Najib's New Cabinet Line-Up

Since Najib announced his new vision of "one Malaysia", I expect his new cabinet line-up more than just dropping a few under achievers and introducing a few new faces. To me, this new cabinet line up is nothing more than the old method in power allocation based on how much the component party "worth" to Umno (still Umno call the shot).

Look at the new cabinet line-up, we don't see that the appointment holder are best person for the job. It is merely the old BN model to make sure everybody in the component party is happy, rather than to meet the need of the nation. Why the important portfolios are always allocated to UMNO candidates? Are other races so incompetent to assume the Education, Finance, Home and International Trade portfolios? Is Hishammudin performed well as Education Minister until such that Najib has to give him the Home important portfolio of Home Minister? or is there other agenda that Najib has to make sure his cousin holding the Home Minister which is also controlling the police force and Immigration?

Umno wants to make Sabah happy, and therefore, four minister posts gone to Sabah. Is there such thing as to reward a political party with cabinet post? Isn't the suitability of the person is more important than anything else?

Apart from that, Najib new cabinet line-up is also formed under Mahathir's influence. Mukhriz, an absolute loser, except for him being fathered by Tun Dr Mahathir, what is the consideration that Najib make him the Deputy Minister for International Trade and Industry? Why is it in him, Mukhriz, the first term MP for this post? To me, even though KJ being committed practicing money politics in UMNO party election (by the way, who doesn't in Umno), I'm sure he has better brain and experience compared to Mukhriz. Of course, KJ should not be assigned portfolio which is related to national unity. He appeared to be 'happy' that at least his Pemuda Umno deputy, Razali Ibrahim is appointed as Youth and Sport Deputy Minister.

By the way, if KJ's exclusion in the cabinet line-up is due to his fault for money politic, Najib should also do the same to Ali Rustam, the Melaka Chief Minister who was barred from contesting the Umno Deputy President's post due to him committed fault in money politic.

Najib not involved in the Altantuya murder case

At today’s press conference, Abdul Razak Baginda tells a lot, a lot of “facts” that we have already known or expected. The more he says, the more suspicious I'm towards who is involved in Altantuya's murder case.

Now, who is involved if everybody is not? If Abdul Razak was just out there to tell us these, I think he is wasting everybody’s time. He could have just issued a short press statement and express his opinion on who is not involved. He can then fly off to UK to enjoy life.

It is so convenient for Abdul Razak to blame the bloggers and opinion makers in creating a negative impression on the case. Aren't we entitled to our opinion as citizen? Isn’t he himself in the press conference also give his opinion about Najib's non involvement in the murder case?

Abdul Razak seems to forget about the fact that he was trying to give positive opinion on the case. As per what he said, Abdul Razak is trying to create an impression that the two cops were acted on their own. While I'm not insinuating that Najib is involved in the murder case, I would like to know on what basis Abdul Razak knows that Najib is not involved.

The best thing that Abdul Razak should do is to tell us who is involved and solve the puzzle once and for all. If he can, share with us how he feel about his ex-lover being murdered in such a brutal manner and the master mind of the crime have not been brought to justice.

Is Abdul Razak consider lucky because the victim is a Mongolian? I don't think it will be the same story if Altantuya was holding a French or US passport.

Over To You, Najib!

I'm shocked with what I read in Malaysia Today on "Abuse of power by the deputy Prime Minister". However, I have my reservations towards the allegation of SMS conversations. I simply can’t imagine a person like DPM would do all these SMSing (I could be wrong). I’d assume that Najib would be more alert than anyone in this kind of situation (whether he is involved or not). Furthermore, as Defence Minister before, he jolly well know how secured the telecommunication system (Again, I could have overestimated him). Whatever the case is, this new allegations will definitely have some bearing on Najib.

On the other hand, let’s look at the Altantuya’s murder trial which the court will decide on 31 Oct. Base on my layman understanding of the legal system, these are the likely outcomes.

1. Razak Baginda and the 2 police officers are convicted and send to the gallows.
2. Razak Baginda is acquitted and the 2 policemen receive death sentence.
3. All the 3 are freed.

I personally do not think that the outcome in 1 & 3 will ever happened. This is because in outcome 1, Najib would be seen as he can’t help his own man (so what for I work so hard for you?). Outcome 3 is a luxury and will be outrageous to all Malaysians. Outcome 2 is the most ideal to Najib although it involves some scarification.

I think March 2009 is a bit too long for Najib. From now to March 2009, there could be more explosive “evidence” coming out against him. The ball is at his court now. If he is not taking more aggressive action now, his road to the UMNO president seat will be a rocky one, or he may not even make it there. If he were to take action, the priority will be none other than killing off (em! is it too sensitive to use the word “kill”?) Anwar politically and use whatever mean to silent off the other voices, at least for any damn thing that associated with Altantuya.

Indecent Portfolio Exchange

I’m puzzled and angry with what the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi did to ensure that his position in UMNO is secured. What the hack is the need for Abdullah to exchange portfolio with Najib? Is this in the best interest of the country? If Abdullah really see the need, I’m supportive of the swap. But it seems to me that Abdullah does this just to silence the calls for him to step down earlier. He simply put his personal interest above everything.

Finance Minister is an important portfolio because the minister is managing the country’s wealth. Is Najib really the best candidate for Finance Minister’s post among all the UMNO MPs? What kind of logic to arrange Najib to take up the Finance Minister portfolio just because of Najib is the PM in waiting (or will this ever happened)? Why not just pass down the baton to someone who is more capable?

In the corporate world, the head of a big corporation is hardly double up as the head of Finance or Chief Financial Officer simply because they need someone to dedicate his/her time into the financial aspect. PM’s work load should be very heavy, if the PM is also assumes the finance portfolio, he will be less effective compared to the person doing it full time. Enlighten me, which country’s President/Prime Minister taken up both PM & Finance Minister portfolios?

I can see one big problem in UMNO is, they like to do things the traditional way be it right or wrong (for instance, the party chairman will automatically be the PM). If UMNO can not find a suitable candidate among their own peoples, they can be more open minded by reaching out to other component parties in BN to find the best candidate for the post. It is also hard to believe that, there is no one capable of the job other than those from UMNO. The UMNO leadership should be more open minded in matters that concerning the well being of the country, not to benefit UMNO only.