Dr M defends Musa against divisions no-confidence motion

comments     Yusof Ghani     Published     Updated

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today defended Education Minister Musa Mohamad who was reprimanded by an Umno division for opening Mara Junior Science colleges (MRSM) and matriculation programme to non-bumiputra students.

Last week, the Umno Senai division in Johor has cast a vote of no confidence against the minister.

Mahathir, who is also the Umno president, said there should not be any question of no confidence being passed against any particular minister.

"The real intention (of Umno Senai division) is to come up with a vote of no confidence against the government and Umno supreme council," he said.

"Unfortunately [for the complainants], the education minister did not commit any wrong."

He was speaking at a media conference after briefing the delegates at the party's general assembly at its headquarters in the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

In addition, the premier said he believed that the motion made by the Senai division chief Adam Abdul Hamid last Wednesday was not made at a division meeting but rather by the body's committee members.

"The meeting of the division committee is not [the proper venue] to propose such a motion," stressed Mahathir.

He said if an Umno division or branch was to move a motion of no confidence, a full meeting must be called by the division or branch.

Asked how the party's general assembly, which begins today till Saturday, would deal with such a motion, Mahathir said the decision to allow any resolution is made by the permanent chairperson and involved various procedures.

He added that if it were so easy to propose resolutions, then the whole general assembly would be flooded with motions.

Malay support

Yesterday, Adam said the government should abide to the decision made at the Umno General Assembly if the delegates chose to reject the 10 percent quota allotted to the non-bumiputra in the MRSM and matriculation programme.

He warned that the government's failure to abide by that will affect Malay support for the party.

However, Adam added that he was not sure if the controversial issue will be brought up in the general assembly.

Meanwhile, Mahathir also said that the introduction of English as the language of instruction in science and mathematics at all school levels has to be made because the country "does not have much time as the world is moving fast" ahead, even though some Malays are not ready for it.

He said that in this age, the acquisition of science and technology — which the government believes to be possible by mastering the English language — should no be longer delayed if Malaysia did not want to be left behind.

Mahathir also criticised the parties which did not agree with such a move, saying they have nothing to give except criticism of the government's efforts.



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