Is the besieged International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz under threat from her peers in the cabinet?

Reading between the lines of her interview published in a local English daily today, Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang seems to think so.

"Has she now realised that although she is the second longest serving minister, she has very few friends, supporters and sympathisers in the cabinet?" he asked in a statement.

Rafidah had lashed out at Lim in the New Straits Times interview when asked to comment on the latter's call on her to resign over the Approved Permits (AP) controversy.

"I couldn't care a damn what Lim Kit Siang asked me to do. He is not the prime minister.

"Lim Kit Siang can go jump into the lake...and this goes for anybody else. I was appointed by the prime minister. I am in service at his pleasure and no one should try to usurp the prime minister's prerogative about any minister in the cabinet.

"Don't let anybody think that they are equal (to) or above the prime minister," was her scathing reply.

Unnamed persons

Lim, who said he would not ask Rafidah to jump off the Petronas Twin Towers in return, pointed out that there is more than what meets the eyes in her remarks.

"Any discerning and sharp-minded political observer would have noted that she was not just referring to me. In fact, I was not her main target...," he said.

According to him, Rafidah appeared to be more worked up about these unnamed persons, for it is these 'anybody else' who are trying to 'usurp the premier's prerogative' about her ministerial position.

"And they point at other cabinet ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak," said the veteran politician.

Lim also wondered if this is the reason why Rafidah had to appear at yesterday's cabinet meeting although she was supposed to start her medical leave for a knee-cap operation.

Is this why it was also revealed that she would still be handling official duties during her three-week recuperation period, he said.

"Is she afraid that a strong acting minister appointed during her one-month full medical leave might discover a lot of skeletons in her cupboard? he added.

On her 'go and jump in the lake' remark, Lim said he would not resort to the same as there was nothing personal between the two of them.

"What is indisputable is that Rafidah has failed to give convincing, satisfying and acceptable explanations to the questions swirling around the AP scandal and national automobile policy, as reflected by the virtual unanimity of views by all MPs, whether Barisan Nasional or opposition," he added.