NewzVeteran journalist A Kadir Jasin said voters should examine whether the Umno that lost the 2018 and 2022 national polls has replaced its 'kleptocratic and kakistocratic' leadership with better people. PETALING JAYA: Veteran journalist A Kadir Jasin has cautioned the Malays against being too quick to back Umno, saying the party's leadership has yet to abandon its old ways. Kadir said that with several state elections and the 16th general election ahead, voters should examine whether the Umno that lost the 2018 and 2022 national polls had replaced its "kleptocratic and kakistocratic" leadership with better people.
"Forgive me for saying this, but Malays should not be too quick to give Umno a blank cheque," he said in a Facebook post. He said this was because Umno's top leadership still showed signs of "kleptocratic and kakistocratic" rule. Kleptocracy is a system of government in which political leaders or senior government officials abuse their positions to embezzle public funds for their own enrichment.
Kakistocracy, meanwhile, refers to a system of government led by those who are the least qualified, incompetent and corrupt. Kadir said whether Umno likened itself to a "house", "umbrella", "ship" or any other form of shelter for its supporters, what mattered most was its leadership. "Although there are glimmers of hope here and there, they are not yet bright enough to illuminate the way forward.
"According to astronomy, dying stars shine with great brilliance just before they burn out," Kadir said. He also quoted Umno founder Onn Jaafar, who once said: "Fighting the Malayan Union was the easy part; the harder task is fighting the Malays themselves. To fight the Malays is to fight our own attitudes, habits and conduct."
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