Dr Mahathir Mohamad was right when he said that we have a indecisive prime minister with a half-past-six cabinet. Even his accusation that his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin was calling the shots from the 4th floor of the PM's office was proven correct.

During the recent Umno general assembly, Khairy gave a long-winded exposition why there should be a two-tier subsidy system for petrol and diesel. He questioned the wisdom of giving subsidy to rich 'towkays' who owned luxury cars. This racist insinuation of course implied that most rich owners were mostly Chinese while most Malays were driving around in 'Kapchais' (Honda cub).

However, Khairy's proposition would have been more creditable had he also said that subsidy for bumis to buy houses should also be removed since it was also benefitting the rich Malay class. Why should non-Malays have to subsidise rich Malays to buy luxurious houses and condominium costing a few million? Shouldn't we implement a housing policy that would subsidise those who are poor and irrespective of race.

To prove what Mahathir said about the PM taking instructions from the fourth-floor boys, namely Khairy, the mainstream media next day published the prime minister parroting what Khairy had said earlier at the general assembly. Subsidy cannot be sustained and will have to be gradually abolished, he said authoritatively. Any fool could see that it was no coincident. Yes someone was whispering to the PM's ear and no prize for guessing who.