“I am no sleeping PM” – this is the newspaper headline of Nanyang Siang Pau reporting on the speech by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, when opening the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s trade exposition in conjunction with its centennial anniversary in Ipoh yesterday. This is also the headline used by China Press.
I am glad that Abdullah has brought this issue out into the open from the closet as neither the Prime Minister’s public image nor the national interest is being served or furthered by pretending that such increasing talk does not exist.
In fact, Abdullah should seriously find out why more and more people, including in government, the ruling coalition and the public, are talking in this vein about “a sleeping PM” when it was never said against the four previous Prime Ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak, Tun Hussein Onn and Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in the first 46 years of Malaysian nationhood.
One could disagree with the first four Prime Ministers, whether on government policies, measures or specific issues, but no one would attribute it to lack of focus, attention or interest by the Prime Minister.
Unfortunately, under Abdullah’s premiership, more and more people are putting the blame for many of the ills in government and country on “a sleeping PM”, which has not been helped by several factors, including:
- Abdullah’s trebling up as Minister for Internal Security and Minister for Finance when it is clear that he does not have the time nor temperament to be a full-time hands-on head for either Ministry;
- His 83 overseas trips in 44 months as Prime Minister;
- His “gate-keepers” at the “fourth-storey” in Putrajaya who have made the very personable Abdullah even more inaccessible to those who want to meet him when compared to his predecessor Tun Dr. Mahathir, who had the public image of being arrogant and haughty.
I have for instance stopped asking for an appointment with the Prime Minister after meeting him twice after the 2004 general election where he would invariably end each meeting with the polite standing offer to call on him whenever necessary. This was after my several requests to meet up with him were blocked by his “gatekeepers”.
I do not think Abdullah is aware as to who are asking to see him. In fact, I do not think Abdullah even reads or is informed of the gist of official letters written to him, for instance, my letter registering “strongest protest possible” to him on Tuesday at the most unsatisfactory reply to a parliamentary question in Malaysian parliamentary history which totally evaded the specific query posed — and the reply was in the name of the Prime Minister.
The second part of my question asking for a status report on the implementation of the Royal Police Commission’s 125 recommendations to reform the police into a world-class professional service, and in particular on the key proposal for the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) was totally ignored.
I do not think Abdullah has seen my “strongest possible protest” letter which had also asked for the missing answer to be furnished.
In contrast, I never had doubts that when I wrote a letter to Tun Dr. Mahathir when he was Prime Minister, it would be seen by him. There was one occasion when I wrote to Mahathir protesting against his public criticism of the DAP for not speaking up against the atrocities and genocide committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, telling him why it was baseless and untrue as he was victim of the media blackout of DAP. I immediately received a terse one-paragraph apology from Mahathir!
Although I am Parliamentary Opposition Leader, I do not want talk that the country has a “sleeping PM” to continue, as this is not good whether for the people or the country internationally.
This is why I had proposed that Abdullah should take a leaf from the new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and should relinquish the ministries of Internal Security and Finance and appoint Ministers who can provide full-time hands-on leadership to these two important portfolios.
Secondly, he must re-assert authority as Prime Minister and ensure that he is in control of the “gate-keepers” in the “fourth storey of Putrajaya” and not being controlled by his gatekeepers.
Abdullah must not just say that he is not “a sleeping PM” but must “walk the talk” that he is no “sleeping PM”. For a start, he must “walk the talk” to deliver his 2004 general election reform pledge and agenda to fight corruption, launch a new efficient public service delivery system and enhance international competitiveness by giving the highest premium to the best talents in Malaysia and meritocracy, especially in education.
Of course he’s no sleeping pm— he’s just the sleep-walking pm
Dear YB,
After so many years in politics don’t tell me you know of no way to meet the PM or to get his attention.
Of course if he is being insulated then you as the most senior ploitician in the country should ways and means to beat the odds to meet him for the sake of the people who voted you.
Pak Lah is bocor of ideas and sleep is the one thing that gets him thru the day. He is by far the least effective and least intelligent PM we ever had. That to me is the truth and that is why we are in this mess of a leadership.
he should step aside and enjoy his honeymoon in Perth as long as he wants. I regret voting for him in 2004.
hahahahahaha, well done Kit, you got his attention already; let’s just see how long he can stay awake; should he stay awake, is he able to pay attention to his surrounding? can he comprehend what the “F” is happening in Malaysia?
Not sleeping on the job? Then why is it that the 4th floor boys are really steering the country, deciding on each government contract and who should be the nominated subcontractors ?
Why is that he thinks that Zakaria Mat Deros is a “good person” after the blatant abuse of power, and now decided by a court that he has committed a criminal offence ?
Why is that the government has failed miserably in its prosecution of suspects in CBT and criminal cases and crime is now rampant?
Being incompetent is one thing. Being stupid AND incompetent is a serious handicap. In Malay, it is called Bodoh Sombong.
Don’t ever compare malaysia with Britain— it is much fairer comparing malaysia with Zimbabwei because they both are of the same standard
http://www.malaysiakini.com/others/mcmcletter.html
Ask any kaki botol, when intoxicated, and you are sure to get the response “….. Who say?!?!! ….. Where got..???!!@#!?? I’m not drunk-lah…!!”
Do we expect the sleeping PM to be any different in his response..??
He is a day dreamer and have great visions of 2057!
2057….??
In creatively sytlised font, it can read as “.. LOST..”, too.
Can anyone really tell the difference when PM is sleeping or awake?
“This is why I had proposed that Abdullah should take a leaf from the new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and should relinquish the ministries of Internal Security and Finance and appoint Ministers who can provide full-time hands-on leadership to these two important portfolios.
Secondly, he must re-assert authority as Prime Minister and ensure that he is in control of the “gate-keepers†in the “fourth storey of Putrajaya†and not being controlled by his gatekeepers.” – by LKT.
Many of us do not think PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will ever wake from his slumber. “Sleeping PM” aptly described him.
Abdullah will have a hard time toc”walk the talk”, and we doubt he is capable of doing that.
We do not think he will ever wake up from his slumber.
A happy marriage may help.
Sure, AAB wakes like everybody except that it makes no different whether he was staying awake or remaining asleep. He is now aware that the perception of the people is that he does not serve like a PM should.
He has learned from his years in the Cabinet that he had to keep the three important porfolios to himself, and it is his considered opinion that he could not trust those important posts to his UMNO colleagues. To him, his inaction in those ministries was better than the wrong actions by his UMNO colleagues who might use the positions to undermine his authority as a PM. Yet he could not allow non-Malays to hold those posts because his UMNO colleagues would not accept non-Malays holding important Cabinet positions.
What AAB tried to prevent his UMNO colleagues from doing are actually happening with his son-in-law taking the lead. He might think that his daughter might enjoy the position of first lady if his SIL came it as PM. He might even agree that Nori might be just first among the quarter first ladies, when four are allowed at any one time.
AAB’s dilemma is the result of UMNO culture believing that might is right, and winner takes all. UMNO has cheated its coalition partners, and the same technique is relevant within the party in the fights among different factions. The current political structure is convenient for the current UMNO president to remain in control, at the expense of the progress of the nation. But when one owns mansions oerseas and have amassed enormous wealth, he can continue to enjoy life as a PR of a different nation, when the old can go to dogs. Malays have learned the philosophy to be practical!
What do we expect from him? I am sleeping but I repent?
The current PM is a fake onelah. Wise up change.
How much we can expect from a guy who failed simple statistics paper in college?
What kind of IQ this guy has?
Low IQ can be forgiven; but laziness is totally non excusable!
Did he really read at all?
I am no sleeping PM. I am in Control.
What else is new?
He is in denial.
Someone pls prescribe him some med.
well what do we expect, give him a break because he just got married.
Hoping that AAB will “walk the talk” is like waiting for non-Malays to finally able to enjoy equal rights in Malaysia – not in the next 50 years. It is time for the PM to show Msians that he is a man of few words but is able to deliver his promises made during his 4 years of prime-ministership. Msians have allowed AAB, his family and persons conected to him to have power, wealth, trips around the world (including honeymoon) and personal jet (pun intended). All we ask for in return is less crime, personal safety and better economy while he is still the PM.
Of cos, he is not sleeping – how can he be sleeping during this exciting phase (honeymoon) of his second marriage?
# LittleBird Says:
June 30th, 2007 at 12: 50.27
Dear YB,
After so many years in politics don’t tell me you know of no way to meet the PM or to get his attention.
Of course if he is being insulated then you as the most senior ploitician in the country should ways and means to beat the odds to meet him for the sake of the people who voted you.
—————————————————————
Hi Little bird,
If I am the person that YB Lim wants to meet and I refused to meet and avoid him at all costs, would YB Lim still be able to find me and meet me? I dun think so.
And if I a normal person can do so, what do you think someone like AAB can do with regards to the resources that’s made available to him ? Would YB Lim still stand a chance?
However, the point is, with great power comes greater responsibility. And AAB is certainly not following up his words with the proper actions.
Of course he is sleeping…He has been sleeping since he took office. Everytime he complains that he has much work to do bcos work never gets done. Why, bcos he travels twice a month and the rest he sleep walks. We are doomed already! In fact he is not sleeping…he is in a COMA!!!
This man dodges difficult problems facing the country.
Instead only he opens his mouth to break news that is expected to be well received by people.
He is no sleeping PM? My grandmother is more awake than him and she’s passed away RIP
He’s the sleeping pill that the nation is forced to swallow and having nightmare since.
HE’S JUST PLAIN LAZY
PM’s bodyguard: sir, just now while you were dozing, you uttered something like’ I’m no sleeping PM ‘. Thought you want to know, sir?sir? sir!!!
PM:ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Dear Prime Minister,
I was very happy when you were elected a few years ago. I was happy because I thought there would be a new leader who would finally serve the people of Malaysia. Alas, how wrong I was. Well, from what I gathered in the newspapers and the sentiment of the people, I am afraid you have not done enough. I am afraid you have not enough will power and I am also afraid people are climbing all over you.
I am one of the many Malaysians who are angry but not amok, frustrated but not disillusioned, worried but not giving up hope
on this country. I hope you will come to realise the sentiment of Malaysians, the hope of Malaysians and the aspiration of Malaysians. Please do not dissappoint us any further!!
PM:- ” I am no sleeping PM”
Journalist :- Of cos sir. Could you tell us why everyone is saying that?
PM:- ” Saying what?”
Journalist:- Calling you a sleeping PM
PM:- ” Oh, they did? Wow, and all those stupid bloggers say I was doing nothing.”
I am no “Sleeping PM” who the hell told you that I am ONLY “SLEEP WALKING AND SLEEP TALKING” so guys I am still awake you know.
Hey people give the guy a chance to recuperate and enjoy his “HONEYMOONING”
Brother Lim dont give up hope and endeavour your utmost to gate crash the “GATE-KEEPERS” OR RATHER THE “GURKHAS” by hook or by crook. MALAYSIA BOLIH.
Brother Lim you are not using the right method and the right technique. In Malaysia nothing is “IMPOSSIBLE” even rapists and murderers can get away scot free. YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER because you are a prominent and seasoned POLITICIAN
His 83 overseas trips in 44 months as Prime Minister !
average of 2 trips per month.. how can he be sleeping ? he is enjoying his life.
sleeping? should not be! I think he is smart but may be not dedicated.
Why, just married again.
Why, who shall I trust?
Why, who to sack?
Why, must take care of predecessor ” face”.
Why, just pass the golden old age peacefully.
Why, uncontrolled situation favour of a teethless tiger.
Why, the fault point back to us ….because of most of us…… vote for so many Minister which mind only his own business…