And my Sunday afternoon...

After leaving Kampung Batak Rabit, Lan drove to Garuda, an indonesian-food restaurant. The food is just average, but the restaurant is choosen for a different reason. Its normally empty on a Sunday and that's good for political meet-up.

The group was already there when I arrived. Nadziruddin, Halili, Kadir, Fuad, Saini, Jay E, Dani, Samad, Zul, Azman, Osman, Hanif Ghazali, Fahmi, Jamil, Shahrul and the whole gang. The Ketua Pemuda team and his campaign machinery. Missing from the scene is my own machinery. Sahak had a family matter today.

I officially joined Teluk Intan UMNO politics in 2004. When my late father was at the helm of power, he had never allowed me to be actively involved because I was a student then. But I tagged along, and after years of watching and listening, I learnt the trade by heart. In 2006, I ran for my first UMNO election. We call it G2 election. It means the election of two representatives from the Teluk Intan Youth Division to UMNO Malaysia Youth General Assembly. It was a hectic and taxing three months campaign as I was up against three other strong candidates.

Razaligh Hamzah, the incumbent division youth secretary, Zamanhuri Yaakob, the previous division youth secretary and Yuzailie Yusof, a rich-son youth aspirant and division committee member all had years of track record and involvement in the local UMNO scene as headstart to the campaign. I only had a surname.

Sahak was introduced to me by Zainal Zain. I will excite readers with the story of Zainal Zain later. Sahak is currently one of the division youth exco member. Fish whole-seller in the morning and a goat breeder in the afternoon, Sahak is an extremely rare diamond in politics. If I ever write a self-biography, I would dedicate a chapter for this outstanding man. Sahak and I enjoys a superb political chemistry. This is what I call fate and fated.

This is the man who I would say is primarily responsible for my success in Teluk Intan UMNO politics thus far. This is a man, who despite his setbacks, is politically smart and savvy. Sahak is definitely a 'creme de la creme'.

Campaign machinery meet-ups are common during the UMNO election season. Many things are discussed, generally. There was a nice theory by Brother Kadir that the contest between Nadziruddin and Yuzailie for the Youth Division Head post is like the animosity between Popeye The Sailor and Brutus. One with good heart and the other with selfish intentions. Kadir went on saying that Popeye will never loose once he gets his spinach. I wonder what spinach is insinuated to mean here. One naive soul asked, "who is Olivia then"?

A momentary silence before a laughter broke out. I laughed out loud myself as I agreed with Kadir that, considering all circumstances except for the fact that Olivia is a woman, that Olivia would best be me. The holy grail perhaps?

It is now almost 2.30 pm and there will be two branch meetings this afternoon, namely Teluk Intan Timur and Changkat Jong. We are on the move again.

We reached Teluk Intan Timur branch meeting and the usual political ritual begins. Plenty of warm-hand shakes and plenty of grins. "Apa khabor?" would be my normal opening line to the older folks. But today when I arrived at Teluk Intan Timur, I suddenly feel very sad. I got emotional.

Teluk Intan Timur is an UMNO branch with strong and solid membership base. Usually, the branch meeting is held at the Sultan Idris Shah school canteen, without fail. This year, the use of schools have been prohibited to political functions and that include UMNO. As such, the branch moved their meeting to Pusat Kelab Sukan Komuniti. Its a cabin with small shade. But that's not the point.

UMNO has been the major ruling party in this country for 51 years, since independence. It has form the federal government after each general election without fail under the Perikatan and later Barisan Nasional alliance with other component parties including, among others, MCA, MIC and Gerakan. The current and all previous Malaysian Prime Ministers is and were UMNO President. UMNO holds the world record in modern democracy for being the longest ruling party to govern a country without interval.

Yet, when Barisan Nasional fail to win enough seats in the 12th General Election to form several state governments, UMNO suffered. UMNO is now the leading opposition party in my home state Perak. No more Dewan Orang Ramai or school canteen to hold UMNO grassroots meetings.

The defeat of Barisan Nasional in Perak and other states in the 12th GE was beyond anyone's imagination. No one said it was expected. Well, I concluded one point - it proves the HUGE gap that have evolved between the ordinary rakyat and the leaders, top and grassroot leaders as well. No one saw it coming. UMNO did not smell it. UMNO no longer have the unique ability to feel the 'heartbeat' of the Malays it once enjoyed as the bedrock of its strength.

The issue is, after 62 years since the inception of UMNO and after 51 years of government rule, gripping to power in every sense of it, UMNO did not prepare itself for defeats like the one on 8 th of March and is definitely not ready for old age. In 51 years, UMNO should have ensured that UMNO branches nationwide have their own Dewan or activity centres and atleast have some assets to ensure self-reliability, financially.

But UMNO never thought it could loose the grip to power. Its a sheer arrogance that I must admit earned the wrath of God Al-Mighty. And the good men of Teluk Intan Timur suffered.

The youth branch head here is one Remie Man. A fine young gentleman. He and his members delivered my 20th nomination as the Vice Head of the Division Youth Wing. He did cause some stir and laughter when he intentionally delayed Dani Sultan's nomination as G2 candidate.

After the youth meeting ended smoothly, the branch meeting proceeded. Nadziruddin gestured a signal that all of us ought to leave. Changkat Jong meeting is in progress and there's an interesting contest going on.


As the entourage make their move to Changkat Jong which is 20 minutes away, I took a deep breath. My shoulders felt heavier. UMNO must revive itself and regain the trust of the Malays and non Malays, the rakyat so to speak. I humbly believe, its must be back to basic with practical improvements. I hope Teluk Intan Timur would not have to hold their meetings under shades and trees forever.