SEPT 10 — It’s an oxymoron when people claim it is only through Umno and PN coming together — for the nation but first Melaka — that political tranquillity, economic dynamism and social justice will prevail.

This is not to negate the present electoral mathematics, which guarantees victory for Umno and PN in the state the size of Hulu Selangor. 

But to say their win will likely turn the precursor to a greater nation is premature. To begin with, they believe in a country which prioritises some Malaysians, and not so much other Malaysians.

This column asserts any short-term gain by Umno and PN together tends to also unravel in record time. Splendidly, the past six years in Melaka exemplifies the toxicity of the Umno-PN relationship.

It is easy to forget the shenanigans in the historical city, as events have sped past and its excrements swept under the Dataran Pahlawan turf. Melaka Hilir deserves better.

The second smallest state is rife with instability. Here’s the painful recap.

Time after time

In 2018, Pakatan Harapan formed the first non-Barisan Nasional (previously Alliance) government under Amanah’s Adly Zahari.

It was an uneventful period, which bodes well for the first alternative government.

National events victimised Melaka, initially, but so much thereafter was the state’s own undoing.

The shocking resignation of Mahathir Mohamad in February 2020, not only forced a change of federal government but also paved the way for state switches.

In Melaka, two from Bersatu quit the government, unsurprising considering Muhyiddin Yassin with the majority of the party plus Umno and PAS, stormed to national power. 

The shocker was two Pakatan reps, excos no less, quit the coalition. Norhizam Hassan Baktee (DAP-Pengkalan Batu) and Jailani Khamis (PKR-Rembia) were rewarded with them keeping their old exco positions.

Umno’s Sulaiman Ali was picked by the party to be chief minister.

Now it must mean everything’s hunky-dory. With this correction.

The dastardly DAP was removed from running Melaka. They were still the bogeyman, and there was hardly any public rancour towards ex-Adun Norhizam.  

Umno, Bersatu and PAS together in power to make Melaka great again was the spin. After 500 years, finally a Malay coalition to run the old kingdom.

Yet, the honeymoon only lasted 19 months.

Umno does it to itself — with no DAP DNA footprint.

When the government switch occurred, among the Umno Aduns was Idris Haron who led the state for five years (2013-2018) before the GE14 debacle. Now with Umno back helming Melaka, the naïve likely conclude Idris would act as mentor to Sulaiman. After all, Idris had institutional knowledge and a chance to raise Umno’s bar.

That they’d have monthly tea with French macarons.

Fat chance!

Instead, Idris led one other Umno rep Nor Azman Hassan, along with Bersatu’s Noor Effandi Ahmad and yes, that name again, Norhizam to withdraw support for the Umno Melaka government.

Apparently, they felt after Umno saved Melaka from Pakatan in 2020, they needed to save Umno from Umno.  

Sulaiman is forced to go to the polls.

Here’s the rub, after almost two years with PN running the state, Umno were disinclined to contest with them. Idris, sacked by Umno, contests as a PKR candidate — difficult to defend PKR in these instances. He duly loses.

The voters, rather than punish BN for being a flake, akin to the tantrums of a spoilt six-year-old, gift the coalition 21 wins. 

While Idris goes the other way — Umno to PKR — unsuccessfully, Jailani the 2020 defector goes the opposite direction. The ex-PKR dude by then was a reformed Umno leader. He defends Rembia for BN-Umno and wins.

Sulaiman now, yes now, gets to have his time to govern. With a two-thirds majority made purely of just BN — 18 Umno, 2 MCA and 1 MIC. This is actual bliss. No preservatives, just original content. 

Surely, surely, it will be plain sailing to 2026.

Not so.

Sixteen months later, Sulaiman resigns for a myriad of reasons, including his health. He was 56. On March 31, 2023, Melaka Umno chief Ab Rauf Yusoh is sworn in as chief minister.

Pompeii or Krakatoa

In hindsight, Melaka seems to represent best the turbulence and chaos of Malay-costumed unity initiatives and Umno’s own self-destructiveness.

But before the parties, let’s grade the Melaka voters.  They appear to be goldfishes — with very short term memory. 

The past vanishes as they are divided into two camps; those obsessed with Malay unity and therefore wilfully ignore all pressing misdeeds and disorganisation, and the other, abjectly disappointed with Pakatan’s inability to purchase enough reforms.

Though I might want to add in this Merdeka festivities, those who demand change should introspectively ask themselves how much they are willing to change too. 

This one-way street thinking and feigning innocence as whining victims risk turning stale. All of Malaysia must reform, including ourselves.

To the parties then, firstly, Umno.

It is a chaotic organisation bent on victory rather than principle.

Consider this, Umno President Zahid Hamidi has asked Ab Rauf to choose his mates for the upcoming state election.

Zahid will let Ab Rauf get on with getting the best possible result for Umno.

A decision to work together based on who gets to govern is predatory. It is about mining the voters, rather than presenting ideas for the voters to choose. It reduces elections to merely identity rather than ability or intent.

Because, wait for this, as Umno and PN march forward to nomination day, PAS will likely name Jailani.

It is difficult to keep up with Melaka bits but shortly after winning for Umno, Jailani gets suspended by the party.

He now joins PAS. Umno mulls wanting to sue him for RM100 million. Nothing comes of it.

The past three years, PAS has a seat in the Melaka assembly, thanks to Jailani. It’s unlikely they’d abandon him. Umno is adamant to contest all 21 races it won in 2021 which includes Jailani’s Rembia.

There is a more than outside chance that Jailani will now contest for his third party in three consequent Rembia elections and win it. Election Commission officers would have to check their records. 

The curiosities aside, in spite of just a few years ago wanting to bankrupt Jailani, through this turn of events, Umno’s full machinery may have to campaign for Jailani.

That’s how irresponsible things may play out in the state and voters are going to completely look away and just stick to the unity efforts, whatever that means.

If and when Umno and PN win in Melaka with all that has preceded, it marks the end of political innocence and forebodes the collapse of sensible democratic ideals.