Mounting pressure for change
Hamdan IbrahimPublished: Sep 23, 2008 9:35 AM | Updated: Sep 23, 2008 9:38 AM
I refer to the Malaysiakini report PM under new pressure to quit.
Ever since the general elections in Mar when BN, helmed by Umno, lost big to the opposition, Pak Lah’s days in office have been numbered. The embattled primer has to face the fact that knives have been drawn to get rid of him. The last supreme council meeting where Umno leaders asked Pak Lah to go by Oct 9 must have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Being the chief executive officer of a country is a very demanding and high pressured job and once you fail, regardless of how many other successes under your belt, your job will be on the line.
Pressure on the beleaguered premier to make way for his deputy is growing by the day. Anwar Ibrahim might not make it as our sixth prime minister, but neither is the present premier’s tenure in office safe. By Dec at the latest, Najib might helm this country if Abdullah resigns.
With the exception of the 1969 general election when the present government lost its two-thirds majority, the last polls can be considered a disaster, with five states falling to the opposition, scores of ministers losing their parliamentary seats and after nearly four decades, BN losing its two-thirds majority again in Parliament.
In other robust democratic countries, the prime minister would have taken full responsibility of the drubbing and resigned from office. But Pak Lah chose to cling on to power by promising to step down in two years.
His reluctance to resign from office only emboldened his party members to revolt against his weak leadership. On the other side of the coin, Anwar who has just won his parliamentary seat, has not wasted any time in enticing BN MPs to jump ship in order to form the next federal government.
Will Pak Lah capitulate to all the pressures that are bearing down on him come October 9 at the latest? His hardcore supporters in the cabinet will insist that he stays and only leave office on the date brokered by him and his deputy. But time and circumstances are not on his side. The longer he stays in office, the more difficult is it for the present government to win more seats in the next polls.
Anyway, the division chiefs who will nominate candidates for the Umno party elections at year end hold the trump cards. If grassroot sentiments are to be read correctly, Pak Lah will face the embrassement of not having the numbers to defend his post of president when Umno divisions have their meeting.
Rather than facing the prospect of him being rejected by his party members, it would be prudent for the embattled premier to retire graciously from his high post and let his named successor captain the new ship.
Sept 16 has come and gone without a change of government. The common people are watching with bathed breath to see whether a new prime minister is sworn in on Oct 9.
One has to admit that Pak Lah is a nice and kind man but in this ‘dog eat dog’ political world that we are living in, these traits will not get you far. His reform agenda for the government has hit a brick wall as most senior members in the cabinets are against it.
The resignation of his former de facto law minister who did so on principle against the detention of three individuals under the notorious ISA, speaks volumes of those conservative Umno leaders who still don’t want to change for the better in order to win the hearts and minds of voters in the coming polls.
Real reform of this country and a new deal for all Malaysians will suffer a major seatback if Pak Lah’s anointed successor rolls back all the reforms imitated by the embattled premier.
People are now more educated and do not mind voicing their opinions on government policies which affect their civil liberties. The latest incident where two ISA detainees were released after storms of protest by both people inside and outside the government, is an indication that the present regime can no longer ignore the voice of the people.
Malaysia, like other countries in the region, has suffered under the strong-arm policies of one man. Dr Mahathir, Suharto, Ferdinand Marcos and even Lee Kwan Yew belong to the past. The future belongs to leaders who command the respect of their subjects by being law abiding and God fearing and govern the country without the taint of corruption.
A free press, an independent judiciary and fearless enforcements officers who work without fear and favor would go a long way in overhauling our government machineries which are currently full of corrupt practices and abuse of power by the ruling elite.
To borrow a line from Chinese leader Deng Tso Peng, “it does not matter whether a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice”. In other words, it does not matter whether the government comprises the present regime or a new one, as long as the laws of the country are fully adhered to, people will support it in the coming polls.
Leaders from both sides of the divide need to learn that the common people are watching the political drama unfolding in this country with great interest. Just do your job sincerely and come the next general election, victory will belong to those who do their job well.
Ever since the general elections in Mar when BN, helmed by Umno, lost big to the opposition, Pak Lah’s days in office have been numbered. The embattled primer has to face the fact that knives have been drawn to get rid of him. The last supreme council meeting where Umno leaders asked Pak Lah to go by Oct 9 must have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Being the chief executive officer of a country is a very demanding and high pressured job and once you fail, regardless of how many other successes under your belt, your job will be on the line.
Pressure on the beleaguered premier to make way for his deputy is growing by the day. Anwar Ibrahim might not make it as our sixth prime minister, but neither is the present premier’s tenure in office safe. By Dec at the latest, Najib might helm this country if Abdullah resigns.
With the exception of the 1969 general election when the present government lost its two-thirds majority, the last polls can be considered a disaster, with five states falling to the opposition, scores of ministers losing their parliamentary seats and after nearly four decades, BN losing its two-thirds majority again in Parliament.
In other robust democratic countries, the prime minister would have taken full responsibility of the drubbing and resigned from office. But Pak Lah chose to cling on to power by promising to step down in two years.
His reluctance to resign from office only emboldened his party members to revolt against his weak leadership. On the other side of the coin, Anwar who has just won his parliamentary seat, has not wasted any time in enticing BN MPs to jump ship in order to form the next federal government.
Will Pak Lah capitulate to all the pressures that are bearing down on him come October 9 at the latest? His hardcore supporters in the cabinet will insist that he stays and only leave office on the date brokered by him and his deputy. But time and circumstances are not on his side. The longer he stays in office, the more difficult is it for the present government to win more seats in the next polls.
Anyway, the division chiefs who will nominate candidates for the Umno party elections at year end hold the trump cards. If grassroot sentiments are to be read correctly, Pak Lah will face the embrassement of not having the numbers to defend his post of president when Umno divisions have their meeting.
Rather than facing the prospect of him being rejected by his party members, it would be prudent for the embattled premier to retire graciously from his high post and let his named successor captain the new ship.
Sept 16 has come and gone without a change of government. The common people are watching with bathed breath to see whether a new prime minister is sworn in on Oct 9.
One has to admit that Pak Lah is a nice and kind man but in this ‘dog eat dog’ political world that we are living in, these traits will not get you far. His reform agenda for the government has hit a brick wall as most senior members in the cabinets are against it.
The resignation of his former de facto law minister who did so on principle against the detention of three individuals under the notorious ISA, speaks volumes of those conservative Umno leaders who still don’t want to change for the better in order to win the hearts and minds of voters in the coming polls.
Real reform of this country and a new deal for all Malaysians will suffer a major seatback if Pak Lah’s anointed successor rolls back all the reforms imitated by the embattled premier.
People are now more educated and do not mind voicing their opinions on government policies which affect their civil liberties. The latest incident where two ISA detainees were released after storms of protest by both people inside and outside the government, is an indication that the present regime can no longer ignore the voice of the people.
Malaysia, like other countries in the region, has suffered under the strong-arm policies of one man. Dr Mahathir, Suharto, Ferdinand Marcos and even Lee Kwan Yew belong to the past. The future belongs to leaders who command the respect of their subjects by being law abiding and God fearing and govern the country without the taint of corruption.
A free press, an independent judiciary and fearless enforcements officers who work without fear and favor would go a long way in overhauling our government machineries which are currently full of corrupt practices and abuse of power by the ruling elite.
To borrow a line from Chinese leader Deng Tso Peng, “it does not matter whether a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice”. In other words, it does not matter whether the government comprises the present regime or a new one, as long as the laws of the country are fully adhered to, people will support it in the coming polls.
Leaders from both sides of the divide need to learn that the common people are watching the political drama unfolding in this country with great interest. Just do your job sincerely and come the next general election, victory will belong to those who do their job well.
View Comments0