Is there a plot to oust Fairus?

anaysis Malaysiakini today learnt that a top state PKR leader is the likely mastermind behind an internal plot to topple Penang Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.

It is learnt that the leader, who is said to be driven by jealousy, hatched the plan to oust Fairus the day one he was appointed deputy chief minister.

Since then, Fairus has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons, with speculation rife that PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim was fed up with him and on the verge of replacing him.

Although it is widely believed that Anwar openly ticked off Fairus for under performing, the truth is that the Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader did it at a closed-door meeting.

How Anwar's ‘slap on the wrist’ was leaked out to the press is not a difficult question to answer.

A top Pakatan Rakyat state leader suggested that the plotter may have even conspired with certain local Umno leaders to rattle the embattled Fairus, who is also Penanti assemblyperson.

This drops broad hints of the alleged plotter and sheds light on the motives behind the recent political controversy invoked by Umno Seberang Jaya assemblyperson, Arif Shah Omar Shah, who said he was considering joining PKR.

The recent furor in Penang is surely a win-win situation for both Arif Shah and the PKR plotter, especially when the Umno man claimed that Anwar had offered him Fairus' position to lure him to PKR.

Arif Shah’s disclosure, which was subsequently denied by Anwar, unsettled Mohamad Fairus, who blew his top and was not his usual mild-mannered self when contacted by journalists.

On his part, Arif Shah spiced up the drama with the 'Fairus' element to shake up certain local Umno leaders and gain the sympathy and immediate attention of the state party leadership.

Now Arif Shah is saying he was never keen to join Pakatan, when just a week ago he declared that "there was a 30 percent chance" of him jumping ship.

It's a simple enough game plan when you think about it - rattle Fairus and force him to resign and have a convenient, albeit surprising, replacement ready to take his place.

Shortcomings aplenty?

It’s not like Fairus was lacking in shortcomings.

His initial work style added fuel to the fire, giving his detractors plenty of ammunition with which to burn him, especially in a drama-hungry media.

It is true that at the beginning of his tenure in the state government, he was frequently late or absent from functions, meetings and press conferences, and did not show much interest in field work.

His brief ill-stint as the president of the Football Association of Penang also invited much criticism and further undermined his credibility.

However, it is imperative to keep in mind that his often inexperienced assistants were not helping him by organising schedules, meetings and functions in a more orderly manner.

One his aides, Zulkifli Mohamed, is believed to have been ordered to leave after about three months when Fairus found him incompetent.

However, when contacted by Malaysiakini today, Zulkifli denied being sacked by Fairus, adding that he also did not tender in his resignation.

"I have been transferred to work under another exco member," explained Zulkifli.

Indeed, some of Fairus’ colleagues in the state government strongly believe he has become a target of someone's political ambition.

"Compared to when he just started out, he has vastly improved in terms of professionalism and work ethic," said a state councillor.

"It's a pity that he has become a victim of an ugly political ploy. He is hardworking, determined and dedicated," said another state leader.

"He is also friendly and multi-racial."

He added that the current leaders in the fledgling Penang government under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng were still learning the ropes and adjusting to the new administrative environment.

"Even though some might be veteran politicians, we are rookies in administrative politics, including the chief minister. Fairus is not even a seasoned politician," said the Pakatan leader.

Too young to know better

Mohammad Fairus is only 33, considered a ‘baby’ in politics, and was undoubtedly swamped by a new workload when he was elected deputy chief minister. Understandably, he has had to take his time to learn the tricks of the trade.

"Can anyone claim to be an expert in their field by nine months? The critics should be fair and leave him (Fairus) alone," fumed a councillor.

Another blog allegation that the chief minister was contemplating a state cabinet reshuffle involving Mohammad Fairus is also believed to be untrue.

Indeed, the councillor today insisted that such matters have never been discussed in any exco meetings to date.

Besides the Penanti elected representative, PKR’s other state executive councillors are Batu Maung assemblyperson Abdul Malik Kassim and Bukit Tambun assemblyperson Law Choo Kiang.