years to be less racial. This, he said, would be the case for both BN and Pakatan.

"The racial element will always be there, we cannot disregard it. In Malaysia, the agenda is dictated by politicians. In the end, people will become very racialised when the politicians and media are racial. But I am positive that the future for Malaysia will change."

Zairil also questioned why the forum was still asking about Malay politics after 56 of independence. He declared:" In Malaysia, the powers of the Malays will never end. That's the reality, the Malay population is growing and the Chinese dwindling. The Constitutional guarantees of the Malay and rights of the Malay rulers have never been challenged." This comment from him drew loud cheers from the crow.

Raja Kamarul Bahrin said that the argument that there was a "Chinese tsunami" was flawed where the tsunami was actually one based on "values".

"People are talking about the values that their leaders are bringing into Parliament."

Raja Kamarul also said that suggestions for Umno and Pas to collaborate can only happen if solid steps taken by Umno to achieve good governance.

At one point, a query from the floor by Yayasan Patriotik Bangsa president Datuk Yazid Othman drew jeers when he alleged that Universiti Malaya practiced discrimination by appointing positions to unqualified Chinese lecturers.