LOBAK Man is not the personification of UMNO Youth. In return, UMNO Youth does not see his antics as representative of UMNO Youth.

But the fracas near University of Malaya, suggests the belated awareness of UMNO Youth too, that their elder leaders in UMNO, especially in the Supreme Council, have led them down the wrong path.

Had UMNO Youth, as youth should do, rose up against Datuk Seri Najib Razak in July 2015, after the revelations of the US Department of Justice - that Najib and his ilk were both kleptocratic and corrupt - the post election frustration of UMNO Youth would not be at their all time high now.

Thus the behavior of Lobak Man, while not representative of UMNO Youth is worth repeating, is emblematic of the deeper syndromes of sore, indeed, desperate losers. Why ?

Every anti Najib event, indeed, every by election that involves UMNO or/and PAS, is now a possible proverbial nail in the coffin of both the parties and Barisan National.

From a high of 14 coalition partners, they are now hanging on a thread of three parties; that's even assuming MCA and MIC are truly with UMNO. If you count a quarter of PAS as this coalition, then the pastiche of these parties is barely a quarter of themselves.

Due to the inability of UMNO Youth to overcome the unctuous politics of "ampu" (boot licking), some three million UMNO members are now scraping from the bottom of the barrels of the state, and Federation of Malaysia.

The Supreme Council of UMNO let the Youth down, and UMNO Youth let them down too. Creating a vicious cycle of mutual blame, or scape goating DAP as the ruse of all their troubles.

Consequently, be it Selangor, or Sabah, UMNO Youth despises the fact that their idealism to make themselves powerful self appointed envoys of the Malay conscience, ethos, and way of life, have all failed.

They have failed in three other ways too. First, their attempt to defend Islam and Malay nationalism are now proven to be fake.

How can it not be when they are asked by UMNO elders (again !) to go about their political activities with "Malu Apa Bossku?" (Why should my boss be shameful ?)

Such a campaign creed goes against everything the world of advertising has ever heard of. NIKE, for example, thrived on "Just Do It". It has succeeded beyond Philip Knight, the Founder's wildest dream.

When Japan was in a funk, ex Prime Minister Juichiro Koizumi crafted "Cool Japan," thus, triggering the revival of a stable Japan right now. Even an aging Japan can now spearhead itself on a new Japan "Dream" under Prime Minister Abe.

The Anti Drug Campaign of Nancy Reagan in the 1980s, backed as it was by her husband President Ronald Reagan, was "Just Say No". It worked among some of the teenagers in the United States.

To the degree some campaigns like tobacco cannot be promoted on TV at all, such as Marboro or Mild Seven, both brands have features of cowboys riding on their horseback, or, scenery of verdant hills surrounding the green.

But under Najib, whose legal tactic is meant to be protracted, and intentionally long, indeed, to wait for the collapse of Pakatan Harapan —- which is not happening, and will not be happening at all —- UMNO Youth, even PAS, are impatient Yet, they told not to be shameful regardless of how long the legal campaign is.

To be sure, the "Malu Apa Bossku," campaign is totally unIslamic; even without the need for a Fatwa.

When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was once asked, how should Muslims behave when there is no "fatwa," (legal opinion), the Messenger of God replied, "stay away from anything suspicious".

In other words, Islam focuses on the inner cultivation of the mind and heart, as Confucianism and all great religions do: when in doubt stay away.

But UMNO Youth and PAS are instead asked to ask Malaysians, "Why should UMNO and PAS be shameful ?" This is akin to legalizing what is illegal, a total No-No in Islamic jurisprudence, unless in a condition of "Dharurat" or Emergency, at which point Islamic laws can be relaxed, as God does not want His followers and believers to experience hardship.

Secondly, UMNO Youth is running thin not only on inspiration, but sound intellectual ideas.

Just as Pakatan Harapan is struggling with living up to every item in the Manifesto albeit some good progress, since it was engineered based on an oil price of US$ 70 per barrel, UMNO Youth did not even have a policy manifesto either before or after General Election 2018.

Without sound platform of ideas, UMNO Youth once again look to the top. But the top are all under charges of Criminal Breach of Trust.

Third, the by election in Rantau, Negeri Sembilan, is an attempt to show Malaysians that Tok Hassan is friendly and clean. But if UMNO loses Rantau, which P Gunasegaran in Malaysia Kini affirmed, is not altogether impossible, then UMNO's last hope is finished, as is PAS too.

Come what may, UMNO Youth does not "own" Malaysia. Never did and never will,, least of all Local Man. Thus, Lobak Man and his gang cannot be left Scot free to undertake any seedy methods of manhandling any races or groups, including Malays who do not agree with them.


* Datuk Dr Rais Hussin is the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chief strategist.

** The views expressed here are strictly of the author's and do not necessarily reflect that of Astro AWANI's.