I refer to the new cabinet list published by Malaysiakini today.
I welcome the appointment of Zaid Ibrahim, the reform minded former UMNO MP. He is one of the better poiticians from BN side, no doubt about it.
The question is why was he not chosen to stand as a candidate in the just concluded general election ?
One of the reasons of the poor showing by BN in this election is because some of thepoliticians are being too arrogant. Why then is Nazri, who is perceived to be the most arrogant besides Zam, still appointed?
Then there is another appointment of you know who, the one who was charged in AUstralia.
Politicians must not only be clean, but must be seen to be clean.
I hope this is not an half-hearted effort for reform.
Dr. Hsu's forum 
Mar 18, 2008 @ 16:44:05
Do you think Pak Lah really listen to Malaysians?
By putting Nazri and M bin M in again….showing corrupted and arrogant UMNO politicians…ok..no problem…as long as they are helping Pak Lah.
This prove what a weak PM he is.
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Mar 18, 2008 @ 17:14:37
You are correct,correct,correct to conclude that
this cabinet composition reflects a half-hearted
measure reform. It is only sandiwara or playing
to the audience without actually listening.
BN cannot and will not reform cause most of
them are too arrogant and egogistic after almost
50 years of uninterrupted rule and they have
taken a position that they are the only anointed
and it is thier “right” to rule and not a priviledge
to serve.
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Mar 18, 2008 @ 18:16:07
AAB still has not got it…How and when is he going to learn?
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Mar 18, 2008 @ 20:09:21
they wont ‘heal’ themselves that easily . Besides , PakLah isnt dared to make drastic changes (except removal of Rafidah from cabinet) . He is trying to run the show with what was left by the former premier .
He still keeps those he thinks key for party and himself rather than for country . So no surprise to see Nazri , Hisham ….etc in the new list .
I strongly believe KJ was left not because he thought he is not suitable to be a leader but because of internal party pressure .
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Mar 18, 2008 @ 21:47:34
Don’t be stupid.
Reform minded my foot !
Zaid Ibrahim is a crony that still sucks the taxpayers’ money.
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Mar 18, 2008 @ 22:08:18
AAB should not hold the Finance portfolio. He should concentrate on his responsibility as a PM. The Finance Minister post should rightfully goes to someone who is expert in finance and economy. Amirsham A Aziz should be the one appointed.
I welcome the appointment of Zaid Ibrahim, definitely not Nazri, Zahid Hamidi and Johari Baharom.
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Mar 18, 2008 @ 23:56:24
Loopholes in the Ship of Bolehland
to keep the oil from siphoning out!
It needs People without heart & soul
and only those he knows
Or new comers will plug and cut the flows!
A captain of the Ship but also Captain of the other side!
To care inside or outside
or both sides?
A new bottle with old wine!!
Until the time come when Constitutions and Laws can be amended to plug the holes
Business as Usual!!
Malaysians inside the ship!!
Make your prayer and go to sleep until GE13!!
On behalf of the Oppositions, regret not to advise only 1/2 of Parliament Seats can bring New Wine to the bottle!!
Take Panadol, if needed so!!
But not applicable for those with stomach ulcer!
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Mar 19, 2008 @ 00:47:09
U are correct, correct, correct! If AAB could not leverage his previous huge win to reform, he is in an even worse position now.
Muhamad Taib? In that Ministry – free meals for M Tyson till PRU13.
What do the 5 Ministers in the PM’s Dept do anyway (not including Shahrizat)? And with Shahrizat appointed as adviser rgd Women’s Dev, what’s Ng Yen Yen for?
Hishamudin keeps his ministry after we have further declined in education standards.
Ministers/Deputies to declare assets – to the PM?? or to us all?? And no mention that PM himself will declare his assets/son’s and SIL’s assets. And he remains Finance Minister…mmm.
Najib still able to buy more hardware ala Sukhoi/submarines with more commissions?
Not an inspiring Cabinet on the whole.
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Mar 19, 2008 @ 04:17:18
Looking at the line-up of the cabinet, I think that this is the best the PM can do at the moment. It would not be realistic and practical to think that just because reform minded voters demands it, he can give in to all their wishes.
Do not forget that whilst BN got their noses bloodied in the 12th GE, they did not lose the fight. They only came out worse for wear compared to previous scraps but victorious nonetheless.
I think he is trying to respond to the voters’ wishes by the new appointments but he is also mindful of his own survival by appointing some of the old faces.
What will be more telling is after he has dealt with the rebels within UMNO (for argument sake, I’m assuming that he does). Will he make more changes to the cabinet or will he maintain status quo or worse still revert back to pre-12th GE status? What he does when he is secured as leader of UMNO and PM, having heard the ‘shout’ from the rakyat, will then only tell us the make of the man. I’m of the opinion that its too early to pass judgment.
I do not enough about the individual appointments as what I know is only hearsay and that is not enough for me to make an opinion.
However, I wish to comment on Nazri’s appointment. Despite the many opinions that he is arrogant, he was the first from the UMNO top echelon to publicly admit the political landscape of the country has changed, irreversibly.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/14/election2008/20639090&sec=election2008
(I hope Dr Hsu doesn’t mind my putting a link to mainstream media here)
My hope is that Badawi is sincere in acceptance of this fact and that he will try to convince his BN colleagues of it.
As for ‘tainted’ Muhammad Taib’s appointment, I can only come to the conclusion that Badawi needs his strong grassroots base. This conclusion is backed by the portfolio he is given, Ministry of Rural and Regional Development.
To me, this is Badawi’s last grasp for the traditional rural supporters of UMNO.
I hope I don’t come across as defending Badawi but I think this is all he can do at the moment without jeopardizing his own survival.
In my humble opinion, I think this is the right move, appointing enough new faces to show that he is not oblivious to the rakyat but at the same time, surrounding himself with enough ‘loyals’ to ensure survival.
As I said in a previous post in another thread here, I don’t think the loose coalition of PKR, DAP and PAS is ready to assume the mantle of governing a complex nation like ours.
IMHO Badawi’s downfall will only bring chaos to an already chaotic country because drastic changes from the ‘norm’ will surely bring drastic reactions from certain quarters which will only heap onto the uneasiness that we’re in right now.
Give the man a chance but at the same time keep a vigilant eye and do not hesitate to let it be known the cabinet’s failings without going overboard.
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Mar 19, 2008 @ 04:28:06
“My hope is that Badawi is sincere in acceptance of this fact and that he will try to convince his BN colleagues of it.”
The above should read Nazri and not Badawi. Apologies for the typo.
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Mar 19, 2008 @ 15:28:54
Pak lah is half hearted to reform…and full heartedly to prove UMNO can do as they like….but not so arrogant… like before the election.
However….speeches by few ministers are with no sincerities at all.
Just watch…when time passes by….few UMNO ministers will play the dirty race and religion politics again.
Pak Lah said Najib is not a corrupted man. What about Mahathir and M bin M??
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Mar 20, 2008 @ 01:28:10
Pak Lah is still sleeping…doesn’t realize TDM is out to topple him, Malay politic is dynamic in nature.
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