The fifth Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is now on his last leg. He has at most six months. The end could come even faster, in a matter of weeks.
A coup d’etat was staged at this morning’s emergency UMNO Supreme Council meeting, where Abdullah’s mid-2010 power-transition plan was scuttled for good.
Although Abdullah declared after the meeting that he had not decided whether to defend the Umno President’s post in March next year, asserting that “The decision is mine, you can go on guessing”, these are empty brave words as the writing is clearly on the wall of another Prime Minister and Umno President being forced out of office.
Can Abdullah salvage his premiership to leave behind some honourable legacy to future generations?
It is a great disappointment bordering on grave breach of national trust that the emergency UMNO Supreme Council meeting today had only time for the political future of Abdullah and the Umno war-lords, but no time or thought for the deepening multiple crisis of confidence confronting the nation in the past seven months since the March 8 general election.
When the Umno Supreme Council could hold an emergency meeting over the political future of Abdullah and the Umno warlords, but no time for the multiple national challenges on the political, economic, educational, institutional, good governance and nation-building fronts, Malaysians are being told in no uncertain terms as to how irrelevant the Umno leadership have become to the popular hopes and national aspirations of the people in Malaysia.
#1 by Thinking Two on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 3:44 pm
Indecisive!!
#2 by oknyua on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 3:49 pm
“… the writing on his end is on the wall?”
YB Lim, just a light-hearted look at the title of your this thread. I suppose he is again in self denial mode, or he needed another translation to the writing, or maybe he needed an assistant to propose on how to respond to this writing.
#3 by madmix on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 3:56 pm
What legacy? Father of flip flop. Father of talk but cannot walk.
#4 by bclee on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:02 pm
YB Lim I think be need time to sit down with kj for cleaning all unsolve projects b4 handling over the power.
#5 by pkrisnin on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:07 pm
I seriously thought the meeting was about the economic plans for Malaysia to avoid the American fallout but I should have known better.
#6 by HJ Angus on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:09 pm
Seriously there is nothing to salvage.
At first there was more free space given but that too seems to taken a few back steps with the last 3 ISA arrests.
#7 by Godfather on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:10 pm
Looks like another bailout will be necessary for The Emperor’s New Clothes.
#8 by zak_hammaad on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:14 pm
This is the epitome of desperation, AAB will decide by Oct 9 whether he will defend his Umno presidency and the UMNO elections have been deferred til March ‘09.
I strongly believe that come Oct 9, AAB will not defend his post or seek nomination for March elections. He will thus ally dissent within UMNO by simply handing over premiership by June 09 and thus be seen to be leaving on his own accord in a graceful/respectful manner rather than being thrown out, lol.
AAB has always sought cosmetics over substance and it’s clear that his ego is more important to him than his country!
#9 by Johorean on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:17 pm
This flip flop PM blur-blur becomes PM, blur-blur run the country, now blur-blur got kicked out by his own people. Makes me blur-blur who is running the show now.
#10 by Jeffrey on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:17 pm
His options are definitely narrowing in the face of this ‘coup d’etat’ (to borrow YB Kit’s phrase).
IF he could secure the necessary number of nominations from Umno’s divisions, he could defend his post as party president against challenges. That’s the democratic way.
Or he could look for some excuse to declare matrial law and incarcerate some more political detractors including those from his own party out to oust him. That’s the undemocratic way.
However, if he cannot do either options and has to go, what time is there left for him to “salvage his premiership to leave behind some honourable legacy to future generations?”
If he could not, for whatever reasons, effect meaningful or institutional reforms for all the while and years he has been PM how could he do so, in the interest of legacy, within the limited borrowed time of a couple of months left within the framework of Barisan Nasional subsisting on after him ?
It is a different story if he were vengeful to hit back at ingrates within the party conspiring to oust him even to the extent of risking BN’s position.
He could, for example, tender his resignation along with the cabinet to confront another general election.
He could meet with Anwar and talk.
At the very least he could release RPK from Kamunting so that the cyber pit bull could be let loose to bite some of those conspiring to usher his earlier exit.
#11 by ADAM YONG IBNI ABDULLAH on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:22 pm
dear hj angus,
certainly the premier can within this six months or less perform the following:-
1. abolish ISA.
2. independent Aca.
3. independent Judiciary.
4. sell off the executive jet.
there are too many broken promises , retracting and conflicting statements by the premier himself and that of the ministers.
nevertheless, whoever assume the premiership is yet another concern if none of the 3 core issues are addressed.
#12 by TheWrathOfGrapes on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:30 pm
/// A coup d’etat was staged at this morning’s emergency UMNO Supreme Council meeting… ///
Anxiously waiting for the coup de grace…
#13 by Godfather on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:34 pm
I can’t see Badawi resigning with the rest of his cabinet “to confront another election”.
The warlords within UMNO have too much to lose in a GE, and would prefer to buy time until 2012 – 2013. A bird in hand in worth two in the bush. For UMNO, another 4 years of having their hands in the nation’s till is more important than any other reason we can give about Badawi needing to do the right thing.
#14 by Emily Pratt on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:36 pm
ADAM YONG IBNI ABDULLAH Says:
certainly the premier can within this six months or less perform the following:-
1. abolish ISA.
2. independent Aca.
3. independent Judiciary.
4. sell off the executive jet.
==============================================
Don’t forget to fire the Botak Clown aka Mr ISA.
#15 by ADAM YONG IBNI ABDULLAH on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:37 pm
the prime minister is a typical rag to riches and back to rag story.
he had the greatest mandate given to him in year 2004 , and he failed to addressed all the promises made. he enjoyed all the travelling overseas in a nice jet and he governed by remote control ( if any ).
he led the worst performance of bn in 2008, due to poor leadership and by not listening to the raayat. he surrounded himself by “hidup paklah” warlords.
unfortunately he never realise he did wrong. i think, he does not even know why he is so unpopular with the raayat and within his warlords.
he had been given the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past, but he merely compounded the problems .
and what can the premier salvage in such a short time, for what he could not deliver for the last 4 years. NOTHING.
history will remember you mr.premier, if you abolish ISA. that’s the least you can do.
#16 by Jeffrey on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:40 pm
When YB Kit asks, whether Abdullah could salvage his premiership to leave behind some honourable legacy to future generations, Kit is definitely ‘fishing’ for a certain definite response.
Discounting/barring the issue of reforms for which there is no more time – a few months is just too short – there is one other way for Abdullah Badawi “to leave behind some honourable legacy to future generations”.
That way is to tender his and his cabinet resignation to the Yang di Pertuan Agong with the advice to dissolve parliament and call for a general election.
Let the people decide now their future, whether it would be BN or Pakatan Rakyat.
And why not? After all so many of the powerful players within his own party have rejected his leadership and would not even give him the face saving time of up to 2010 to complete his work or reforms.
This last card will be a good answer to the ingrates aligned against him : at the same time it is measure that will benefit the country to clear once and for all the uncertainty over all these months since 8th March as to who has mandate.
#17 by Godfather on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:43 pm
It is quite a scary thought of having Najis as the new PM. When the original 2010 transition plan was thrashed out between him and Badawi, he called it a “good and wise” move. Now that the plan has been brought forward to 2009, he is also calling it a “wise” move.
For a person who just cannot shake off the Mongolian connection, and for those of us who look on in bewilderment at the antics of Rosemary, the ascendancy of Najis to the top post of the land cannot be seen as a “wise” move.
#18 by Jong on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:44 pm
They are coming at him from all directions but, if he wants history to remember him kindly, he should let his conscience be his guide – Immediately Abolish ISA and set Raja Petra and all ISA detainees free!
It’s time he speaks up, identify and stop cover up of the identity of “Mr C4″ – alleged to be a vvip in politics. This dangerous guy must not be allowed to hold public office. He must be sent to hell.
He must also expose those involved in the conspiracy to character assassinate Anwar Ibrahim in Sodomy II charge and drop the charge. As for Saiful Bukhari, we will deal with him later on.
#19 by ADAM YONG IBNI ABDULLAH on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:45 pm
dearest emily,
thank you for the addition to the list. actually it is a very long list of outstanding unfulfilled promises.
#20 by Jeffrey on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:46 pm
In response to Godfather’s post – the issue is whether tendering his and his cabinet resignation to the Yang di Pertuan Agong with the advice to dissolve parliament and call for a general election is a call and constityutional privilege of the Prime Minister. If it is, then what can the power brokers/war lords do about it? I am inclined to the view that that option is the exclusive call of the Prime Minister, about which nobody else, whether he likes it or not, can do anything except possibly only the Yang di Pertuan Agong who also has the discretion whether to accede to the PM’s request to dissolve parliament or appoint somebody else within UMNO to lead the government!
#21 by Godfather on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:46 pm
Jeffrey:
The issue here is that the UMNO Supreme Council will not let Badawi “do the right thing” by calling for fresh elections. It is too far-fetched to think that the UMNO warlords will take the risk of being part of the new opposition so soon after the last elections. We all know that Badawi is incapable of making quick decisions, unlike the dictatorial approach of his predecessor, the Mamak.
#22 by oknyua on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:48 pm
ADAM Yong- no need for him to abolish ISA – not to that extend. Release all ISA detainees and charge them in court of law – I will still remember it as his final good deed.
#23 by Godfather on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:49 pm
Even though it is correct to say that the prerogative of dissolving Parliament and calling for fresh elections is with the PM, the last 2 UMNO supreme council meetings have demonstrated that the emperor indeed has no clothes.
#24 by Godfather on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:52 pm
In the same vein, Badawi can’t abolish the ISA or free all ISA detainees because the decision to detain the Hindraf leadership and other political opponents of BN was not really made by Badawi alone, but rather under severe pressure from the extremist faction within UMNO itself.
#25 by ADAM YONG IBNI ABDULLAH on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:53 pm
godfather,
the list of candidates :-
1. mr.n r
2. mr. m
3. mr. t r
4. mr. r y
5. none of the above.
not much of a choice right? so, i concur with Sir Jeffrey’s observation and wisdom, to dissolve parliament and called for a fresh general election. let the raayat decide who we want to be the prime minister, rather the 25 “supreme” members. what is 25 pax compare to 26 million malaysians.
#26 by Jeffrey on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:54 pm
Godfather : I am inclined to the view that although the UMNO Supreme Council will (definitely) not let Badawi “do the right thing” by calling for fresh elections, the fact is that the Supreme Council has no control over the Prime Minister’s constitutional prerogative to choose the timing of the next election. First of all I doubt that UMNO’s party constitution has anything to fetter this constitutional privilege of the PM; secondly even if UMNO’s party constitution has anything to say about it – that Supreme Council must approve – non of these rules or party rules will override or take precedence over the supremacy of the Federal Constitution.
So if the Constitution gives the PM the right, that is the end of the matter : it is only whether the PM wants to invoke and exercise it.
#27 by Samuel Goh Kim Eng on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:55 pm
When the writing is clearly on the wall
There will be no more kicking of the ball
After so much spilling of all the gall
There’s only interest in making the last call
(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng – 260908
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
Fri. 26th Sept. 2008.
#28 by Emily Pratt on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:57 pm
oknyua Says:
ADAM Yong- no need for him to abolish ISA – not to that extend. Release all ISA detainees and charge them in court of law – I will still remember it as his final good deed.
==============================================
Yeah, we may still need ISA for a good couple of years, to put Botak Clown, Ahmad Ismail and the likes in there to let them experience the suffering they inflicted on others. You know… Law of Karma.
#29 by Jeffrey on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:57 pm
I don’t think any minister appointed by the PM – or even the Supreme Council – can stop a Prime Minister from acting on his accord to tender in the resignation of his post and that of the cabinet.
#30 by yhsiew on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 4:58 pm
March 2009 spells the endgame of Abdullah’s “reign”.
I think Abdullah has made a lot of mistakes while in office. The biggest one is that instead of devoting his attention to reforms and to the needs of the rakyat, he shifted his focus to power-struggle within UMNO and outside UMNO (after DSAI made a political comeback). The Abdullah administration seems to be redundant and irrelevant to nation building, especially after Tsunami 308. Currently the whole nation can be likened to a ship without a captain, drifting dangerously in the stormy sea!
Abdullah’s blatant abuse of the ISA and MCMC declaration of Internet non-censorship, coupled with negative repercussions from fuel-price hikes (e.g. sky-rocketing inflation, sluggish economy, high unemployment etc) have created more foes than friends. That does not augur well for his staying on as PM.
Abdullah’s indecisive flip-flopping character has given people the impression that he is a weak and impotent leader.
I personally would not support Abdullah’s premiership. I think Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah or Muhyiddin Yassin is a better choice for the PM’s post (so long as UMNO remains in power).
#31 by Jeffrey on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 5:00 pm
That is because the resignation of a PM and government is an issue relating to government governed by rules of the Federal Constitution – and it is not a ‘party’ issue relating to UMNO governed by its own party’s rules! In the premises party’s rules cannot interfere with constitutional processes relating to government.
#32 by ADAM YONG IBNI ABDULLAH on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 5:00 pm
godfather,
i beg to disagreed . certainly he can release those detained under isa. certainly he can abolish isa, pr mps will support the bill in parliament.
unless he is aligned and part of the “extreme” faction within umno himself.
if i have six months to live, seriously, ( EXPIRY DATE PROVIDED ), i will go all out to redeem my sins and do good.
#33 by Loh on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 5:03 pm
AAB knew that reform was necessary and that was why he declared that he wanted to be PM for all Malaysians. He established royal commissions to reform the police force, and to reform the TDMism in the Judiciary. But he was not able to carry them out. The hindrance began with TDM, and the excesses perpetrated by his son-in-law didn’t help.
Malaysians thought that after TDM, all will be well. But all is not well, and the successor of AAB that we know will not make it any better.
The way to reform is to have the government taken away from the hands of UMNO warlords whom AAB with the near absolute power was not able to control.
If AAB considers that besides enjoying the perks during all his life in politics, he hopes still to be remembered, fondly, by the future generations, he should make reform of the country possible, even though it is not carried out through his hands.
Anwar has told him that he has the number to take over the government. Anwar promised reform. Between his UMNO successor and Anwar, AAB should know who would honestly carry out reform for the good of the country. So it is easier for AAB to assign Anwar to reform the country, than to hope that his UMNO successor would so it.
AAB should just meet with Anwar, possible through video conference, on how the power transfer should be organized. He can do it before 9 October. The country would be happy to hear that he has transferred his power to Anwar, than he has been beaten for believing that he would not be able to claim 58 nominations by the UMNO divisions.
When AAB ceases to hold the post as PM, the presidency of UMNO means much less. He could in fact resign from UMNO, to create the history of a sitting president resigning the position.
#34 by hiro on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 5:05 pm
Badawi stepping down is bad news for Pakatan. Better train your guns on Najib now.
#35 by Emily Pratt on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 5:06 pm
Jeffrey Says:
I don’t think any minister appointed by the PM – or even the Supreme Council – can stop a Prime Minister from acting on his accord to tender in the resignation of his post and that of the cabinet.
==============================================
But we know that Nincompoop is a weakling, and every decision whether big or small; he has to ask other people first.
#36 by ADAM YONG IBNI ABDULLAH on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 5:07 pm
Sir Jeffrey,
you may have given the prime minster the very “medicine” for his sickness AND problems. by threatening to dissolve parliament, which is his prerogative, suddenly all the warlords will shout “hidup paklah” again. cause, they know, the final result of the next general election.
#37 by Yee Siew Wah on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 5:13 pm
Well, sleepy flipflop lame duck guy can at least do something good for the rakyat before he leave.
Abolish ISA, revamp the judiciary and the police force, resolve racial and religious issues to mention a few.
But please dont let Mr.C4 takeover. This guy has too many unpleasant things link to him directly or indirectly.
Dont mumble anymore, just wake up and do something for everyone irrespective. You have everything to gain and NOTHING to lose now. JUST DO IT.
#38 by Jeffrey on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 5:18 pm
ADAM YONG IBNI ABDULLAH, in difficult and trying times, the person cornered will have no choice but to depart from his customary Mr Nice gestures to take on bold initiatives (going for the jugular) that his opponents least expect him to do.
Even a cat cornered by a big dog, with no room to escape, will unsheath its claws, gnarl its teeth and fight back.
The very threat of resigning government will induce all power brokers and warlords to give him an extension of time to 2010. Or else they face the music!
#39 by grace on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 5:19 pm
Goodbye Pak Lah, you will not be missed!
But can Najib perform? Looks like another lame duck! Bakri Musa has aptly described Najib. I have the same opinion on him too. He is just as indecisive asPak Lah. No backbone of his.
Anyway, let us sit back and watch!!!
#40 by TheWrathOfGrapes on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 5:22 pm
/// grace Says:
Today at 17: 19.51 (1 minute ago)
Goodbye Pak Lah, you will not be missed! ///
grace – can you deliver the coup de grace?
:)
#41 by mendela on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 5:51 pm
OMG!
Cannot imagine how Malaysia will turn into if Rosie is taking over the helm.
PR needs to grab power b4 Rosie is taking over!
Pete will be in real deep shit too.
Let’s put the murderers to hell fast!
#42 by biggun on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 5:51 pm
Farewell Party for this coming Hari Raya Open House at Putrajaya, the scenario will be difference,The end of the show, THE LAST EMPEROR !!!!!!
#43 by bclee on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 5:56 pm
Release RPK sue him in open court no the ISA to cover all the cases against the ppl in BN cronie.
where were the last Balakrisnan go? just gone like this?
please release RPK and all detained under ISA
#44 by Justitia on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 5:59 pm
Jeffrey says, “The very threat of resigning government will induce all power brokers and warlords to give him an extension of time to 2010.”
Do you really think that AAB has the gumption to do such a thing? This is so out of character for the guy. If we were to classify AAB’s decisions into baskets of “doing right things, right”, “right things, wrong”, “wrong things, right” and “wrong things, wrong”, where do you think he will come out? And here we are asking or expecting him to “right things, right” for a change. No chance, but wishful thinking. Nevertheless, a great thought indeed!
#45 by taiking on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 6:04 pm
Open short letter to najib, the incoming prime minister of malaysia,
Dear PM, pls take note of badawi’s failures and dont repeat them.
I have analysed badawi’s failures and for your benefit I have reduced them into a set of simple to follow rules.
Rule no. 1 dont ever promise to clear up corruption in malaysia.
Rule no. 2 dont ever promise to improve transparency or to ensure good governance.
Rule no. 3 dont ever promise to be fair to non-malays and not to practice racial discrimination.
Rule no. 4 dont ever promise to discontinue nep.
Rule no. 5 dont ever promise anything you or umno could not or have no intention of honouring.
Badawi promised too much with full knowledge of his incapacity to deliver and knowing well that umno would not co-operate.
#46 by monsterball on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 6:08 pm
Dollah has lost his sense of proportions…sense of dignity…sense of principles in life….and above all…sense of self pride..to keep his words..as ‘People’s PM”.
He has no more good qualities left in him.
The last and most important sense of living….to mean what you say….and say what you mean….totally gone.
He has actually revealed himself…by saying….he love UMNO more than anything else.
Had he said that before election ….voters may chuck him out….as voters expects him to love Malaysians more than UMNO.
This man is useless…so easy to fall into the traps of Mahathir….simply because…he wants to play dirty politics.
He is such a selfish stubborn man …and with his low IQ…it makes him totally useless PM.
Yes…….Malaysians….be prepared for one idiot taking over another idiot ..as PM.
How long can UMNO last?
All we need to get that answer is…by asking ourselves…who in UMNO is smart …sincere…a true Malaysian…to be PM?
Smart ones…simply cannot last. It must always be.. a racialist…..with an art.. to twist and turn. All UMNO supreme council members…..have learn the art well.
Actually….many active UMNO members has learn this art very well too.
We never seen UMNO members talking or behaving like this before Mahathir took over for 22 years.
Mahathir is …the real devil…the teacher…the Dictator.
Dollah started by saying….he needs to get rid of little Napoleans….and those little Napoleans are actually getting rid of him….because he talks alot…..just talk…no actions…making Malaysians so sick of him…right now.
Malaysians must wake up….be very patient and vote them out…..next election.
#47 by dap-for-pj on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 6:14 pm
“Saya pantang di cabar!”
“Saya pantang di malukan!”
“Saya pantang di pecat!”
“Saya pantang……………….(into the sunset)
#48 by Old.observer on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 6:33 pm
Malaysian Insider article written by NO NAME SUPPLIED. http://m.themalaysianinsider.com/articles.php?id=9652-winners-and-losers
Note the last paragraph which I quote:
“Postponing the party elections will hit some of these warlords hard in the pocket. Many of them have been spending a great deal of money, and now they will have to loosen their purse string right up till March.” and
“The winners in March may well turn out to be those with the deepest pockets.”
Is this an open and public admission that UMNO warlords engage in substantial money politics in UMNO elections?
If so, where is the ACA investigations?
Where are the public condemnations on this unsavoury money politics in UMNO?
:-)
#49 by mata_kucing on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 6:42 pm
Good riddance and none too soon. No consolation though that the baton is going to be passed to Najib.
#50 by delCapo on Friday, 26 September 2008 - 6:46 pm
will Ku Li still challenge if it’s Najib?? that should tell us a few more things =]
wat will become of KJ??
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http://delcapo.wordpress.com/