Najib and the ultras

“Sudden change of policy,” said a former Umno strategist when asked about the current spate of arrests and prosecution under the Sedition Act.

Couldn’t say if he was joking or being sarcastic. But he went on to say this: “Najib is under pressure from the ultras in the party.” (Needless to say, “Najib” is of course Datuk Seri Najib Razak while the “party” is, of course, Umno of which he’s president.)

But can’t Najib control the so-called “ultras”?  

Considering the widely reported support of Umno divisions for the president. At a recent gathering called by Umno HQ, at least 170 ketua bahagian came as a show of support for the president.

“Tak boleh control ultras. Gelombang kuat sangat.” Or “ultras cannot be controlled as the wave is too strong,” said a former strategist who was a member of Najib’s  “war room” for the 13^th general election GE 13 (he’s still in Umno though).

Apparently even among Najib’s strongest supporters in Umno are the most vocal in opposing any effort to repeal the Sedition Act. That’s according to the Umno man anyway.

No names who the ultras are.  But we know Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has labelled Najib “soft” while Umno grassroots see their president as “too open” or “liberal” for their liking.

And we know also that many Umno divisions now are demanding the Sedition Act be retained. The deputy president is on record as saying the Sedition Act repeal is not final.

This despite his boss reiterating only days earlier that the act will be replaced by the National Harmony Act.

But Najib himself is appearing to be backtracking. By saying whether the act  be repealed or not would be “discussed”.

He went on to highlight that “Malay lobbyists as being particularly vocal about the issue” and “we must understand why they voice an issue that is dear to their hearts”.

Malay lobbyists are in Umno (i.e. ultras?) as well as outside the party in the form of Perkasa, Isma etc. So the big question – will he succumb to the demands?

Enter Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, minister in the PM’s Department. To him, the prime minister “never made the promise to repeal the act – only to review it.”

Judging from comments posted online, there are folks who believe Najib had never meant to repeal the act despite the on-record pledges made in 2012,  last year and a few weeks ago.

Shahidan’s remarks had only helped, if anything else, fuel such a belief. It’s as if the minister is taking pre-emptive steps to “justify” the PM in the event the Sedition Act is not repealed.

Of course, there are Malaysians who see Shahidan’s statement as a sign of the government (read: PM) getting cold feet after “realising his mistake in making the pledge in the first place.”

Before promising to repeal the Sedition Act, Najib had on the eve of Malaysia Day 2012 also promised to abolish the Internal Security Act (ISA).  

It is said his announcement caught many people, including ministers and high-ranking law enforcement officers (that would be PDRM) by surprise.

And to his credit, he made good on that promise although detractors accused Najib of fishing early for votes with GE 13 about to be called soon then (the election was held a year later). 

The ISA as we know was replaced by Sosma (Security Offences (Special Measures) Act). But the act is viewed by quite a number of Malaysians as “equally draconian”, describing it as old wine (or should it be old poison?) in a new bottle.

However, Sosma somehow cushioned or rather insulate the PM from “attacks” by so-called Malay lobbyists and ultras in Umno unhappy with his decision to repeal the ISA.

Yet, despite Sosma, we now hear of reports that Umno divisions in Johor are calling for the ISA to be resurrected.

If  the “hard and tough” Sosma cannot “satisfy“ the ultras and “associates”, then it’s obvious they see the still being drafted National Harmony Act as not “good enough“ to take the place of the Sedition Act. Hence, their current demand.

Meantime, the sedition arrests continue. The crackdown, however, does not mean Malaysia is a police state. So said those in the Najib cabinet anyway. – September 13, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.