IT has come to pass. By this week, Umno's seventh president Datuk Seri Najib Razak will cement his place in history, and in folklore, by owning the "N" in R-A-H-M-A-N, the initials of the names of Malaysia's prime ministers in chronological order.
For the uninitiated, the folklore started with Umno's second president and the country's first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman (from whom the acronym RAHMAN originates).
Then came Tun Abdul Razak Hussein (Najib's father), Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the incumbent Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and lastly, the incoming prime minister, Najib.
The part-prophecy-part-folklore arose in the 1990s amid the speculation over who Dr Mahathir's successor could be, as a few of his deputies fell by the wayside, the last being Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, now opposition leader and a thorn in the flesh of the governing coalition.
For many, Anwar then was generally perceived to be destined to be the last ‘A' in RAHMAN, but it turned out to be Abdullah who, in turn, appointed the natural choice in Najib as the second in command, thereby solidifying the prophecy.
That may be why Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor recently said his ascendancy to the top was his "destiny", as was Abdullah's.
After three decades in politics, no one can really dispute Najib's qualification and experience in fitting the bill, destiny granted or otherwise.
The RAHMAN acronym has fittingly come to an end with his ascendancy, notwithstanding the possibility of another in the making hereafter. Will another acronym now emerge? R-A-Z-A-K perhaps (there's a K in there).
Just as the intrigue in the names of prime ministers past and future will continue, Najib is taking over as the country's chief executive at a time of great uncertainties for his party and the country.
Umno, the backbone of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, faces declining support among the populace and the prospect of losing power at the federal level in the next general election that is four years away.
At the extreme end, for some people who believe and have trust in the myth, the fulfillment of the RAHMAN prophecy may signify the end of Umno, that is, if drastic steps were not taken now to bring back faith in the party.
No doubt, faced with a resurgent opposition, Najib has the monumental task of turning around the party and BN, and to improve the perception on them.
Credibility and perception damage repair take time. Will four years be enough?
Arguably, Dr Mahathir may have been too tough an act to follow for anyone thereafter and in a similar vein, given the lows of Abdullah's administration, it would be comparatively easier for Najib to be his own man.
Abdullah last Saturday said he would relinquish the prime minister seat to Najib on April 2.
Najib is taking over at a time when a confluence of numerous issues conspire to make it a hard time for the country and whoever is in charge.
Malaysia is yet at another crossroads in all aspects — socially, economically and politically.
At the top of Najib's priorities will be to lead the transformation of his party.
He would encounter not only a resistant and inertia-laden membership base, but also an equally harder task of convincing the rakyat that the right things were being done.
As cliché as it may sound, all the country's politicians have to rediscover the basics of service, to ask not what their parties or the government can do to ensure they have their fair share of wealth, but what they can do for themselves and for the betterment of their party and the country.
These politicians surely include not only the leaders but ordinary party members, be they of the ruling coalition or Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
The country will fail if any particular community is left behind — that much is accepted by all, and party members will have to do the groundwork to realise the party's vision and mission.
How many of the delegates at last week's Umno general assembly themselves practice what they preach — that is to be of service to the bumiputera community?
Apart from government assistance, how many of them of their own accord make sure that students in their neighbourhoods remain in school, sponsor the less fortunate students, do community service, mentor potential entrepreneurs towards raising competitiveness, etc?
Najib and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin must dare to ask the right questions, and they may get the right answers and thereby the solutions to problems afflicting the party.
Can Umno and its partners in the ruling coalition turn their large membership base into a strength in service to the country, particularly during the ongoing economic downturn?
By no stretch of the imagination, party leaders and members should take heed of the lessons from the financial crisis in the United States that led to the collapse of the global economy, where banking giants took part in activities that contributed little to enhance productivity in the real economy and that were based on phantom assets.
Are BN component parties' members playing their part in helping shape the country's economy by actually carrying out real business activities, by increasing productivity and industry competitiveness, by relying less on foreign workers but help raise per capita income via innovation and mechanisation, by raising standards in the service industry?
Equitable wealth distribution alone will not guarantee Malaysia's success in maintaining and raising economic wellbeing, in fostering national unity, or in raising living standards.
It requires just and fair governance. It requires giving the rakyat their freedom, and belief in the wisdom of the rakyat to make their own choices.
It requires a free media. (Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan will do well to pay heed to such a principle. The onus is on politicians to properly communicate their message, and let the people decide. Remedies for lies and slanders can be had from the courts.)
It requires a strong opposition to keep the government of the day in check. It requires leadership and faith in the Rule of Law. What gets in the way of such principles must be discarded.
Najib has asked that he be judged not by rumours, but by his actions. Indeed, his actions will re-make Umno and the BN, or cause a further slide in support from the people.
Will BN component parties' members heed his call for change and transformation?
While he would not want to tempt fate, it is within Najib's control to set the country's long-term path and at the same time, show that Malaysia's fate is not inextricably tied to any folklore or outdated practices.
The country may not need the guidance of another name acronym to foretell future leadership, but its hopes rest on Najib leaving behind a legacy that would pave the way for a better tomorrow for the rakyat, and a much better and happier tale that could be told for generations to come.
For the uninitiated, the folklore started with Umno's second president and the country's first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman (from whom the acronym RAHMAN originates).
Then came Tun Abdul Razak Hussein (Najib's father), Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the incumbent Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and lastly, the incoming prime minister, Najib.
The part-prophecy-part-folklore arose in the 1990s amid the speculation over who Dr Mahathir's successor could be, as a few of his deputies fell by the wayside, the last being Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, now opposition leader and a thorn in the flesh of the governing coalition.
For many, Anwar then was generally perceived to be destined to be the last ‘A' in RAHMAN, but it turned out to be Abdullah who, in turn, appointed the natural choice in Najib as the second in command, thereby solidifying the prophecy.
That may be why Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor recently said his ascendancy to the top was his "destiny", as was Abdullah's.
After three decades in politics, no one can really dispute Najib's qualification and experience in fitting the bill, destiny granted or otherwise.
The RAHMAN acronym has fittingly come to an end with his ascendancy, notwithstanding the possibility of another in the making hereafter. Will another acronym now emerge? R-A-Z-A-K perhaps (there's a K in there).
Just as the intrigue in the names of prime ministers past and future will continue, Najib is taking over as the country's chief executive at a time of great uncertainties for his party and the country.
Umno, the backbone of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, faces declining support among the populace and the prospect of losing power at the federal level in the next general election that is four years away.
At the extreme end, for some people who believe and have trust in the myth, the fulfillment of the RAHMAN prophecy may signify the end of Umno, that is, if drastic steps were not taken now to bring back faith in the party.
No doubt, faced with a resurgent opposition, Najib has the monumental task of turning around the party and BN, and to improve the perception on them.
Credibility and perception damage repair take time. Will four years be enough?
Arguably, Dr Mahathir may have been too tough an act to follow for anyone thereafter and in a similar vein, given the lows of Abdullah's administration, it would be comparatively easier for Najib to be his own man.
Abdullah last Saturday said he would relinquish the prime minister seat to Najib on April 2.
Najib is taking over at a time when a confluence of numerous issues conspire to make it a hard time for the country and whoever is in charge.
Malaysia is yet at another crossroads in all aspects — socially, economically and politically.
At the top of Najib's priorities will be to lead the transformation of his party.
He would encounter not only a resistant and inertia-laden membership base, but also an equally harder task of convincing the rakyat that the right things were being done.
As cliché as it may sound, all the country's politicians have to rediscover the basics of service, to ask not what their parties or the government can do to ensure they have their fair share of wealth, but what they can do for themselves and for the betterment of their party and the country.
These politicians surely include not only the leaders but ordinary party members, be they of the ruling coalition or Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
The country will fail if any particular community is left behind — that much is accepted by all, and party members will have to do the groundwork to realise the party's vision and mission.
How many of the delegates at last week's Umno general assembly themselves practice what they preach — that is to be of service to the bumiputera community?
Apart from government assistance, how many of them of their own accord make sure that students in their neighbourhoods remain in school, sponsor the less fortunate students, do community service, mentor potential entrepreneurs towards raising competitiveness, etc?
Najib and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin must dare to ask the right questions, and they may get the right answers and thereby the solutions to problems afflicting the party.
Can Umno and its partners in the ruling coalition turn their large membership base into a strength in service to the country, particularly during the ongoing economic downturn?
By no stretch of the imagination, party leaders and members should take heed of the lessons from the financial crisis in the United States that led to the collapse of the global economy, where banking giants took part in activities that contributed little to enhance productivity in the real economy and that were based on phantom assets.
Are BN component parties' members playing their part in helping shape the country's economy by actually carrying out real business activities, by increasing productivity and industry competitiveness, by relying less on foreign workers but help raise per capita income via innovation and mechanisation, by raising standards in the service industry?
Equitable wealth distribution alone will not guarantee Malaysia's success in maintaining and raising economic wellbeing, in fostering national unity, or in raising living standards.
It requires just and fair governance. It requires giving the rakyat their freedom, and belief in the wisdom of the rakyat to make their own choices.
It requires a free media. (Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan will do well to pay heed to such a principle. The onus is on politicians to properly communicate their message, and let the people decide. Remedies for lies and slanders can be had from the courts.)
It requires a strong opposition to keep the government of the day in check. It requires leadership and faith in the Rule of Law. What gets in the way of such principles must be discarded.
Najib has asked that he be judged not by rumours, but by his actions. Indeed, his actions will re-make Umno and the BN, or cause a further slide in support from the people.
Will BN component parties' members heed his call for change and transformation?
While he would not want to tempt fate, it is within Najib's control to set the country's long-term path and at the same time, show that Malaysia's fate is not inextricably tied to any folklore or outdated practices.
The country may not need the guidance of another name acronym to foretell future leadership, but its hopes rest on Najib leaving behind a legacy that would pave the way for a better tomorrow for the rakyat, and a much better and happier tale that could be told for generations to come.
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