It's halfway through the season, and it's the opportune moment for team captain Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to reshuffle his 'football team'.

This was the advice given by Bernama chairperson Mohd Annuar Zaini (left) to the prime minister, in a harsh reference to the latter's present cabinet ministers.

"Some of his players are exhausted and old, while some are bought off by the bookies. They should be removed," said Annuar during a book launching ceremony in Universiti Malaya (UM) yesterday, drawing scores of laughter from the 600-strong crowd.

Expanding on his football analogy, Annuar suggested that Abdullah evaluate the team by placing eligible players in the correct position, and remove those who are not performing.

"Pak Lah is not the only player, he is with his team. Now is the half time, he should evaluate and reposition the team. His team would then perform better," said Annuar.

Doctor vs Bomoh

He was speaking during a panel discussion of the book The Survivor Meets the Challenge: Abdullah Badawi and Malaysian Politics , authored by general manager of the news and current affairs division of TV3 Chamil Wariya.

Annuar, who was the private secretary of former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam, drew another round of laughter when he likened Abdullah's people-friendly style to that of a bomoh (spiritual healer).

"Pak Lah is always late for functions because he will meet with people waiting for him outside his office or house,"

"However, (Abdullah's predecessor) Dr Mahathir Mohamad will only meets those who had made appointments. He (Mahathir) is a medical doctor and Pak Lah is like a bomoh ," he said.

The distinction of style, argued Annuar, was the main difference between the two.

Politics later

Meanwhile, prominent academic Ungku Aziz (left) urged students not to be distracted by politics while in university, stressing that the university is a place to study.

"Wait until you (students) graduate, then you can run the country, if you want to study, you study and get good result, and if you want to join politics (after graduation), you are free (to do so )" he told the reporters after the discussion session.

Ungku Aziz recalled his days as UM vice-chancellor during the 1970's, when the student movement was at its peak, "I told the students that they needed to do for the country was to obtain good results. Other people will do the demonstrating for you (students). Don't get distracted,"

In another development, Higher Education Ministry's Higher Education Department director Prof Dr Hassan Said told reporters that the committee to review University and University College Act had been formed

However, he refused to reveal the committee's members, but assured that the ministry will make the announcement soon.