Rotating CM post: Bitter lesson from Sabah

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Yes, it failed in Sabah but the actual reason was Umno wanted full control of the state, says a reader.

On Umno wing: Penang CM rotation not a racial issue

Hoda: Majority of Penang people we have spoken to are against the idea of rotating Penang CM post. Yes, it failed in Sabah but the actual reason was Umno wanted full control of the state.

If the CM post is rotated, Penang's success story will immediately sink. Everybody knows the economy is in the hands of Chinese and Penang has the highest percentage of non-Malay population. I think earlier leaders were very wise to let a non-Malay run the state. That's why Penang, despite being so far away from the capital, is still able to perform among the best.

Malaysia is a multiracial society. If Penang is taken over, investors confidence and non-Malay investments in the state will tumble faster than anyone would realise. We are not Selangor, whose success is spillover from the capital.

If we talk about fairness, political digital makeup and aptitudes regardless of race, are we prepared to rotate the prime ministers post too? Rotating CM post is a very bad idea. It is a product of shallow thinking and selfish motives. Let's not realise the majority presumption that the rest are second-class citizens and will remain so. In everything else, they are already underdogs. The present formula is working well. Let's not spoil it now.

I suggest we don't be penny wise and pound foolish.

Semua rotate: I agree that Gerakan did not win the Penang elections on its own. Neither did Umno or MCA. Hence I endorse Umno suggestion that Penang should rotated its chief minister's post. On a similar vein, neither did Umno win the general elections on its own, either at state or federal level. So following this argument all chief ministers, mentris besar and every individual cabinet minister post should also be rotated. Nothing racial about this as well. Just a matter of putting facts into action. What do you all think?

LS Kong: It is a pity you failed to mention that while "the chief minister's post can be rotated in Sabah", it is no longer rotated because Umno now has enough seats to form government there by itself. I wonder how long it will take for the same to happen in Penang if the CM post is rotated.

It is obvious, to me at least, that Umno wants everything for itself. When was the last time cabinet posts like the prime minister, finance minister, foreign minister, defense minister, education minister, trade minister, etc, were occupied by non-Umno people? With friends like that, who needs enemy.

On Khairy, which bank do you go to?

Chris: At his age, without much corporate experience and even with his so-called Oxford education, one is to wonder how can a 31-year-old able to borrow a large amount of money to invest into a company?

MC: Why is there no honour amongst Malaysian politicians? If one is unable to defend the charges and unable to answer the questions, resignation is the most honourable way out. Why deflect the decisions to your supporters? When will Malaysian politicians learn be honourable?

Seetha Nathan: Mahathir relied on Malay nationalism and Malaysian patriotism to justify whatever he did. Many things appeared to be or were rumoured to be not right but the proof never materialised so he managed the whole thing quite well. He did ask openly for people to submit proof against his alleged wrongdoings but nobody could, so we must assume that he ran an open and honest government and he did not enrich himself or his children. He did mention many times that his children have to cari makan as well and they have had to find projects outside Malaysia since in Malaysia whatever they do would be seen as wrong.

Abdullah is relying on Islamic principles to justify what he is doing, relying on Islam Hadhari and other tenets of the Muslim religion, including the most recently quoted Fardu Kifayah as the reason for him to help the Indians suffering from poverty. Many things appears to be or are rumoured to be not right but the proof has not materialised so he is managing the whole thing quite well. He did also ask openly for people to submit proof against his alleged wrongdoings but nobody is doing that, so we must assume that he is running an open and honest government and he has not enriched himself or his children.

Abdullah is also saying that his son has had to suffer the pain of looking for work outside Malaysia and that his son-in-law has to feed his wife so of course he need to find work somewhere. This cannot be denied as both boys must stand on their own and take care of their wives and kids.

Given these, I am imploring all Malaysian to immediately stop alleging and smearing our good leaders. I don't want to do it but am forced to assume that you are working for foreign governments (e.g. Singapore or USA) if you continue to smear our good leaders.

Further, to solve the problem of ignorant people attacking the children of prime minister and other ministers for earning a living, I most humbly suggest that all children of current and future prime ministers and ministers to be given special accelerated education and attention to ensure that they all become medical doctors as expert consultant in their chosen field (e.g, brain surgeon, heart surgeon) as nobody will use their services because they are somebody's child but only because they are good. That solves this problem.

So dear Malaysian, stop all this mud-slinging.

MS Abdullah: When a prime minister of Malaysia retires he is by law and tradition accorded various perks and privileges which, if quantified amounts to a lot of money in addition to a monthly pension. In return, he is expected to behave in a manner consistent with his position as a senior statesman who has contributed his best during his term of office.

Tun Dr Mahathir does not seem to behave like someone who deserves to be accorded this respect. He goes round making all kinds of accusations and belittle the actions of the government of the day. He is causing more havoc and instability than the leader of the opposition. If he continues to misbehave, is it not appropriate for the government to consider withdrawing his perks and privileges?

Meng Yee: It all sounds too familiar. Mahathir has information on corruption he will reveal later. He calls for an unshackled ACA. He calls for corrupt government officials to be brought to justice. I believe I heard all this the week after Anwar was sacked just before he was jailed. Mahathir is now in Anwar's shoes.

Pak Lah says, his sons are innocent of any wrongdoing, he asks for evidence of corruption. He tightens the media and free speech. Pak Lah is now in Mahathir's shoes.

Its strange isn't? What goes around, comes around.

On Opposition party MDC promoters told to appeal

MS: I note that during the PM's recent trip to Sarawak, he did not meet with the CM. According to Bernama reports, the CM was 'indisposed'. Is the CM ill yet again? Or is he so upset with the PM because the PM wants him to step down that he refused to meet with the PM? Can anyone shed some light on this matter?



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