Umno-paid bloggers

“Sometimes our bloggers shoot at us in what is said to be a ‘friendly fire’. I am telling you the fire wasn’t very friendly!

“Hit the opposition, and not us. That’s how we can win.

“This is also why we are weak, as we are always creating problems for ourselves.”

A good one. In fact, I had written about it a few times. They are pro-Umno but in many cases are not pro-Barisan Nasional. They cushion Umno and its leaders but hit out at MCA, MIC, Gerakan and other BN component parties.

They are 'over chauvinistic' by defending the Malay party that they forgot about Barisan Nasional. They blame the Chinese for BN poor performance in the 13th general election by singling out MCA and Gerakan.

I used to tell Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan about it - that some bloggers under Umno's payroll were not contributing to the party and BN. They even attacked Umno and BN leaders over some policies.

I also told Information Dept boss Haji Ibrahim and Umno executive-secretary Raof that some of the social media players they employed were 'stabbing the party from behind' by belittling Umno, its leaders and BN component parties.

However, it fell on deaf ears. Not to mention my message to a few people in-charge of PM's social media team at the Prime Minister's Department.

Ooopsss... sorry. I have to make it clear. A few calls yesterday really disturbed me. They asked if I am one of the so-called 'Umno-paid bloggers'.

My answer,. NO! I am not. Umno never paid or sponsored my blog because they thought I am already 'a rich blogger'. Ahmad Maslan knows that. I don't have a paymaster. Some of my fellow-bloggers are, and I know them.

But of course I am pro-Umno in my own way. I do criticise the party and its leaders once a while but I meant no harm - just to correct them. If some Umno leaders think they are incorrigible, they are totally wrong!

I move on my own, finding my own resources for some good bloggers who are not under anybody's payroll. They are the good ones but being sidelined by Umno. I notice that Umno prefers those who are good at producing lies and slanders and using profanity words in their blog postings. The 'hit' for such blogs is high.

These are the people getting big pay from the party. However, did Umno provide help when the opposition sue them? I don't think so!

During debate at the general assembly, a few delegates also 'got out of control' by hitting out at the Penang Chinese. Someone even proposed that Umno should choose the right people to lead MCA, Gerakan, MIC and other BN parties.

However, in his winding up speech, Najib, failed to response to the issues. Did he approve that?

Not fair to blame Umno bloggers for attacking few party leaders in BN when leaders from Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan also cross-fire at each other over certain issues. Najib, as the boss, should be in control by calling them to settle it behind four walls, and not in the open forum.

How about that?

You want a good social media team, pay them well and tell them the 'DOs and DONTs'. Umno must revamp the team by picking only the good and constructive ones. Its time to take a professional approach in dealing with it! Mr PM himself must have hands-on in this.

Blaming the bloggers alone does not help...