jeffooi
06-02-2003, 08:04 PM
<font size="+2">October 2003: Headache for Pak Lah</font>
<a href="http://jeffooi.blogspot.com/2003_02_02_jeffooi_archive.html#88447735"><img src="http://www.usj.com.my/images/weblogjeff.gif"></a>
[2/3/2003 10:08:03 AM]
<font size="+1"><font color="red">Resignation calls:
Pak Lah getting embarrassed</font></font>
STOP IT! The DPM said. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wanted cabinet ministers and Barisan Narional elected representatives to <a href="http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2003&dt=0203&pub=Utusan_Express&sec=Front_Page&pg=fp_01.htm">stop</a> making any more public announcement about their offer to resign. He said it was not proper because Dr Mahathir was still leading the country.
Political punters told me Pak Lah is not only getting embarrassed. He wouldn't want to be dragged into murky waters and become a casualty at this critical juncture of his political career.
January 26, Dr Mahathir Mohamad<a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/news/archives/story.asp?ppath=\2003\1\27&file=/2003/1/27/nation/jkstep&sec=nation"></a> said it would be good for all party leaders to resign so that his deputy can make fresh appointments. There are both wisdom, and <i>crouching tiger and hidden dragon </i>in his words, observers said, the zen in which I don't really understand.
On Chinese New Year day, Gerakan president <a href="http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/Frontpage/20030202081822/Article">Dr Lim Keng Yaik</a> suggested that all members of Dr Mahathir's cabinet resign when the Prime Minister retired in October to enable Abdullah, as the successor, to form his own cabinet. Dr Lim said this is in accordance with parliamentary principles and practices. He also said there was no point for leaders to express their intention to resign. <blockquote>"If you want to go, then do it. This kind of statement is very destructive as it takes the focus away from the country. We are not near any election, so stop all these talks."</blockquote>
Sunday, <i><a href="http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2003&dt=0202&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Rencana&pg=re_03.htm">Mingguan Malaysia </a></i> interviewed former DPM <a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/news/archives/story.asp?ppath=\2003\2\3&file=/2003/2/3/focus/jkblackmoses&sec=focus">Musa Hitam</a>. He said if Dr M is bent on leaving, "it was probably time for others to do the same". <a href="http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/Frontpage/20030202081822/Article">New Straits Times</a> highlights a common process practised in democracy: "According to political experts, in the United States, when a new president takes over, all the cabinet secretaries resign to enable him to choose his new, preferred line-up. But of course some of them would be reappointed."
Notably, many high-stake ministers and <i>menteris besar </i>considered Dr Lim's suggestion as merely his personal opinion. Those who have said they <a href="http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2003&dt=0203&pub=Utusan_Express&sec=Front_Page&pg=fp_03.htm">disagreed</a> with Dr Lim's suggestion include Youth and Sports Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Works Minister S. Samy Vellu and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali. Even Awang Sulung, a <a href="http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2003&dt=0202&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Rencana&pg=re_01.htm">ghost writer</a> representing Utusan Malaysia's senior editors, offered the same view.
But clearly, all took the cue from MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik who perfected the <a href="http://jeffooi.blogspot.com/2003_01_19_jeffooi_archive.html#87988703">‘leave-it-to-the-president syndrome'</a> model.
<a href="http://jeffooi.blogspot.com/2003_02_02_jeffooi_archive.html#88447735"><img src="http://www.usj.com.my/images/weblogjeff.gif"></a>
[2/3/2003 10:08:03 AM]
<font size="+1"><font color="red">Resignation calls:
Pak Lah getting embarrassed</font></font>
STOP IT! The DPM said. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wanted cabinet ministers and Barisan Narional elected representatives to <a href="http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2003&dt=0203&pub=Utusan_Express&sec=Front_Page&pg=fp_01.htm">stop</a> making any more public announcement about their offer to resign. He said it was not proper because Dr Mahathir was still leading the country.
Political punters told me Pak Lah is not only getting embarrassed. He wouldn't want to be dragged into murky waters and become a casualty at this critical juncture of his political career.
January 26, Dr Mahathir Mohamad<a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/news/archives/story.asp?ppath=\2003\1\27&file=/2003/1/27/nation/jkstep&sec=nation"></a> said it would be good for all party leaders to resign so that his deputy can make fresh appointments. There are both wisdom, and <i>crouching tiger and hidden dragon </i>in his words, observers said, the zen in which I don't really understand.
On Chinese New Year day, Gerakan president <a href="http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/Frontpage/20030202081822/Article">Dr Lim Keng Yaik</a> suggested that all members of Dr Mahathir's cabinet resign when the Prime Minister retired in October to enable Abdullah, as the successor, to form his own cabinet. Dr Lim said this is in accordance with parliamentary principles and practices. He also said there was no point for leaders to express their intention to resign. <blockquote>"If you want to go, then do it. This kind of statement is very destructive as it takes the focus away from the country. We are not near any election, so stop all these talks."</blockquote>
Sunday, <i><a href="http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2003&dt=0202&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Rencana&pg=re_03.htm">Mingguan Malaysia </a></i> interviewed former DPM <a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/news/archives/story.asp?ppath=\2003\2\3&file=/2003/2/3/focus/jkblackmoses&sec=focus">Musa Hitam</a>. He said if Dr M is bent on leaving, "it was probably time for others to do the same". <a href="http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/Frontpage/20030202081822/Article">New Straits Times</a> highlights a common process practised in democracy: "According to political experts, in the United States, when a new president takes over, all the cabinet secretaries resign to enable him to choose his new, preferred line-up. But of course some of them would be reappointed."
Notably, many high-stake ministers and <i>menteris besar </i>considered Dr Lim's suggestion as merely his personal opinion. Those who have said they <a href="http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2003&dt=0203&pub=Utusan_Express&sec=Front_Page&pg=fp_03.htm">disagreed</a> with Dr Lim's suggestion include Youth and Sports Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Works Minister S. Samy Vellu and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali. Even Awang Sulung, a <a href="http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2003&dt=0202&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Rencana&pg=re_01.htm">ghost writer</a> representing Utusan Malaysia's senior editors, offered the same view.
But clearly, all took the cue from MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik who perfected the <a href="http://jeffooi.blogspot.com/2003_01_19_jeffooi_archive.html#87988703">‘leave-it-to-the-president syndrome'</a> model.