By Ruzaini Fikri
Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA: The end of the 61st Umno general assembly on Oct 24, 2010 left a mark on the party, the largest in the Barisan Nasional and the core of the ruling coalition. Much has been discussed – education, economy, race and the Constitution – in order to show Umno as being involved in discussing the issue of nation-building.
However, what is most noticeable in Umno is the disturbing trend that is actually weakening the party: the process of its radical Islamisation and Arabisation.
True, this process began 30 years ago and its fruits seen in ensuing years, with the case mounted on the Catholic Church for its use of the term "Allah" (which it had used in Bahasa Malaysia for a long time). However, the recent assembly has marked such a disturbing trend of moralising and pontificating by delegates and speakers, that one would confuse it for a religious conference.
However, what is most noticeable in Umno is the disturbing trend that is actually weakening the party: the process of its radical Islamisation and Arabisation.
True, this process began 30 years ago and its fruits seen in ensuing years, with the case mounted on the Catholic Church for its use of the term "Allah" (which it had used in Bahasa Malaysia for a long time). However, the recent assembly has marked such a disturbing trend of moralising and pontificating by delegates and speakers, that one would confuse it for a religious conference.