New Straits Times Group editor-in-chief Abdullah Ahmad has grand ideas. As editor of a very influential and well-read newspaper in Malaysia, Abdullah is in a position to write as he pleases.

He does not make use of this valuable opportunity to write for the good of society at large. Instead, Abdullah uses the right bestowed upon him to write irresponsibly. By writing about the importance of his past and the social circle he moves in, Abdullah is indeed writing irresponsibly.

Irresponsible because that sort of writing does not lend credence to his stature as NST group chief editor, and certainly does not add value to a newspaper Malaysians look forward to reading.

But Abdullah Ahmad's atrocious sense of self has taken a precarious turn recently. This man has, for some time now, had the grand idea that he has the right to use his position to promote Umno vice president and current front runner Najib Tun Razak for the position of deputy premier.

His Saturday editorial - asserting that Umno may lose Pahang if Najib is not made deputy - is the ultimate insult, and a back-handed threat to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

It is also a very condescending statement towards the rest of Umno ministers and certainly a derogatory remark to Najib's main contenders: vice president Muhyiddin Yassin and perhaps Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz. Is Najib honestly satisfied to have Abdullah as his lackey, much to the chagrin of the people?

If Umno wants to retain a sense of respect, it must not let one man, who holds an influential position in the media, to act in a manner that satisfies only himself. By not taking positive action to stop Abdullah from abusing his position, Umno is undermining the respect it deserves. By letting Abdullah make his personal political stand public, Umno is letting one man's political stand become a portrayal of Umno's public stand on the post of deputy premier. Is this what Umno deserves?

I think not. At the very least, Abdullah's taunt has publicly undermined the prime minister's prerogative to determine his own deputy. If Abdullah is as learned as he portrays himself to be, then it is surely not necessary to point out that it is rude to blatantly promote his personal favourite for the post of deputy in a newspaper owned by public shareholders, and disregard the prime minister's expressed request not to speculate over the matter.

By silently relenting Abdullah's public statements, Umno is eroding its position. As a Malaysian who believes that Umno is still relevant to hold onto its reign, I trust it has enough sense of self respect to immediately execute the action needed.