The New Umno

This May 11,UMNO is celebrating its 60th annivesary. But is it really 60 years old or 18 years old. I just picked up this story from an alternative news site Malaysia Today. The original UMNO as we know was founded in 1946 by Datok Onn and his friends.It was a combination of several Malay interest groups in that era. Its rallying call was for the upliftment and defending the dignity of the race,religion and country. The writer also says that Umno did not fight for independence as some claimed.The fight for independence were by other groups and individuals.Most were jailed by the British or died fighting. Umno's only fight was against the Malayan Union. When the British could not handle the Communist threat in Malaya,they started discussing with Umno about independence. And Umno had to include the Chinese and Indian parties as a package to get Malaya's independence. That was the Umno our fathers and grandfathers were part of. Umno was deregistered in 1988,that means it died in 1988. The writer says that the old Umno was `purposely' deregistered so that the PM (Mahathir) could get rid of some rivals. The late Tunku,Ku Li and Musa Hitam tried to revive Umno as Umno Malaysia as soon as it was deregistered.Their attempt was in vain. Reason,The `Umno' name was already taken and was unable to register. One week after Umno Malaysia's application was rejected by the Registrar of Societies,Umno Baru's application was approved. Umno Baru was born in February 1988.Umno Baru had to make a fresh application to join Barisan Nasional in Feb.88.MCA was the acting chairman during Umno's absence. The late Tunku and the late Tun Hussein Onn(both former PMs) never became members of this Umno Baru . So now,when we talk about Umno,its not the original Umno of 1946 but the Umno of 1988.