It is really surprising to read that M Kayveas, the deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department had demanded the resignation of the nine non-Muslim ministers who handed over over their memorandum to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on a issue affecting the non-Muslim communities.

Kayveas has always responded in haste and this is not a vital quality required of a cabinet member. Furthermore, demanding resignation f his 'bosses' is really degrading the whole system and Kayveas needs to be reprimanded.

If this was his only outburst on sensitive issues, then he could be excused for it. But Kayveas has always been seeking publicity to make his presence felt while attempting to make in-roads towards becoming a full minister. The best way to do this is to make sensitive statements on current sensitive issues.

The prime minister should suspend or expel Kayveas from the cabinet to prove the point that insubordination will not be tolerated in respect of the integrity of the cabinet. It will prove a point to others to respect their bosses if their actions were done in good faith.