Time for Najib, cabinet to resign
Charles Hector
Jul 11, 06 2:12pm
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s reaction to recent revelations about the sale of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) shares is pathetic, as he attempts to wash his hands and pretend to be clean.
It is shocking that he and other ministers are suddenly claiming ignorance of the previous administration’s actions and decisions. This is a serious failing.
Cabinet ministers are part of the Executive. With this comes the duty and responsibility of governing the country. They cannot claim ignorance or shift the blame to a previous prime minister or cabinet member when old scandals resurface, as is happening.
In the case of national carrier MAS, serious concerns would have been raised when it came to light that a private company paid RM8 per share, at a time when the market value was RM3.50.
Why was a private company permitted to acquire 32 percent stake in MAS? The public has a right to know, because their money is involved in bailouts or other means of financial support of government-linked companies like MAS.
The rakyat does not have access to information and facts, no thanks to the Official Secrets Act and the general lack of transparency in governance, and therefore can say they did not know.
But how can Najib, a long-time member of the Executive who holds a high position in dominant political party Umno, tell us today that he did not have any knowledge of the situation involving MAS?
What about the so-called Project M? Did Najib know about this or was he equally ignorant about these allegation that identity cards were freely issued to foreigners in Sabah?
Najib and premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi were in the cabinet of prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and so, were also responsible for all things done or not done by that government. He is just as responsible for all things done or not done by the Abdullah administration.
It was interesting to note the silence of Najib and other members of the Executive when Mahathir began asking questions. Others are also asking questions about questionable choices and deeds during Mahathir’s tenure.
Concept of responsibility
Cabinet members are not meant to be seat- warmers and pak turut (followers).
If the prime minister or cabinet has done something wrong, then ministers - as wakil rakyat - should tell the nation about this and perhaps even resign. Those who do not do so are just as guilty for all the bad decisions and deeds of the Executive.
They cannot remain in cabinet and then, when scandals and failings are exposed, claim ignorance or point an accusatory finger at this person or that.
Abdullah himself cannot now claim that he was not responsible for things done during the Mahathir era.
It is disturbing to note that Najib and other ministers, many of whom served under Mahathir, are trying to be as quiet as possible. They are not now giving the rakyat real answers, let alone telling us what little they know, in response to the legitimate concerns being raised.
An agitated Najib, when asked by journalists on July 6, said: “I don’t want to talk about it anymore; I told you whatever needs to be told. Can you understand English or not?”
I find that his attitude shocking. We want to know everything, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, not just whatever needs to be told.
Almost every day, Abdullah and/or Najib tell us this and that via the media. To the critical Malaysian, many of these are just general statements about only what they want us to know - about good things that the government has done or is doing for us Malaysians.
Nothing is said about the failings of the government, and there aren’t real or complete answers to questions most of the time.
The most important question that I want Najib to answer is why the government has failed to close the large gap between the rich and the poor, which is shamefully among the worst situations in Asia.
Explain why some national schools still do not even have electricity and toilet facilities, why there is growing unemployment, and why the fruits of development have not even reached many areas in Malaysia.
The cost of fuel and electricity has increased, while real wages, job security and quality of life have worsened.
The issues involving MAS, the crooked bridge and Proton management are really all very small in comparison to issues like distribution of wealth and resources to the rakyat.
As days go by, more failings and scandals come to light. These would never had arisen if we had a good, clean, efficient and trustworthy Executive.
I believe the time has come to get rid of those who were in the Mahathir cabinet and are now in the Abdullah cabinet. It is time to replace them with people who are truly clean, efficient and trustworthy, for the good of Malaysia.
You cannot put new wine in an old wineskin. A total revamp of Malaysia’s Executive is the solution.
* as was reported in Malaysiakini. It was amended by the publication.Original version is below.
NEW CLEAN AND TRUSTWORTHY LEADERS NEEDED - TIME FOR NAJIB & THE CABINET TO RESIGN
It is shocking that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and/or any of the Ministers who were part of the executive to now suddenly turn around and claim ignorance of things done by the government during the time they were in cabinet. This is unacceptable, and is definitely a serious failing of that member of the cabinet. As a member of the cabinet, you are part of the executive in Malaysia and with this comes the full duty and responsibility of governing the country – and you cannot come back today and claim “ignorance” or just shift the blame to the then Prime Minister or some other Minister. The reaction of our Deputy Prime Minister is pathetic as he attempt to wash his hands and pretend to be ‘clean’ when such scandals of old finally come to light.
Here, we are talking about Malaysia’s national carrier, MAS, and it would have raised many serious concerns when it came to light that a private company paid RM8 per share when the market value then was RM3-50. Why was a private company permitted to acquire 32% stake in MAS? It must also be noted that all these questions and fears surfaced long ago. When it comes to MAS, the money of the ordinary Malaysian is involved - ‘bail-out’ or various other direct and indirect support.
The ordinary rakyat, who do not have access to information and facts (thanks to the Official Secrets Act and the general lack of transparency in Malaysia) can say that he did not know – but how can Najib Abdul Razak , a sitting member of the cabinet, who holds a high position in UMNO, the leading and most powerful of parties in the Barisan National, tell us frankly and honestly today that he did not have knowledge.
What about the so-called “Project M”? Did Najib know about this or was he also ignorant about this? Najib and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi were both in the cabinet of Mahathir Mohammad, and they are also responsible for all things done and not done by that government. Najib is now the Deputy Prime Minister of the present government and as such he is just as responsible for all things done and not done by this government under the premiership of Pak Lah.
It was interesting to note the silence of Najib and the other members of the executive when Mahathir started asking questions, or when others started asking questions about questionable choices and deeds that happened when Mahathir was premier. Najib and the other members of the cabinet were never meant to be just “seat warmers” and “pak turuts”. If there is something wrong done and the PM did it (or the Cabinet did it), then a sitting member of that cabinet, who is also a wakil rakyat (an elected people’s representative) should tell the nation about it and maybe even resign. If you did not do this, you are just as guilty for any and all bad deeds or decisions made by the executive.
You cannot just remain in cabinet – and then when these scandals and failings are exposed later come out now and claim ‘ignorance’, ‘no knowledge’ or just point an accusatory fingers to this Prime Minister and/or some other person.
In the same way that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi cannot say now and claim that he was not responsible for the things done during the Mahathir era, Najib too cannot escape liability for the failings during Pak Lah’s premiership or even when Mahathir was PM. In fact, it is very disturbing to note that Najib and many of the present members of the Pak Lah cabinet, many of whom were also in Mahathir’s cabinet, are trying to be as quite as possible and are not even now giving the rakyat real answers, let alone telling us what little they knew, in response to the many real questions and legitimate concerns being raised.
I am certain that the rakyat will not allow Najib and/or any other member of the Executive give us again the impression that we have a new government now because the PM is gone and a new PM is in the seat of power power. Pak Lah too was essentially just a different face to the same executive for Malaysia when he replaced Mahathir. There never was a new executive only a new PM.
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore; I told you whatever needs to be told. Can you understand English or not?” were the words used by Najib (as reported in Malaysiakini 7/7/2006), and I find that this kind of attitude is shocking. We want to know everything, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, not just “whatever needs to be told”. In fact, almost everyday in the news Pak Lah and/or Najib is out there telling us this and that – but to a critical Malaysian many of these are just general statements of only what they want us to know. It is all about the good things that the government has done or is doing for us, Malaysians. Nothing is said about the failings or the mistakes of the government. And most of the time it is never real and complete answers to questions.
The most important question things that I would want Najib to explain is the failing of the Malaysian government that resulted in the such a large gap between the rich and the poor in Malaysia, which is shamefully amongst the worst in Southeast Asia and Asia. Explain the fact why some National schools still do not even have electricity and toilet facilities, the fact that there is growing unemployment, the fact that the fruits of development have not even reached many areas in Malaysia, the fact that fuel, electricity and cost of living has increased whilst real wages, job security and quality of life has worsened. The MAS issue, the ‘crooked’ bridge issue and the Proton issues are really all very small in comparison to issues like distribution of wealth and resources to the rakyat.
As days go by, and more and more past failings and scandals come to light and would never had happened if we had a good clean efficient and trustworthy executive. I believe the time has come for the good of Malaysia for us to get rid of those who were in the Mahathir cabinet, and now in the Pak Lah Cabinet and to replace them with new people who are truly ‘clean’, ‘efficient’ and trustworthy. You cannot put new wine in an old wineskin. A complete revamp of Malaysia’s executive may be needed.
Charles Hector
7th July 2006
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