The Malaysian Insider – 17 hours agoRELATED CONTENT
- Umno bloggers defend ‘friendly fire’ after Najib’s ‘bangang’ label
Several pro-Umno bloggers have defended their criticism of the party, following Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak's slamming of such bloggers as "bangang" (stupid) during his winding up speech at the just concluded Umno general assembly.
Syed Akbar Ali, who runs the OutSyed The Box blog, said the bloggers' criticism or "friendly fire" of Umno represented the voice of the rank and file who were unhappy with the state of the party, and adding that blogs and social media were channels for Umno members to air their dissatisfaction.
"It means that within Umno, there are those who are uncomfortable. Umno members themselves have started complaining through blogs, Facebook and social media.
"They raise issues that they disagree with, that they do not like or that they are uncomfortable with, or which they feel can endanger the party and country," Syed Akbar told The Malaysian Insider.
He felt it was strange that Najib used his closing address at the Umno general assembly to scold Umno's bloggers for criticising the party's leadership.
"If he had mentioned it at the opening, it could have been debated by the delegates.
"The issue is an internal problem within Umno but it was not resolved by the party and it was raised by Najib during the assembly," he said.
Najib had reminded the Umno bloggers of their paymaster, telling them to train their guns at the opposition instead.
"Who are our bloggers relying on to feed their mouths? Go and attack the opposition. That is how we win a war.
"Don't battle one another. It doesn't make sense. Bangang (stupid)," Najib said in his speech on Saturday.
Syed Akbar said attacks by Umno bloggers against party's leaders reflected grassroots voices.
"Najib should investigate why they are unhappy and why they have decided to express their frustrations through blogs.
"If he labels them as 'bangang' or 'bengong', that is not the way to solve the issue. He is the party president after all," he added.
Another prominent pro-Umno blogger, The New Straits Times former group editor Datuk A. Kadir Jasin (pic, right), said the Umno president's harsh criticism and use of the word "stupid" against party bloggers were careless speech rather than intentional reprimand.
Kadir compared the remarks to Najib's announcement to repeal the Sedition Act 1948 two years ago, which he said was made without consulting Umno.
"This is just part of Najib's character to speak carelessly, like when he said he would repeal the Sedition Act without first discussing it with his party," Kadir told The Malaysian Insider.
"Hence, Najib's statement in describing pro-Umno bloggers as stupid or 'bangang' should be understood by the public," he added, noting that the prime minister was only targeting bloggers on the party's payroll.
"Najib was specifically referring to bloggers who made a living with their blogs. I am confident Najib meant bloggers who were being paid by Umno or who have dealings and concerns with the party."
Kadir said he Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin, the former information minister who has been critical at current party leaders, were not on Umno's payroll to run their respective blogs.
"Both Zam and I are critical of Najib as Umno president and prime minister," Kadir said.
Zainuddin (pic, left) told The Malaysian Insider that he was not on the list of bloggers Najib was referring to.
"People can judge me for themselves, I am using my pension money to run my blog, nobody is helping me," he said.
Zainuddin said bloggers needed freedom in order to be effective.
"Najib is expecting the online media to be similar to mainstream media. But a portion of the public have made a conscious decision not to read Umno mouthpieces." – December 1, 2014.
