Wake up to the anger, Dollah!

The election may be over, but the anger is still bubbling.

Everywhere I go, I hear people scolding and scolding the government of Abdullah Badawi, the MCA, the MIC and even the almost dead & buried Gerakan.

At the petrol station, I hear people muttering curses at Dollah over the high petrol prices they have to pay now.

At the makan stalls, you can hear how the people have come to view MCA and Gerakan leaders as a huge embarrassment to the Chinese community.

While waiting for the kids to come through the school gates, the topic of conversation invariably includes a favourite question, "What the h*** is Pak Lah doing?"

The people are worried about bread and butter issues. Not exactly about whether Anwar will or will not allow the police to take a sample of his DNA.

The brouhaha over Anwar is mostly a joke. But they get angry when they start to discuss how the country seems to grind to a halt with so much government focus being given to derail this one ambitious man.

And disgusted when talking about the joker in Terengganu who admitted that Proton cars are really lousy and if you can have Mercedes Benz paid for by taxpayers, why not?

And the perennial favourite, ketuanan this and ketuanan that, what was that for? If so geng, how come nobody wants to employ your university graduates? Ketuanan is just another word for big bully, isn't it?

My ears are burning and the collective anger has dampened my mood.

Buat Kerja, Pak Lah!!

********************
Updated:

Malaysian Inflation hits 7.7 percent, a 26-year high

Jul 23, 08 5:54pm

Malaysia's annual inflation rate jumped to a 26-year high of 7.7 percent in June due to a substantial rise in fuel prices, according to official data released today. Nor Mohamed Yakcop, second finance minister, had already said that a 41-percent hike in subsidised fuel prices last month was set to boost inflation in June and July. The figure came as something of a surprise as economists had predicted June inflation of 6.6 percent. - AFP

Dr M bikin UMNO Terbaru?

He caused the demise of the original UMNO and famously formed UMNO Baru and became the new party's member #1. Today, he announced that he is quitting UMNO Baru, and urge other members to follow suit.

Is he now going to be member #1 of UMNO Terbaru with Sanusi Junid member #2?

********************

The Star Online, Monday, 19 May 2008

Dr M, Sanusi quit Umno (Final)

Mahathir quits Umno

ALOR STAR: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and veteran party man Tan Sri Sanusi Junid announced Monday that they are quitting Umno.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced this on Monday at 12.35pm, citing a lack of confidence in the current leadership.

"I am quitting Umno today," he told about 1,000 people, mostly Kedah Umno members, at a talk here on Monday.

"I will write a letter to Umno headquarters to inform that I have quit the party," he said.

He has been critical of his appointed successor Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, blaming the current Umno president for the party's disappointing performance in the 12th general election.

The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, of which Umno is the largest component party, won the March 8 election with a simple majority, and saw four more states join Kelantan under Opposition rule.

Dr Mahathir urged other party members to quit too, as a way of pressuring Abdullah into vacating his post.

However, he advised those who do quit not to join any opposition party, adding they can all rejoin the party once there is a change in leadership.

Abdullah has so far refused all calls for him to step down, and said he would defend his presidency in the party polls in December.

Sanusi, who is a former Kedah Mentri Besar, also quit the party on Monday.

PM Abdullah: Shocked

Meanwhile, Abdullah said he was shocked by the decision and, despite their differences, had not expected him to leave.

However, the beleaguered premier said he would stay on and fight for the party.

“Perhaps some other members might leave too, but this won’t entirely affect the party. It all depends on whether the rest want to stay on and continue to fight for the party too,” he said.

Umno Deputy President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak expressed his shock and sadness too.

Najib, who read a prepared statement to Malaysian reporters at Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, said he was prepared to meet Dr Mahathir to discuss his decision.

"I will also discuss with Datuk Seri Abdullah, whom I had contacted just now, on efforts to strengthen Umno and also the issue of leadership transition in the party.

"I hope all Umno members will stay calm and give support to our efforts to strengthen the party," he added.

In KLANG: Former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said Dr Mahathir’s decision will affect public perception of Umno’s strength and possibly discourage youngsters from joining the party.

Many of those aged below 40 years grew up during Dr Mahathir’s premiership and hold him in high regard.

“Dr Mahathir’s resignation will have a huge impact on the trust that this group of people, including the Malays, have in Umno and its capability to lead the country,” he said.

He said youngsters wanting to join the party now might also shy away as questions would be raised on Umno’s ability to be effective as a party.

“These youngsters might not join other parties but they will stay away until Umno can mend the current situation and avoid splits in the party,” he said.

In PUTRAJAYA, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said it was a bad time for Dr Mahathir to quit Umno as the party was going through a difficult period.

He said the resignation would not help in efforts to rebuild Umno.

"He is doing more damage than good; whatever it is, the party is still looking for a new direction and we need everyone to remain united and not split," he said.

Syed Hamid expressed fear for the future of Umno because Dr Mahathir had a great influence and a person of his stature could rattle and destroy the party.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said Dr Mahathir's hatred for Abdullah was seemingly stronger than his love for Umno.

He said the former premier should realise that asking others to follow his footsteps would only make it easier for Pakatan Rakyat to take over the Federal Government.

"What he is saying is that if you love Umno, leave Umno -- it does not make sense," he said.

Shahrir also said that Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir should be the first to take up his father's suggestion to quit.

Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said he was surprised at the decision, but added that it was Dr Mahathir's right to do so.

"Every member has the right to join or leave the party," he said.

Asked if Umno would convene an emergency meeting, the former Umno vice-president and Selangor Mentri Besar said that "we will wait and see."

The next Umno Supreme Council meeting is scheduled to be held within two to three weeks.

Urged to reconsider
In IPOH, MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan called on Dr Mahathir to reconsider his decision.

Speaking at a press conference after a Wesak Day celebration at the Malaysian Buddhist Associatino (Perak branch) hall here, Ong said he was saddened by Dr Mahathir's sudden announcement.

Barisan Nasional was currently facing a huge challenge and his decision would not benefit Umno and the coalition, said Ong, who is also Housing and Local Government Minister.

As a former Prime Minister, his words carried weight and would affect all levels of the people including party leaders, he said.

“We do not hope for any more problems and neither should we create more,” he said. “Our country needs stability and not uncertainty. His decision would paint a bad impression for the rakyat (citizenry) and foreign investors,” he added.

Lumut Umno division chief Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir also urged Dr Mahathir to reconsider his decision.

“I feel very sad with Tun's decision to leave the party. It should not have happened in the first place,” he said.

Dr Zambry, who is also Pangkor assemblyman, said Dr Mahathir was a great leader who provided a sense of direction and ideas for the party and country.

The problem involved a former president and the present one, he said, adding that it so happened that the predecessor had appointed the current one.

“So it is a complex issue,” he said, adding that the current leadership must immediately find ways to overcome the problems in the party.

Dr Zambry pointed out that it was not unprecedented for former party presidents to quit Umno, adding that Dr Mahathir was the party's fourth president to leave the party.

The other three were the late Datuk Onn Jaafar, Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Hussein Onn, he added.

In PETALING JAYA, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said Dr Mahathir's decision would not solve the problems faced by the party and would instead give more strength to the Opposition.

"At this time when the party is under stress, all parties including leaders and former leaders must work together to heal Umno so it becomes firm and strong," she said.

In MALACCA, Umno veteran and stalwart Tan Sri Aziz Tapa, 85, said that he was shocked at the news and was at a loss for words.

“How can it be when he (Mahathir) says that he loves Umno? I met him only few days ago in Johor and everything seemed okay. What he is doing is not right,” he said when contacted here on Monday.

Umno supreme council member Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik described the move as an "interesting but tragic development" for Umno.

"It's shocking news to me. If true, then I would say that it is an interesting yet tragic development for the party,” he said.

Reacting to Dr Mahathir's resignation, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said, “This will weaken the party at a time when it is facing its enemies.”

Dr Mahathir joined Umno at its inception in 1946.

He became a Member of Parliament in 1964 when he won the Kota Setar Selatan seat.

He lost the seat in the following general election in 1969.

Following the May 13, 1969, riots Dr Mahathir was sacked from the Umno Supreme Council on July 12 because of the widespread distribution of his letter to first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman criticising Tunku’s manner of handling the country’s administration.

Dr Mahathir rejoined Umno on March 7, 1972 and was appointed Senator in 1973. He relinquished the senatorship post a year later to contest the Kubang Pasu seat in the general elections. He was returned unopposed and was appointed Minister of Education.

In 1975, Dr Mahathir became one of the three vice-presidents of Umno.

Tun Hussein Onn appointed Dr Mahathir Deputy Prime Minister on Sept 15, 1978.

Dr Mahathir was Prime Minister of Malaysia from July 16, 1981, until Oct 31, 2003.

Is NST learning to write from the heart?

This front page editorial from the NaSTy paper today speaks like one of us, eh?

The NST says: GET ON WITH THE JOB

IT’S been five weeks since the general election. The Barisan Nasional was returned to power, albeit with a smaller majority and the loss of five states.

Despite the shock of the result, it was still a mandate that no one could argue with, not even Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his wildest allegations of electoral fraud. But what has Umno, the leading partner of the coalition and largest party in parliament, been doing since March 8?

Bickering, pointing fingers, baying for vengeance and doing everything imaginable except rolling up its sleeves and getting down to the work of governing.
Enough is enough.

People are getting fed up with Umno’s moaning and groaning, the political wayang and sandiwara its cast of characters is playing up and down the country.

The truth is that the people have long been disgusted with the kind of boorish, loutish behaviour that Umno leaders had exemplified because of their grip on power since independence in 1957.

Brandishing the kris was hurtful to the non-Malays but the party leadership did nothing to take the Umno Youth chief to task for the menacing and insulting gesture. Which was why he was emboldened to repeat it and provide extra impetus for the Chinese and Indians to abandon the BN at the polls.

It also did not go unnoticed that the leadership put up with the racist and inflammatory rhetoric of the delegates at the televised 2006 Umno general assembly.

Then there was the desecration of the temple under the watch of the then Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo which did so much to outrage the Hindus throughout the country and turn them against the ruling coalition. And Dr Khir had the cheek to award a broom to a local council president, when neither he nor the party president could control the warlords who held the party to ransom over the choice of candidates, and stabbed the party in the back when they did not approve of the candidates.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is now paying for these and other acts of omission, including the undeliverable promises of change that he made when he first became prime minister in 2003.

Every other day, he has had to deflect attacks by party members and ex-leaders who conveniently have absolved themselves of any fault. But every day that he is sidetracked by party bickering is another day affairs of state are neglected — the nation and the people are the losers.

Abdullah has said that he has got the message; he has accepted responsibility for the unkept pledges; and this time, he vows he will deliver on his promises and set the country in order before he retires.

That is, in fact, the verdict of his mandate, and he should be allowed to get on with it. But all the worms crawling out of the Umno woodwork — especially the retired and those with shelf lives past due who have found new breath in their calls for a party coup — won’t let him.

They don’t get it. Abdullah is not solely to be blamed and everything will not suddenly be all well again if he goes. Umno from the roots to the high branches all have to share the blame for their silence, their greed, arrogance and shenanigans that have turned off voters. So stop the navel-gazing and infighting.

If they have to fight among themselves, at least have the decency to keep it civilised and behind closed doors. They don’t have to drag the whole country through their infernal politicking.

There are more important things than private peeves and settling of scores.
Neither the brewing crisis over soaring food prices nor other major issues are going to wait for Umno to put its own house in order. Now is the time for the grand old party to move on, do the things its leaders have promised and show that it still has what it takes to lead the nation.

********************

Looks like our mainstream media is also keen to join in the fray. Let's see who shuts up first.

Updated: Oh, I like this photo so much that I'm giving it a thumbs up by sharing it here.

Tanjong Sepat assemblyman from UMNO, Karim Mansor in a German pigsty, photo grabbed from Aisehman's blog.

A song (or two) for Pak Lah

From my favourite band, Simple Plan. You can click on the link to hear the songs.

********************

HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN TO ME?

I open my eyes
I try to see but I'm blinded by the white light.
I can't remember how,
I can't remember why,
I'm lying here tonight,
And I can't stand the pain,
And I can't make it go away,
No I can't stand the pain.

How could this happen to me?
I've made my mistakes,
Got nowhere to run,
The night goes on, as I'm fading away.
I'm sick of this life.
I just want to scream,
"How could this happen to me?"

Everybody's screaming,
I try to make a sound but no one hears me.
I'm slipping off the edge.
I'm hanging by a thread.
I want to start this over again.
So I try to hold on,
to a time when,
Nothing mattered.
And I can't explain,
What happened and I can't erase the things that I've done.
No I can't.

How could this happen to me?
I've made my mistakes,
Got nowhere to run,
The night goes on. As I'm fading away,
I'm sick of this life.
I just want to scream,
"How could this happen to me?"

********************


ME AGAINST THE WORLD

We're not gonna be
Just apart of their game
We're not gonna be
Just the victims
They're taking our dreams
And they tear them apart
Til everyone's the same
I've got no place to go
I've got no where to run
They love to watch me fall
They think they know it all

I'm a nightmare, a disaster
That's what they always say
I'm a lost cause, not a hero
But I'll make it on my own
I've gotta prove them wrong
Me against the world
It's me against the world

We won't let them change
How we feel in our hearts
We're not gonna let them control us
We won't let them shove
All their thoughts in our heads
And we'll never be like them

I've got no place to go
I've got no where to run
They love to watch me fall
They think they know it all

I'm a nightmare, a disaster
That's what they always say
I'm a lost cause, not a hero
But I'll make it on my own
I'm gonna prove them wrong
It's me against the world
Me against the world

Now I'm sick of this waiting
So come on and take your shot
You can spit all your insults
But nothing you say is gonna change us
You can sit there and judge me
Say what you want to
We'll never let you in

I'm a nightmare, a disaster
That's what they always said
I'm a lost cause, not a hero
But I'll make it on my own
Me against the world

I'm a nightmare, a disaster
That's what they always said
I'm a lost cause, not a hero
But I'll make it on my own
I've got to prove them wrong
They'll never bring us down

We'll never fall in line
I'll make it on my own
Me against the world

********************

On watching list

The person who signed the detention order will have blood on his hands if diabetic P. Uthayakumar dies in Kamunting.

P. Uthayakumar discharged prematurely and suffers silent heart attack.

BN's early Deepavali message

There's a letter in the mail for our dear Prime Minister from his beloved Hindu community here.

And our police force also wants to send a message to the Hindus here.

Finally, Miss Lulu has some high hopes for the coming election (which I believe many believe to be next month) which will take place after the Festival of Lights.

Certainly, I hope this early Deepavali message delivered by the Barisan administrators will shed much LIGHT unto all of us so that even the blind can feel the vibes.

"Selamat Menyambut Hari Deepavali Daripada Kerajaan Barisan Nasional"

Apa saya peduli? Merdeka!

I can't belief he actually said this (as reported in The SUN today at page 2):-

"It's NOT MY NATURE TO INTERFERE in such matters. What is required is JUSTICE." (My emphasis in BOLD.)

So the hue and cry over the case of THAT UMNO guy bold enough to snub HRH The Sultan of Selangor is now CLOSED? Semua OK?

BERSIH, CEKAP DAN AMANAH?

Frankly, I'd expect someone to be mighty pissed-off by the whole shameful episode. These days, the little and big napoleons are more powerful than kings and emperors.

And of course, he who-need-not-be-named is celebrating MERDEKA in the very real sense of the word.

A wedding, how nice!

Wedding bells are in the air! How nice!

I love weddings. My spirit skip and dance at the sight of so many happy faces gathered together to celebrate the union of two people in love. And then, there's always the food and drinks to go with the merry occasion. What's not to like about weddings, right?

So, I'd like to congratulate Pak Lah and his new bride on the occasion of their union this coming weekend. May they both enjoy many blissful years of togetherness.

Really, I find it amusing that there is a certain coyness to the announcement of this happy news. Maybe the groom is feeling nervous, heheh!!

Since we're all in a happy mood, I'd just add on a little more happiness to your enjoyment of this short post by sharing a little joke below.

Have a nice day! :-)

********************

A clergyman was walking down the street when he came upon a dozen boys, all of them apparently between ten and twelve years of age.

They were surrounding a dog. Concerned, he went over and asked, "What are you doing with that dog?"

One of the boys replied, "He's an old neighbourhood stray. We all want him, but only one of us can take him home. So we've decided that whichever one of us can tell the biggest lie will get to keep the dog."

Of course the reverend was taken aback.

"You boys shouldn't be having a contest telling lies!" he exclaimed. He then launched into a ten-minute sermon beginning with, "Don't you boys know it's a sin to lie?" and ending with, "Why, when I was your age, I never told a lie."

There was dead silence for about a minute. Just as the reverend was beginning to think he'd gotten through to them, the smallest boy gave a deep sigh and said, "All right, give him the dog."

Reflections

I think about God.
Yet I talk of small matters.
Now isn't it odd
How my idle tongue chatters!
Of quarrelsome neighbors,
Fine weather and rain,
Indifferent labors,
Indifferent pain,
Some trivial style
Fashion shifts with a nod.

And yet all the while
I am thinking of God.

- Gamaliel Bradford

********************

I came across this poem today. The simple words belie the meaningful truth behind our daily existence.

And then, for some unexplained reasons, I also thought of our Prime Minister. Maybe it is because we all know that he is a God-fearing man.

He also seems, for all intents and purposes, a man of good intentions. At least, that is what the mainstream press often makes him out to be.

Still, it cannot be denied his popularity is declining especially among those who have rallied around him during the last general election, buoyed by the lofty promises he made to create a better Malaysia for ALL of us. How many of them snort and snigger at his speeches these days?

For such a good man that he is made out to be, what went wrong?

Could he have confused intentions with actions? Truly, they are not the same nor equal.

If only he realises it.

Introducing Pak Lah to Citizen Nades

From the SUN at page 2 today:-

... On the perception that (Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) is slowing down in his fight against corruption, he said he was doing his best but it was difficult without the support and help of the people.

Once again he appealed to the people to "help me to fight corruption by providing evidence".

(Note: Bold emphasis are mine. For full text of Abdullah's speech, log on to www.pmo.gov.my)

********************

First of all, I find Pak Lah's claim that he is not getting the support and help from the people in his fight against corruption rather strange.

I know he is a busy man, but to give an example, surely he has heard of the good paper the SUN?

No? Surely those boys from the 4th floor have (at some point) read the paper?

Surely, surely, if not he, then someone close to him must have heard of the good work of Citizen Nades?

No again? Gosh, these guys must be living on another planet!

Why is Pak Lah so tolerant of slimeballs?

Dr M Bakri Musa has made an interesting commentary regarding the Zakaria Mat Deros case.

He felt that:-

The Sultan should have summoned Khir Toyo, instead (of) Zakaria Mat Deros to the palace over the issue of the illegal building of Zakaria's private mansion.

The Sultan could strip Zakaria of his datukship, assuming of course that the Sultan awarded the honour in the first place. As Malays are still very much a feudal bunch, that would carry significant shame. That such a slimy character was so honoured to begin with says much about the current state of Malaysian, in particular Malay, society.

The sultan should strip Khir Toyo of his datukship for his incompetence. That would be a powerful symbolic gesture. The Sultan would effectively be challenging the prime minister to get rid of this joker. Khir Toyo is obviously fit only to fill in dental cavities, not the chief executive suite.

We have to be angry at the right people, at the right time, for the right purpose, and express that anger in the right way. Slimy characters like Zakaria and his superior Khir Toyo make it easy. We cannot be angry enough at their types. We must totally abhor them. They bring dishonour to our race and nation.

Interesting, huh?

Read the full article here.

Also sad - after 3 years in power courtesy of the people's biggest mandate, slimeballs still rule in Pak Lah's government.

Well, that's the sort of Barisan Nasional leaders the people voted in.

Can we now say we did not deserve this?

Remembering Endon

Exactly one year ago, we received the shocking news that Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, the beloved wife of our Prime Minister had passed away suddenly after losing her battle against cancer.

This day will be spent remembering a kind and gentle lady whose presence is still felt by those whose lives have been touched by her in ways that may not always be publicly expressed.

********************

The New Straits Times, Saturday 1 November 2003 (Special Edition: Welcome Pak Lah @ p.10)

"I never felt sorry for myself"

WHEN it happened to me I never felt sorry for myself.

"Cancer is so rampant these days. One in four people in the country has cancer. It is a common disease," said Datin Seri Endon Mahmood.

"I thank God that it happened at a time like this, when I have a son who can look after me. We have the money for the treatment, and I have friends who can help me. Lots of caring people pray for my good health, too.

"You can ask my children. There has not been a time when they saw me cry. I think the only time I shed tears was when I needed Pak Lah. But I always have to tell myself that he has a bigger role to play, a country to look after.

"Now I have to concentrate on looking after myself. I feel that it's important that I do this so that I can assist Pak Lah.

"He has not been able to follow me for my treatments but he calls every two or three days. Even during my last operation, he was busy with an MCA event.

"I know that he felt a bit guilty for not being able to be with me during my operation but I have always assured him that the country needs him more than I do.

"He is so occupied with his work, he has no time even for himself. But I do miss him. I suppose it's because we are so close.

"He often asks me not to forget my prayers. In the end it's just up to God.

"These days, my mornings begin with a bit of meditation after subuh prayers. Then I do qi gong. Pak Lah used to do it with me, but not anymore. He just doesn't have the time."

- (interviewed) By Hisham Harun

********************

She sacrificed her personal needs and her husband for the country.

Would her husband honour that sacrifice and leave a legacy that will make all Malaysians proud? A legacy that will usher in an eagerly awaited golden era of justice, accountability and transparency that will propel Malaysia into a respectable nation in the eyes of the world community?

In the end, what is being done now shall be recorded in future as history. Time will tell. Let us hope that for all of Endon's sacrifices, something good for all the people of Malaysia will come through the leadership of Pak Lah.

May Allah bless her soul.

Pak Lah's agenda for the police back in 2003

I'm going to take you on a trip down memory lane here.

On 31 October 2004, The STAR paper published a special edition outlining Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's achievements after one year in office as the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

On page 12 of the report heading "A Momentous Year", Lourdes Charles wrote:-

"Restoring and improving the image, professionalism and credibility of the Royal Malaysia Police Force was one of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's top priorities when he became Prime Minister.

"TWO months after taking over as Prime Minister Abdullah met the top 150 police officers in the country. He outlined three very pertinent points to the officers that he felt the force needed to adopt immediately. They were:-

"Change in values and mindset of every single police officer;
"To improve the efficiency and delivery system of their work; and
"Accountability and responsibility of the top brass in the force.

"Abdullah also set up an independent Royal Commission to investigate and come up with ways to enhance the professionalism of the police force. ...

"Concerned with the rising crime rate especially violent crimes and snatch theft, the Premier approved the purchase of 500 patrol cars to be used on crime prevention rounds. ...

"Abdullah also wanted all forms of organised crime to be wiped out including human trafficking for prostitution and loan sharking to be tackled with top priority. ..."

********************

I emphasized some words in bold for obvious reasons.

Back in January 2004, which was two months after he took over as Prime Minister on 1 November 2003, it was already observed that VIOLENT CRIMES and SNATCH THEFT were already an issue that meritted the attention and concern of the newly minted PM.

Fast forward to the present, 32 months LATER, we are still talking about how our police are unable to reduce the incidences of violent crimes and snatch theft.

IN FACT, it has gotten WORSE!

The independent Royal Commission has already done their work and submitted their report which is now probably gathering dust in some forgotten shelf.

This is beginning to sound like an old lame joke.

Pak Lah has been asking and asking everybody to WALK THE TALK for months and finally he is now ready to WALK it himself. But the question is, in which direction is he walking to? And are his colleagues walking in the same direction as he is?

Worse still, are they heading in the RIGHT direction?

********************


p.s. Maybe Pak Lah ought to consult with the MB from the developed state on how to maintain a tight grip in the stormiest of situations.

Perhaps then he can discard the walk the talk slogan and talk his way out of every controversy without having to walk a single step.

UMNO vs Pak Lah?

I am concerned, after reading the letter written by Din Merican to Dr Bakri Musa which was posted on the latter's website here where in the following paragraph towards the end of the letter, he made a disturbing remark:-

" ... I am told from fairly reliable sources that there is apparently considerable pressure for Abdullah to step down before the next UMNO General Assembly in September 2006. May be they will gave him a face-saving way out, in the usual Asian tradition. They will ask him to step down and reward him with a Tunship together with a bundle of cash. That would definitely be cheaper considering the damage he has already inflicted on the economy. Look at the ringgit and the mounting losses in KLSE since he took office from his illustrious predecessor. It is not likely that the Prime Minister would give up power that easily since those close to him would be affected in the same way that Tun Mahathir’s supporters are now experiencing." (the bolded words are mine.)

Please read the full text of the letter on Dr Bakri's website for a clearer picture of the contents therein.

I wonder how bad the true situation is for Pak Lah given that there is now an insinuation that within the ranks of UMNO itself, there is a clear attempt to oust him.

Could this possibly happen?

My concern is this:- If Pak Lah indeed ended up being a one-term Prime Minister, is this good or bad news for Malaysians?

Personally, I am not hopeful that any other person who may currently be in the running for the post of PM in the event that Pak Lah does vacate his position would be a better deal for Malaysia.

Pak Lah, for all his weaknesses, had outlined the best agenda so far for all of us. The only thing lacking is his ability to implement them with the stamp of authority needed to push things through in this country.

I may not be a fan of Dr M but one thing I do admire about the old man is his determination to see through his plans, come what may. That man can move mountains if he so put his mind to it, never mind the fact that his modus operandi can sometimes be downright appalling. But you definitely won't see Dr M hee-hawing over any issue that crops up and casting a less than desirable impact on the image of the country and the government under his rule.

The reason why I think Din Merican's observation is pertinent revealed itself when Pak Lah finally came out in the open to deny Khairy's influence on his decision-making process.

You can read the press reports covered by all the English mainstream papers here.

And lo and behold, the very next day, UMNO information chief, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib made a public statement that UMNO will back Pak Lah.

In the context of the above two public declarations, something tells me that Din Merican's statement is not to be taken lightly.

Yes, Dr M is back. And he has indicated in no uncertain terms that the game is still on.

Seeing that Pak Lah is keeping mum on the furore surrounding the UPM fracas and another display of open defiance by The Youth & Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said to go ahead with the proposed sports centre project in London despite public objections, he indeed has much on his plate to ponder on top of all the other troubling stuff that is steadily piling up.

Certainly, I'm not looking forward to what's coming next.

Is Pak Lah sprinting towards his last lap?

I was doing quite a bit of reading in fellow bloggers' websites and just now when I was at my cyber-friend HJ Angus' blog, I made a comment which I would like to share with my readers here.

Lately, we have seen many incidents which would not have escaped the attention of our Prime Minster, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi or more affectionately known as Pak Lah.

From various troubles with the police force, the mismanagement by state agencies to the embarrassing public dressing-down given by the former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, we can pretty much guessed that Pak Lah has reason to be more than a little worried that his credibility as well as reputation has taken a huge beating.

Well, you can't possibly expect to achieve a momentous election victory of almost 92% voters' confidence without the ensuing burden of living up to their expectations of you making good all your election promises and bravado sloganeerings, can you?

And how much more time does he have to prove himself the worthy crown holder?

By the looks of it, if the good old doctor does not succeed in striking him down with further attacks and deadly tactical moves soon, in all probability the trusted civil service as well as the wakil rakyat will provide the finishing touch.

A quick and cursory look at what has been going on within the civil service departments and all the combined efforts of the little and big Napoleans and you will get the picture.

We can hand it in to these guys to do him in when all else fails.

After all, they have ample experience in stirring up anger and disgust among the rakyat (read: voters) by their sheer stupidity, or is it all a calculated move in brilliant disguise?

Such a pity.

After the first 12 months of honeymoon, followed by the next 12 months of feeling around and finally some signs of actually waking up to the huge responsibilities of the job in hand, will he be able to muster enough strength to sprint the last lap towards the finishing line?

Or will he find, to his utter regret, that during his slumber, he did not see the many obstacles thrown into his path by all those Napoleans determined to trip him up and see him fall flat on his face?

He'd probably be left wondering how he could have missed seeing all those potholes and oilslicks dotted in front of him.

Such a shame indeed. He was such a hero back in 2004. Now, even if he isn't yet a Zero, he is coming quite close to it.

How did he let it all turn so sour so quick?

What now, Pak Lah?

I am re-producing an article written by Oon Yeoh published in TodayOnline.com for the benefit of readers following the Dr M-Pak Lah saga.

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Wednesday, 21 June 2006

WHAT NOW, PAK LAH?

What PM Abdullah can do to silence Dr M and his critics

Following former Premier Mahathir Mohamad's criticisms against his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the mainstream media did its job and ran news reports of overwhelming support for the Prime Minister.

An avalanche of critical commentary pieces against Dr Mahathir followed suit. It was interesting to see senior editors, who used to hail Dr Mahathir as a visionary leader, now calling his mega-projects wasteful.

Columnists who used to praise and encourage Dr Mahathir's frank and outspoken manner now say he should tone down his opinions and retire gracefully. Reading such articles reminded me of the saying: "Those who live by the sword, die by the sword."

Using the state-controlled media to demonise the opposition is a tactic perfected by Dr Mahathir while he was in power. Now, he's getting a taste of his own medicine.

But far from backing off, the support for Prime Minister Abdullah by government leaders and the media has only spurred Dr Mahathir to become even more combative.

In the coming months, you will see Dr Mahathir up the ante. As a one-man shadow cabinet, Dr Mahathir is more effective in demanding accountability from the government than all the opposition parties combined.

The fact that he has managed to single-handedly force the government to respond to his questions regarding various issues will only embolden him to pose tougher questions in the future.

Although he often complains about the press ignoring him, the reality is that whenever Dr Mahathir holds his no-holds-barred press conferences, his comments will be reported.

In addition, he can — and has been using — other avenues including the Internet. He recently gave an interview to the online news site Malaysiakini, which he used to demonise when he was in power.

During the Perdana Peace Forum, he invited bloggers to cover the event. He has also had his open letter to the government posted on a pro-United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) website.

Another tactic was to get his former press secretary Matthias Chang to make statements that were too inflammatory for even Dr Mahathir to utter — such as Mr Chang's recent accusation that Mr Abdullah's son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, and The New Straits Times deputy chairman Kalimullah Hassan, exert inappropriate influence over government policies.

So what is Dr Mahathir up to? One theory is that he wants to hasten Mr Abdullah's departure from the political scene and ensure that he is a one-term prime minister.

Although Dr Mahathir has declared that he has neither the intention nor the power to do this, political observers will remember how Dr Mahathir, as a young politician, contributed to Malaysia's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman's downfall after the deadly May 13, 1969, riots.

Unhappy with the Tunku's liberal policies, Dr Mahathir wrote a scathing open letter urging that he resign from office. The Tunku responded by sacking Dr Mahathir from Umno, but the open letter, which was disseminated widely within Umno, led to student demonstrations and marked the beginning of the end for the Tunku, who resigned a year later.

As political analyst Liew Chin Tong observed, while the critical remarks made to the press and posted on the Internet will not bring down a prime minister, Dr Mahathir's open attack on Mr Abdullah has crossed a psychological barrier, especially when Dr Mahathir's censure comes at a time when Pak Lah's (Mr Abdullah's nickname) popularity is on the wane.

The high hopes the people placed on Mr Abdullah, which propelled him to a massive landslide victory in the 2004 general election, are no longer there due to his flip-flops on police reforms, anti-corruption and other policy matters. The increases in petrol and electricity prices have also made the public unhappy.

The fact that the premier's son-in-law has risen incredibly fast in the political and corporate world has also meant Mr Abdullah is no longer immune to accusations of nepotism and cronyism.

So, what can Mr Abdullah do?

There is one way he can effectively neutralise Dr Mahathir's criticism, and it doesn't require any spin by his media operatives. It doesn't even require him to respond to Dr Mahathir's barbed comments.

All he has to do is fulfill the promises he made during his campaigns for the general election. If he fulfills his reform agenda, nothing Dr Mahathir says will matter, for Mr Abdullah will have the support of the people.

Oon Yeoh is a writer and commentator based in Kuala Lumpur.

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Note: The bold text were added by me to emphasize my agreement with Mr Yeoh on the points raised in his observation of Pak Lah's dicey political position vis-a-vis his first term in office as the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

As I've said so in an earlier post, this is not about answering one man's questions.

This is all about regaining the trust and confidence of disillusioned and dejected Malaysians.

Pak Lah is not sweating in his job

I want to put up the following excerpt from M. Bakri Musa's blog because it was so descriptive of the current administration under Pak Lah as well as what we can expect from our PM throughout the remaining term of his office:-

"The performance of Abdullah and his team has been anything but cemerlang (excellence). It would be hard to have a straight face in referring to them as gemilang (glorious). Only they fantasize terbilang (distinction). This new team, with its core members securely ensconced, is nothing but temberang (bullshit). "

and this:-

"Abdullah and his “new” team is prepared only to coast along. It is the same old tired crew, being led by an equally tired skipper who is clueless and rudderless. We would be lucky if we were not swamped in these turbulent times."

You can read the rest of the text from "More Perspiration, Less Inspiration" which he co-wrote with Din Merican.

I wonder how many out there disagree with the popular perception that our Prime Minister's recent cabinet reshuffle and subsequent public announcements has failed spectacularly to inspire confidence in the rakyat that they had made the right choice in supporting the BN government during the last general election.

Expect more temberang in the coming days ahead when the rakyat start to get real angry upon waking up to the reality that their fixed Ringgit salary cannot possibly keep up with the increased costs of living.

More business for Ah Long from Bukit Beruntung?

Glad to see him back at work

Our dear Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is back at work yesterday, putting his personal sorrow and loss in the back burner to attend to his responsibilities to our nation and its people. His stoic resolve to shoulder on and not allow his grieve to consume him is indeed admirable and humbling to watch.

I am heartened to see a picture of him in The Star today and he looked fine. He also took the time to pay his respects to Madam Toh Kim Eng, the late mother of MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting at his home. The picture of both our PM and the MCA president together in page 2 of The SUN today is touching for both are grieving still for their departed family member.

I wish to record my heartfelt condolence and sympathy to Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and his family in their hour of sadness. Om Mani Padme Hom.

A Sad Day for Malaysians

Malaysians of all races received the news of Datin Seri Endon Mahmood's passing today with shock and deep sadness. Our Prime Minister has lost his beloved wife, a lovely and gentle lady much loved and respected by all. My prayers and thoughts are with Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his family on this difficult and sad day. May Allah bless her soul.