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Removing Dr M’s police escort shows Umno’s vindictiveness

Nazri: Withdrawing Dr M's police escort long overdue

Oxymoronictendencies: One of the major problems with BN and Umno is that they completely fail to grasp that when elected to govern the country, they are elected to govern all Malaysians equally.

Moreover, the privileges and rights due to past holders of high government office are not within the behest of the government to withdraw or bestow as the whim takes them.

In this instance, Tourism Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz should make the most of the trappings of his ministerial position because at best he has two more years to enjoy them.

Let's hope the next government will not be as narrow-minded and vengeful as Nazri, and that they will treat him with mercy and kindness and not strip him of all his post-ministerial privileges and pension.

Ib: The government machinery belongs not to Umno but to the people. It should serve past prime ministers out of respect, regardless of their political parties.

Umno ministers should stop behaving like bullies. The opposition is a necessary part of our democratic system and they are voted in by the people.

NNFC: The people need to ask if the police escort is because you once were the prime minister and needed some security or is it because you belong to Umno.

I think Nazri obviously thinks the latter, which is really pathetic. And these type of people are our ministers?

Victor Johan: Indeed, the police escorts or outriders for ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad or Abdullah Ahmad Badawi are civil servants. They are there to escort these ex-leaders to any functions as desired, even to anti-government functions.

Even Najib Abdul Razak will require such protection when he's no longer the PM.

Legit: I believe police protection and other such privileges are accorded to the post of ex-PMs, not the persons. This is irrespective of their party affiliation. This is not up to the whims and fancies of the sitting PM or government.

So when the opposition takes over, can they strip all these privileges from Najib and Abdullah?

Anonymous #40538199: If George Bush criticises US President Barack Obama, the government protection for him as a former president would be withdrawn?

Whatever customary privileges accorded to former prime ministers should stay. Please don't act as if the government is the assets of the party.

Ex-PJ: The low and mean mentally of Najib's ministers is revealed again. The former PM has earned that right for police escort.

This is no different from the requirement that pensions of civil servant can only be remitted locally. These folks have earned their pensions and should not be penalised if they chose to live overseas. Especially now, when conditions are going from bad to worse.

RM2.6 Billion Turkey Haram: Shame on you, Nazri. The police escort is given to all ex-PMs for their services to the country. To deny Mahathir of the service just because he is against a corrupted government is a childish act.

What next? Advise the king to withdraw Mahathir’s Tunship?

Hearty Malaysian: To withdraw police escort service to Mahathir just because he calls for the removal of Najib as PM who admits to taking RM2.6 billion in "donation" is a total abuse of power by Umno.

Worldly Wise: It is a matter of national integrity for our former prime ministers to be protected. If our former prime ministers are not protected, the entire country will feel unsafe.

Mushiro: The withdrawal of police protection is childish and petty. Mahathir uses the police outriders to escort him to all the functions that he attends, not only the anti-government functions.

This tit-for-tat will not discourage Mahathir but will drive the people to support Mahathir even more.

Mojo Jojo: Nazri, is that the most creative thing you can do to the old man? Why pull off his privileges one by one when you can do a lot more to make your lord and master proud of the kitten that you have become?

Houseefatt: This is a case of overaged delinquents with monkey brains in overpriced suits playing infantile games instead of solving the growing mountain of social, environmental and economic problems hanging over the nation like a dark and dangerous storm cloud.

ACR: Hello, Nazri's grandmother is not paying for the escort service provided. The opposition and their supporters are citizens, and they in fact number more than the supporters of BN.

Umno leaders do not understand public service and Nazri's statement here is the evidence.

Slumdog: Nazri, your mindset is that of someone being childish, petty and mean-spirited, the hallmarks of a morally bankrupt minister.

Gggg: If this can happen to the former PM and Umno president, I dread to think what fate awaits non-Umno members.

Mahathir was right, "Melayu mudah lupa." This is simply wrong and childish.


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