From the looks of things taking place it appears quite set that BN-UMNO is never going to learn. The cornerstone to any regaining of lost ground – especially in the world of politics, is to take responsibility and account for the mistakes as a sign of atonement. But that seems to not make sense for BN-UMNO.

Till this date, even after GE-13 delivered 52 % of popular votes for a potentially alternative government-in-waiting – which could as contested, be even a cool 60 %, BN-UMNO is still not able to confess that its reduced 47 % of popular votes is a reflection of people abandoning its fold. Instead of taking a serious look at its political and politicking self, BN-UMNO takes it out on the opposition politicians and the PR party coalition.

The barring of Nurul Izzah is a case in point. One day she is told that she cannot enter a State in her own country, Sabah; and even before the citizens have caught up with their abated breath, the cops announce that she can now come in. BN-UMNO’s refusal to learn to re-examine itself with humility is clearly observed from the many haughty statements, reprimands and warnings and unthinking statements belted from their camp.

People who voted not for BN or UMNO are told bluntly that they are ‘penghianat’ (traitors). One chap even had the audacity to state that those who do not support the BN system can leave the country. Since when did he take on the rights of His Majesty DYMM Yang DiPertuan Agung? Another says that opposition camp is out to create chaos. And so on and so forth. Of course you cannot beat the prime minister who takes the trophy for shouting “Chinese tsunami” at the close of the polls.

The puzzle is, why is BN-UMNO behaving like this? Do its leaders not see the critical need to re-examine, reflect and re-appraise a strategy that will place them on a footing that enables the rakyat to forgive them for their sins against State, citizens and King? Instead they unleash all kinds of hatched plans that get the police to swoop down on opposition leaders hoping to instill fear in the hearts of citizens. Just imagine how many man hours and resources are wasted to get the police and the courts to see through all these sandiwara play-acts of supremacy.

Do they not learn that it is these acts against the leaders and MPs within opposition that is further riling the rakyat the wrong way up? Do they not come to their awakening that times have changed in the past thirty years. Let BN-UMNO be told. What we witness in the many peaceful public protests – since the days of Bersih 1.0, 2.0 and the many Blackout 505 rallies is a reflection of the gradual shift taking place in the hearts and minds of the rakyat over the years.

Blaming opposition of instigation, provocation and scheming is not going to help BN-UMNO heal itself from the deep wounds inflicted upon it at GE-13. In fact, the lacerations were already being inflicted since the past two general elections. But BN-UMNO failed to learn from the signals sent out by the citizens. Instead it chose to lump the blame on one man, Anwar Ibrahim. How pathetical and foolish. It went on the offensive. It chose to lambast the opponents. And what made it worse was its own inability to read the signals and respond with affirmative award-winning actions.

BN-UMNO took the well travelled path of the Mahathir era playing the race and religion cards. Even looking at the various cash-and-kind handouts and the ‘you help me, I help you’ mantras that drove BN-UMNO’s GE-13 war plan was already openly criticized by the rakyat. But BN-UMNO refused to acknowledge the feedback. “We know what is best for you” and “We know what we are doing because we have been in this business for over five decades” seemed to be their conviction - an operative from a high pedestal.

Such lack of remorse; lack of humility; vanity and misplaced pride – all these will slowly but surely wreck havoc on BN-UMNO eventually. And nobody should be blamed if BN-UMNO cracks up beyond repair. Its leaders must remember that BN-UMNO needs its own remedy, i.e. the propagated ‘transformation’ more than the rakyat do. If the party cannot re-model itself to become relevant to the consuming-voter, any amount of re-branding will not stand the test of time.

It must with humility recognize that if there are voters swinging to the opposition camp in increasing numbers after giving BN a whooping majority in the past decades, it means they have given up hope for the weathered and worn horse. It is not about being ‘ungrateful’. It is about ‘disappointment’ in BN-UMNO; it is about a sense of betrayal felt by the very people who kept giving the vote to BN-UMNO every five years. Learning, un-learning and re-learning – all of these are vital for politicians and their parties if they want to remain relevant in the fast changing times. 

Blaming, threatening, punishing without justifications, and pulling the carpet under the opponents’ feet – these are political currencies that have zero buying power in the new world order where democracy, civil liberties and free and fair elections are the yardsticks. Good luck BN-UMNO. Do not say we never told you so. It is just that you were blinded by your own arrogance and wasteful ways. It is not about our being ungraetful or anti-national.

In fact, it is because the rakyat truly love this nation so much and revere their King with love and loyalty that they are willing to step forward in the broiling sun on the scorching tarmac and walk the distance in a peaceful manner to save State, King and citizens. We are certain that if our DYMM Yang DiPertuan Agung was in the midst of all our Blackout 505 rallies for example, His Majesty too would be most impressed by the discipline, conduct and unity amongst the tens of thousands of His subjects. 

Above all His Majesty would embrace the passion and hope with which His subjects sing the National Anthem and also recognize how muhibah His subjects are as they help each other to find their way out of the mammoth crowds and take notice too how His subjects also do not forget to clean up the padang of all litter while chipping in a small contribution towards the cause.

This BN-UMNO cannot see unfortunately.