Manifestos are finally finding their way into Malaysian political conversation and currently, for the wrong reason. The recent fraudulent manifesto issue involving Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak received extensive coverage after it was featured prominently on popular online news portal, Malaysiakini. The erroneous reporting resulted in the resignation of the journalist concerned.

Although manifestos are uncommon, the fraudulent edict deceived many because the recently concluded MCA elections illustrated the relevancy of such public declarations in party politics. Newly-elected MCA president Datuk Ong Tee Keats Agenda for Change outlined his aim to reinvent and rebrand the party and to equip its members to face local and global challenges. This vision was apparently better accepted than opponent Datuk Chua Jui Mengs Rebuild the party, Return to Relevance, Realise Vision 2020.

Unfortunately, manifestos are not the norm in Umno. Being the party from which prime ministers, deputy prime ministers and the majority of Cabinet members are selected from, the weightage on the substantive thoughts of the leaders are of interest to Malaysians, to say the least.

In essence, an Umno leaders strategic direction and views on prospective legislation could very well materialise into law in the country. Constituents are fully aware that proposals featured in a manifesto can be regarded as the priority measures a candidate will champion.

There is of course the reality that manifestos are mere political speak, with their announced policies, principles or intentions never seeing the light of day.

Nonetheless, the very thought of a manifesto from an Umno candidate who has surpassed the quota requirement (another problem area requiring substantial debate), was indeed exciting.

While I was in London this week, an aspirant for the United Kingdom and Eire Council for Malaysian Students chairmanship offered a youth perspective on Malaysian politics. One word: sad.

Holding my attention as we sat in a tube from Kensington Olympia, he expressed dismay that none of the candidates for the Umno Youth leadership had offered any policy initiatives in the form of a manifesto. When he had posed the question to one of the leading contenders, the candidate apparently had nodded in his direction, speechless. The young man described it as silent amazement, or was it bewilderment?

After speaking with other youths while in London, I get the picture that many students here feel the same way. Is it not reasonable that youth leaders make known their vision and ideas in addressing the issues that especially affect them, they ask. That this sentiment is not replicated widely within the Umno Youth fraternity during this period of pre-elections is a concern in itself.

Slogans alone are not enough to differentiate a candidate; its not enough to uncover the diamonds from the rough. Media interviews do shed some light on the inner workings of a leaders mind but there must be enough commitment and courage to sign ones name across a body of ideas that would define his leadership.

In the absence of fathoming potential and quality by analysing statements of ideas, the next logical question would be how can one separate the wheat from the chaff? Without some yardstick, the perception of many is that the route is money.

Recently, even an experienced senior supreme council member lamented the rampant money politics issue. This is not a new problem but if allowed to fester, it will become a deep-rooted problem that would be impossible to eradicate in the future.

Youth leaders, as the future of Umno, must reject outright choosing leaders based on monetary considerations. The partys survival depends on it.

Admittedly, it is not for the lack of trying as evident in the suspension of the fourth ranking member and a few division chieftans in the previous party elections. But word from the ground is that the problem remains. As carrots wont work in these instances, the wallop of the stick has to pack more punch this time around.

The danger is in this deep-rooted problem manifesting into an equally deep-rooted perception that Umno cant get itself out of.

The next five months must be utilised to scrutinise the respective strengths and weaknesses of each candidate, and not to further enhance the perceived rotten culture of corruption that threatens to destroy the party from within.