Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is a decent human being.
He was always personable and very approachable until he was cut off from the public by his gatekeepers whether fourth-storey or otherwise – and the common complaint after his first two years as Prime Minister was that he was more difficult to see than Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in the latter’s 22 years as Prime Minister!
I had two meetings with Abdullah in his first two years as Prime Minister which led to the establishment of parliamentary select committees but since then I had stopped trying to meet him for it was just impossible to get through his handlers.
I do not know whether it is possible to see Abdullah again in has last five months as Prime Minister.
In his press statement yesterday, Abdullah said that he would complete three reforms he had pledged when he became prime minister before stepping down by tabling three bills in Parliament to establish the Judicial Appointments Commission, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption and a Special Complaints Commission.
The question is whether Abdullah can redeem and salvage his five years of ineffective premiership by instituting three fundamental reforms in last five months in office?
I am surprised to read a very objective and level-headed political commentary in today’s New Straits Times, “In the end, he made a sensible decision” by Zubaidah Abu Bakar, with the very telling opening:
“THE pressure must have been enormous on Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in the 48 hours leading to yesterday’s announcement.
“But in the end, wisdom trumped emotion.”
Stating that Abdullah’s quit decision was to prevent implosion in Umno which would result in the Barisan Nasional ending up in opposition after the 13th general election, Zubaidah wrote:
“His ‘Work with Me, Not For Me’ campaign and commitment to fight corruption charmed the voters at the March 2004 general election, granting BN the largest election victory in the coalition’s history. But his reform agenda ran counter to the patronage-driven party culture in Umno.
“Now that the baton has been passed to Najib, will there be stability in Umno?”
With Umno and BN patronage-driven party culture, can Abdullah successfully and meaningfully carry out three fundamental institutional reforms, in the next five months – with two months spent on leave?
His mention of a Special Complaints Commission (SCC) Bill is like a pail of cold water on Malaysians who harbour hopes that Abdullah might still end his premiership with uncharacteristically reformist fervour and success.
This is because the SCC Bill, first presented to the previous Parliament last December just before dissolution, had already been rejected by the civil society as a parody of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), the most important recommendation of the Royal Police Commission to transform the Malaysian Police into an efficient, incorruptible, accountable, professional world-class police service with the three core objectives to keep crime low, eradicate corruption and uphold human rights.
Instead of an IPCMC “lion” with teeth and claws, a toothless and clawless SCC mouse has been produced wasting five years of the Abdullah premiership and making a total mockery of Abdullah’s pledge to reform the police and the Royal Police Commission Report with its 125 recommendations.
In the past 10 months since the SCC Bill was withdrawn last December, there had been indications particularly after the March 8 “political tsunami”, that the IPCMC would be established.
If all that Abdullah can table when Parliament reconvenes next week is the same toothless and clawless SCC Bill, then let it be said clearly and definitively that it is completely unacceptable and a travesty of his reform commitment in his last five months in office.
With this SCC Bill backdrop, there is great scepticism that the two other bills on judicial reform and anti-corruption would not be mere paper reforms without any meaningful institutional changes – especially with Malaysia’s ranking on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index plunging from No. 37 to No. 47 in the five years of Abdullah premiership from 2003 to 2008 and the likely appointment of the first Umno Chief Justice in the 51-year history of the nation, plunging the country into a new era of judicial darkness and scandal.
As in the past, I am ever ready to meet Abdullah about these institutional reforms but has he got such liberty to make his last five months of premiership completely different from his past five years?
What a retard, can’t even get 58 nominations from the party he lorded over since 2003!
“The question is whether Abdullah can redeem and salvage his five years of ineffective premiership by instituting three fundamental reforms in last five months in office?” – Uncle Lim.
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That I would say be in the Guinness Book of Records if he can do it.
These three tasks will be much easier to accomplish:
1) Call a snap election so that PKR can win.
2) Repeal ISA and release all ISA detainees.
3) Speed up the Altantuya trial and nail the real culprits.
Like what former law minister Datuk Zaid said.
Everyone is doing ‘lip service’ only.
Talk only!!
This old man wants to accomplish what he wanted to do.Forget it.
So Anwar was waiting to cooperate with Ku Li? Ku Li is not going to win unless N will be exposed more to this and that scandals.
The people, as a whole, felt disappointed that nothing happened to Paktan Rakyat. But we do hope it will be soon.
“Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is a decent human being.” – Uncle Lim.
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I would not judge a book by its cover. This is the lesson I’ve learn during the last 5 years of Abdullah as the Prime Minister. ;)
Lah, though u r leaving only by end March, but all the dailies/ news channels throughout this planet, had been reporting/ broadcasting as if YESTERDAY was your last day.
Or, wait a minute, maybe in reality, Malaysia and the world at large is better off if yesterday was indeed genuinely your LAST day.
Spare us all your last-minute BS, and just stay quietly in office for the 5 months, lest you need to flip-flop-flap-flup on your next “main-main” reforms again. And hopefully, history will at least remember you as “Bapak Yang Membebaskan DSAI PM ke-6”.
“But in the end, wisdom trumped emotion.”
On the surface, I cannot disagree but beneath it, something else altogether. Don’t you think it is to soon for an eulogy before his obituary, what more when he’s not even dead yet?
“Now that the baton has been passed to Najib, will there be stability in Umno?”
If you throw chicken into the deep fryer you’ll get fried chicken, use a grill you’ll get grilled chicken, or you prefer baked chicken?
“As in the past, I am ever ready to meet Abdullah about these institutional reforms but has he got such liberty to make his last five months of premiership completely different from his past five years?”
As in completely different like change of government? If he’s willing to meet you Uncle Kit, he can do it in five days instead of five months.
I still believe something will happen to the umno president to be within next several months, and he will not have a chance to be the premier. I can’t believe the fourth floor boys are so gentle, not saying to bite, but not barking even.
That is the danger when top leaders get isolated from the rest of the nation.
This blog is excellent as you can get a good feel of how people think/don’t think and LKS is doing a fantastic job keeping the channels open, unlike Najib’s blog where there is basically no sharing of ideas. (Yeah I had a look once!)
As far as AAB’s mission is concerned, it probably would have been preferable if he had not made his “to do” list as that provides us a chance to give feed-back.
http://malaysiawatch4.blogspot.com/2008/10/malaysiakini-and-badawis-to-do-list.html
i believe abdullah in some ways and in some part of his heart do really wan reforms in the government.partly whn he declared war on corruptions….i am sure he must hv uncovered tons of dirty crooks in the government itself.and i believe thr are elements preventing him fr carrying out his duties.mainly becos we knw the so called “warlords” he must deal with.its not easy whn u hv powerful crooks inside the government.its only 1 term…maybe he hasnt tried hard enough…maybe thr are too many crooks giving him a hard time and and as we all knw the present umno is only for everyman himself.we shud knw whos been attacking him and criticising him lately and mind u…i am not talking abt the oppositions…its the people fr umno itself.and that idiot who has done so many damages to this country found a scapegoat like abdullah to handover to and made a sandiwara out of it and blame it on abdullah.
abdullah may not be as wise as the former premier…but i believe abdullah is more sincere in helping the people than its former.whn abdullah took over since day 1 in office…many knew it wont be easy for abdullah cos the factions inside umno itself is that thr are too many “powerful” warlords who are not on abdullah’s side.yes…hes just a decent man…like many of us…only that hes a premier thats given the mandate to lead and serve this country.hes not done much but i believe he knew things many of us do not knw.things that really prevented him fr doing wat he wanted to do.BN has lost its touch with the people of this country.we knw the facts that this government really stinks with crooks.we the people are only fighting to get rid of the stench….and these idiots are fighting on to stay to be more crooked.
but thn as we knw abdullah is stepping down…lets spare him the criticism….i believe watever judgements or opinions we hv on him…his downfall is caused by BN and crooked associates…not him entirely alone.
YB, I think the PM should do what he wants to do without announcing it. Very often when he announces his intentions, nothing comes out.
On the DAP side, I think there is something very wrong with Teresa Kok’s employees. She does not know that they are putting her into trouble because they are not sensitive to other religion. In fact YB Karpal Singh should be the one thinking of getting a bodyguard. The YB knows how to handle his affairs, whereas Teresa Kok does not.
Just showing her picture with the Malay communitiy will not work.Probably she should be employing more Malays in her team.
I sincerely hope he can push thru the reforms. That would make his tenure less of a failure. He has nothing to lose now if he acts but if he doesn’t then he loses all respect of Malaysians.
To lbl,
If you know that Teresa Kok’s employees does not know how to handle the sensitivties of other religions, can you please advise her where her employees had gone wrong. Please be specific.
To err is human but to learn from the mistakes will make you a better person.
I would agree that she should have one Malay on her team to handle constituency matters.
I agree with lbl that TK needs more Malay/Muslim staffs. She is no longer just representing Seputeh but a state exco official representing the people of Selangor.
Uncle Kit,
For whatever it’s worth, I think you and PR should make concerted effort to try and meet the outgoing PM on the reforms, just like Guan Eng’s declaration to work with Pak Lah. So long as the reforms undertaken will benefit the people and the better governance of the country.
I may have missed it but I think DAP should also made available to the public what are DAP or PR reform packages setting the parameters to work with Pak Lah.
I have my fear should Najib becomes the PM, in my opinion, he is a known racist and will do whatever it takes to silence his critics and to hang on to power.
As some put it, 5 months in politics is a long time, but if DAP and PR is sincere in this case to put forth the reforms, what seems impossible can be possible.
All the best.
A fitting end to the bogus Justice Bao who jails his opponents without trial, who has no intention to do what he promises and who is more fit to be an office peon than to be the country’s leader
For whatever reason we might have or whatever excuses we can think of out of generousity perhaps for Badawi’s abysmal failure as PM, the one inescapable question we must pose is to ask “Is Badawi capable of making hard decisions?”.Unless that is answered well, it is futile to hope that he could push thro the 3 fundamental reforms in the remaining 5 months when he cannot do anything at all for the 5 years he had as PM.
Why should we accept NST’s Zubaidah’s conclusion “In the end, he made a sensible decision” as very “objective and level-headed political commentary” ???
Sensible for who and how so?
Zubaidah writes, “the 68-year-old Umno president knew that what he was doing was best for the party….. Abdullah’s decision should appease a section of Umno’s 3.2 million grassroots members who had clamoured for his resignation”.
Are we sure Umno’s 3.2 million grassroots members by majority clamour for his resignation and not just the few powerful power brokers who have personal interest in his early exit and who have cleverly engineered the perception as if majority UMNO grassroots members want him out at this point of time?
What about Pak Lah’s claims as a PM for all Malaysians? Don’t Malaysians other than UMNO party officials have a say on this?
If he were PM for all, he would have the duty to put up a fight against the coup de etat by his party’s chieftains or at least tried, and failed rather than just relent to the inevitable….
If one shows guts, people would follow and have faith….
And if one says that Pak Lah has never been a PM for all Malaysians but only for himself, and perhaps after that only UMNO but not certainly for the rest of us non UMNO, then why waste time here nudging or expecting him to complete the three reforms – the Judicial Appointments Commission, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption and a Special Complaints Commission – in just a few months (when no body will take seriously his authority in such a transition period) what he could not do in 5 years supposedly with all the authority ???
What Lah is irrelevant.
Expect more polictical turbulence when Najis take over!
the present political scenario in this country is pathetic. I don’t expect any true reform coming out within five months, not to mention his two months’ leave. To expect a lethargic person to come out of his stupor suddenly is just not on. he has been a prisoner under the hegemony of the Umno warlords all this while. The new man who is taking over come March is a suspect. the umno regime isn’t going to turn over a new leaf if they start to vote people like Mr Broomstick or the son-in-law as Umno Youth chief in the next party polls. The only way out is for a snap election and we can take it from there. But who’s gonna call one?
NST’s Zubaidah further claims that AAB “is aware that if he were to push his way and seek re-election at the coming party elections, the party might just implode. The outcome would leave Umno severely factionalised and, some predicted, spell its end as a key player in mainstream politics”.
What makes her think that with AAB not contesting, UMNO will be more unitedf and not more factionalised? In fact she already alluded in the end of the article that there is already a “mad scramble for party posts, starting with the deputy presidency, which many are already eyeing” which does not preclude a challenge to the president’s post as well by Ku Li or even Muhyiddin!!!…. .
In what way does ABB’s departure defuse Anwar/PR’s threat which the writer concedes still “lurks on the sidelines”??? Or is there a suggestion here that with AAB’;s exit there is more willingness to deploy repressive measures to incacerate Opposition leaders by way of defusing that threat????
I don’t agree that Zubaidah Abu Bakar’s political commentary is objective or level-headed at all.
Many do believe PM is a good man and a fair leader . If the fourth -floor boys have isolated him , they should be feeling sorry now that they did him a great disservice . His greatest contribution is bringing ” democratic process and freedom to the country not experienced in a long time ” as acknowledged by Tun Musa Hitam , a most respectable elder statesman himself . This is a great compliment for a great contribution . PM is still PM until March , and must go on with his reforms regardless of intimidation .
A former leader who is still vociferous long after retirement, has asked him to shut up . How could we expect such leaders to be shining examples to young Malaysians when they have no sense of fair play ?
A think-tank says that the same force has come out triumphant in
getting PM to step down that caused other leaders before him to go . No leader sits easy in his chair until this force extinguishes itself .
Mr Lim
With all the 916 huha and so on lately, I hope you are not so busy politicking this year that you have forgotten to check whether UM or USM or UTM or UPM are in the list of top universities in the ranking by the Times Higher Education-QS. The ranking is out now.
This link should remind all politicians what UM could have achieved if it were better managed:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/381421/1/.html
Asking people to shut up when he himself does not?
Some more many allegations were hurled at Zaid Ibrahim – that he helped PAS to defeat the BN candidate for Kota Baru, that he went to town publicly proposing judicial and legal reforms apparently without bothering to consult the Cabinet or the Prime Minister etc.
The master piece was this gem – that one can afford to have principles when one is rich and does not have to depend on the small allowance of a Minister! (which by the way was RM14,000 all inclusive) – and many the idolising commenters said , you’re the best, the wisest etc :)
I don’t hope to see any changes in the next 5 months, but I am starting to get worried of changes that may happen 5 months later. Has anybody got any clues of the next PM’s master plan. I think, there’s not much prospect that things will get better.
“I don’t agree that Zubaidah Abu Bakar’s political commentary is objective or level-headed at all” Jeffrey.
When was NST ever objective and fair in its analysis or commentaries?
They were always convoluted, biased and lop-sided.
The very same people who had thwarted him for the last 5 years are going to work even harder to make sure that he never succeeds with the three initiatives he highlighted in the remaining months of his rule.
YB, realistically, if you have the chance to meet with him, I think you should encourage him to focus on only one of those initiatives to have a better chance of success. And that one would be the Judicial Appointments Commission for that one would underpin the independence of the justice system in the country. It is not that the anti corruption commission or the IPCMC are not important but if we have to choose one, at least we have a judiciary with integrity that can protect us from unscrupulous police or anti corruption personnels.
Once that is in place, we can then gradually put pressure to implement the IPCMC and anti corruption commission.
if you have difficulty to meet the PM over much more important matters the people wonder how si saiful yang duburnya sakit can easily meet up with DPM…
wahai najib, awak tadi di tv3 bukan main lagi…..rakyat tak boleh biadab dengan pemimpin…..apa ingat pemimpin tu malaikat ke…..kalau berani bersumpah pergi bersumpah di mekah di tengah tengah kaabah……lepas bersumpah tak boleh bertaubat…..tak boleh biadap dengan pemimpin konon kalau pemimpin yang biadap ? macam pasir salak macam kinabatangan
How can you call Sleepy Head a decent human being? He is in the country’s top post for 5 years, and even if he claims his party prevented him from implementing reforms, he still had the opportunity to expose the most dirty scumbags in his party, and the dirty deeds done by them, but he never did so.
He also was in a position to sack the Botak for his ISA antics, but he never did so.
If you want to say he’s good at sleeping on the job, no one is going to deny that, but please don’t call this fellow decent. Decent people do not stand by and watch dirty deeds being done when they can stop it.
By announcing his intention not to stand for UMNO election, Badawi is ALREADY a lame duck PM!
Its a historical fact the lame ducks (as the name implies) cannot implement or initiate any reforms! His claims that he will do so, is only bravado and a face saving statement for his imminent exit!
So don’t expect any reforms! I for one will not!
JAMESY, r u seriously telling that AAB is a decent human being. What about the guys he put in Kamunting under Ikut Suka Aku (ISA). He brought untold misery to those individuals and families.
U from MCA or Gerakan? Stop Talking nonsense.
That Mr. Nice image was nothing but bullshit to hood wink malaysians for the last couple of years. What about his son’s and SIL business and political connections.
so yb lim have a soft spot for the premier that will be gone soon.
good luck to pr and the illusion of 916.
mohamad mohamad taib has joined the election to be deputy pm of malaysia. i bet with you kit, that mm will be elected as deputy president of umno.
and if you thought that abdullah was all half past six, now you have a hunter and a raider to handle. and if anyone think that pas will sit idle with an opportunity to work with umno – you are dead wrong. uncle kit has forgotten the agony of barisan alternatif.
how sad.
Why is it you guys can’t talk objectively about something. Being pro-opposition does not mean you call people names.
If only half of you commentors are as level headed as YB Lim here, PR would’ve formed government by now.
Otherwise you guys are no better.
WTF! Even in his next 5 months, he also wants to lie to us. Old habits never die.
A leader who has a fantastic start
Eventually breaks the people’s heart
Soon he has to give up his position
Will he carry out the three of his mission
He desperately tried to reform
But on the whole failed to perform
From his own group he met much opposition
To the reforms that he wanted to take action
One thing that he can do before he leaves
Repeal ISA and release all the detainees
Their families will be filled with jubilation
He will be remembered as a PM of compassion
As defence minister, will he launch a coup d’etat in the next few months?
To FY Lim,
The moderator of YB Teresa Kok(TK) will only allow messages in praise of the YB. Messages not in praise of YB TK will be deleted and worse, the writer be banned from participating in her blog.
The photograph of 5 roast pigs during her celebration dinner was posted and then removed. The moderator will comment : “Have you finished ranting “. to some of the messages that iritate the moderator. Why did the residents who complained about the mosque cc their petition to YB TK? Did her empoyees advised them to cc to YB TK. This clearly shows how arrogant her employees are.Islam is the National Religion and you have to respect it.
As a politician you cannot make any mistakes for the public will remember your mistakes more than your good deeds.
Look at the trouble she has encountered? Yes, you can say it is free country and everyone has the right to do this and that.
Then you can also advise the YB not to get the bodyguard for she can depend on the Police for protection. That is what the Police are there for.
We live in the real world and we have to be sensitive to other races. Remember the majority wins.
If you have not been brought up in a Malay neighbourhood or mixed with Malays socially, you will not be able to understand their culture. It is quite obvious YB TK’s employees have not understood the Malay culture.
whattheheckman,
Please brush-up your reading skills before commenting. :)
It all started when he took out Isa Samad, that is when they sensed the danger AAB is. From then they started to smother him, and now they have smothered his political life to death! AAB is obsolete! 5 years or 5 months? it’s all finished. There are more pressing issues: the future of our children, this nation, for us to think of! What’s going to happen YB? from now?
Jamesy, a decent man would not people in detention. Get your brains examined.
a decent man would not people in detention
wow ! What sweet nice farewell words. Are you all feeling guilty or what ? Come on. We cannot be having him flipped out the door and only to have him flopped back in. We would be flipflops ourselves. If people cannot come to see you, you can go and see the people. It does not take an Einstein to think of this. If you really care for the people. What is so politically incorrect dethroning yourself for a moment just to be so common for a moment ? Does it take more than 5 years to show people that you are wise somewhat ? But Malaysians are really very forgiving people. That is why the government proposes to make Malaysia a country of peace. When visitors come, they would be so intoxicated by peacefulness that they will refuse to leave.
The ISA fiasco was most probably engineered by factions trying to remove AAB, most likely Najib. Observe that RPK, Najib’s public enemy number 1, is now detained under ISA.
Food for thought Says:
For whatever it’s worth, I think you and PR should make concerted effort to try and meet the outgoing PM on the reforms, just like Guan Eng’s declaration to work with Pak Lah. So long as the reforms undertaken will benefit the people and the better governance of the country.
I agree completely with that. What reforms has PR leaders worked on? PR now constitutes 40% of the lawmakers in parliament. Are you telling me these 40% of lawmakers are sitting around waiting for the other 60% of the lawmakers to come up with bills and proposals on reforms?
Have you tried to meet BN halfway on reforms or table your own reforms? Or are you too busy just saying: “Nah! thats bullshit. Come up with something better”? An intelligent man knows how to make people work for him. This could be a good opportunity to take AAB’s half assed reforms and turn it to something actually useful. Or are you afraid that this will spoil the chances of PR taking over the federal government?
next time ……. abdullah become the least nama using by Malays
the trend are ibrahim …
i think all these question should be address to his SIL as he is the one that running this country government since 2003 …
*when* he was still PM he had some clout. Now he’s confirmed to be cold storaged, his stooges will brush him aside and start to kiss the other sleepy eyed dud for favors. continue to talk talk talk…worse than a old woman
you guys still dont’ get it
“JAMESY, r u seriously telling that AAB is a decent human being. What about the guys he put in Kamunting under Ikut Suka Aku (ISA). He brought untold misery to those individuals and families.”
some ppl with low intelect ….. those isa not only lock hindraf to provide security on street, but also ji wannabe, gangsters, national doc forger, get your facts. without isa, we got gangster running around murdering ppl, more girls becoming prostitute, more guys become drug addict. without isa, we got more bomber scare away americans and europeans and japanese investing your country to provide more economy and jobs. to follow yr analogy, locking and executing rapist, murderers, thieves, kidnappers too brought misery to individuals and families, why don u petition gov to abolish jail and follow england last time to “buang negeri”. good example will be razak baginda for locking him 2 yrs for nothing (he’s not guilty yet) causing his wife crazy and his daughter skip skools……
JAMESY, mY PROFOUND APOLOGIES, real oversight on my part.
Once again my sincere apologies.
Pak Lah lip service : ‘Work with Me, Not For Me’ campaign and commitment to fight corruption charmed the voters at the March 2004 general election, granting BN the largest election // He has been sleeping soundly in his slumberland for past 5 years // Suddenly Pak Lah woke up by strong tsunami water to wash his UMNO cronie in 5 states // He is still half slept ignoring the rakyat cried when he increased the petrol pricee caused severe inflation of other foods and commodities.// He is still very sleepy with overdose of power to let his arrogance 4th floor goonies and a wild dog barking at the squatters caused social unrest.// The evil toyo came out bite his former master Pak Lah to call him to step down immediately. // Similar his master, Tun always called him to step down and shut up for the next general elections.// Pak Lah announcement to retire in March 2009 created many big “JOKERS” in UMNO camp to fight over the DPM .// Pak Lah pak lah …sudah lah….pi tidur lagi tak payah sakit kepala jaga kesihatan baik baik.
whoever our PM is, the initiatives to-be-done so listed by him are mere stuff for a closing speech. Don’t talk about 3-4 things in his mission, just choose and do 1 is enough say judicial reform – this 1 thing has failed and will also fail, circumstances speak for itself. If PM want to be a star, just release the ISA detainees, and if ever, ban the cowboy law, ISA. A sad story for Malaysia… for wasting 4-5 years rotting away….
Melurian,
Apparently you are the one with the real low intelect, stupid shallow thinking. Dont you know for any crimminal offence there are relevent crimminal laws that can deal with these crimminals. We have laws for every damn offence in the country. There is no need to invoke the ISA on ordinary citizens like Therese Kok, Hindraf 5, RPK, the chinese reporter etc etc.
Get your facts right. The British introduced the ISA to fight the communist not for the man in the street fighting for basic rights.
Even the communist and Chin Peng has long gone into retirement.
The ISA causes untold misery for the individual and their families. It was meant for a different era not for the present civilised society.