Most disappointed over UMNO betrayal of Ghani Othman who was completely by-passed instead of being appointed Senator and Minister in new Cabinet line-up


I am disappointed over the UMNO betrayal of former Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Ghani Othman who was completely by-passed instead of being appointed Senator and Minister in the new Cabinet line-up announced by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday.

The UMNO leadership had praised Ghani sky-high during the 13th General Election campaign when fielding him as a parliamentary candidate for Gelang Patah against me, and it is most unfair and ungrateful for UMNO leaders to drop Ghani like a ton of bricks after Ghani failed to defeat me in Gelang Patah in the May 5 polls.

General elections should not be regarded as a zero-sum game, and in the case of Ghani, whom I had openly acknowledged as having made invaluable contribution to the development and progress in Johor, his talents and experience should be tapped by the Federal government as Ghani can have still many years of national service and contribution in him.

I am surprised that Ghani is facing so much resistance in UMNO as there are powerful forces who object to his return to national politics, to the extent that MUBARAK, the association of former Barisan Nasional wakil rakyats, have come out with a statement opposing any UMNO candidate who lost in the 13GE being appointed a Senator and a Minister – clearly targetting at Ghani.

It would be interesting to know who are the UMNO leaders behind the MUBARAK statement for it would throw an interesting light on the UMNO power tussle which has started escalating after the 13GE preparing for the “royal battle” in the UMNO party elections at the end of the year.

One criticism of the Cabinet announced by Najib yesterday is its distinct lack of “star” or “wow” quality.

The only person who stands head and shoulder over the rest of the Cabinet line-up in intellectual prowess is the Oxford graduate, UMNO Youth leader, Khairy Jamaluddin, but who had stepped on too many toes in his heyday as the son-in-law to Tun Abdullah in the brief period his father-in-law as the Prime Minister in Malaysia.

I had in fact had occasion to castigate Khairy in Parliament as the “richest unemployed youth in the world” when he was too big for his boots. I hope that in his many years in “wilderness” eating humble pie although he has UMNO Youth leader, conspicuously sidelined from government front-benches although his deputy was made Deputy Minister, have taught him the qualities of humility.

His final rehabilitation in being appointed to the Cabinet is however a great let-down, as his appointment to the comparatively minor Cabinet portfolio of Minister for Youth and Sports is a great injustice when he should be appointed to more substantive responsibilities.

  1. #1 by cinaindiamelayubersatu on Thursday, 16 May 2013 - 3:56 pm

    with pasir menyalak in the lineup, the country looks gloom and towards nowhere…

  2. #2 by Bigjoe on Thursday, 16 May 2013 - 4:21 pm

    Its actually downright depressing line-up if you ask me. All it point to basically the same modus operandi that Najib has done in the first four years – make some changes to make it look good but nothing fundamental – the problem don’t look so bad because it just got more sophisticated and hidden in some dark corners, all wrapped up in glitzy marketing and massaged statistic with the dirt all buried somewhere else.

    The fact of the matter is Najib never had the mental ability and character to make the kind of changes fundamentally needed. Hiding things better is NOT transformation and even then, its not done that well.

    We are looking at five more years of us pointing out his hiding and spin-doctoring don’t fool people and him insisting it does..

  3. #3 by rjbeee on Thursday, 16 May 2013 - 5:07 pm

    To long in Johore enough of “making” others also want to make…car makan mah..otherwise no more..led see what the new one in Johore is going to do

  4. #4 by sotong on Thursday, 16 May 2013 - 6:16 pm

    Until they fully undertand the ordinary people/taxpayers are boss and their job, being a humble civil servant, is to serve…….nothing will change.

  5. #5 by Taikohtai on Thursday, 16 May 2013 - 7:22 pm

    Its all about clipping the wings of the MOO. He is a looming threat to 1Birkin and the puppet she handles. Since when is 1Malaysia about the rakyat?

  6. #6 by bruno on Thursday, 16 May 2013 - 9:03 pm

    Johore Umno,under big bro “Mr Moo” was going to install their own man as MB.The only way to get rid of Ghani was to promised him a ministerial post if he won in Gelang Patah.They did not promised him nothing if he lost.And “Mr Moo” do not want Ghani to be neighbours with him in Putrajaya.

  7. #7 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Thursday, 16 May 2013 - 10:02 pm

    Maybe we should ask the new Home Minister who has asked the 55% Malaysians who did not vote for BN to migrate:

    ZAHID, ini Bapa punya Negara kah?

  8. #8 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Thursday, 16 May 2013 - 10:33 pm

    Eh, how come Zahid no reply?

    A Home Minister is duty-bound to promote peace and harmony, and in Malaysia’s case, inter-racial, inter-cultural, inter-state harmony – not spew spite, venom and witches’ vomit.

  9. #9 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Thursday, 16 May 2013 - 10:37 pm

    I like Zahid’s challenge.

    Endangered HORNBILL is returning to Malaysia to stay for good.

    Eh, Zahid, apo lu boleh buat?

  10. #10 by Noble House on Friday, 17 May 2013 - 12:50 am

    Did The Home Minister barely a day into his job knows that his appointment was made possible with hardly 47% of voters, not discounting the banglas and suluks that is, in support of his minority government? Is he saying the other 51% who voted against his government should migrate?

  11. #11 by monsterball on Friday, 17 May 2013 - 6:00 am

    Hussien was known as the most idiotic Home Minister….and out come this new one ..talking out-dated political nonsense.
    Bottom line….all are racists with pea nut brains…only good in stealing….cheating…lying and what have you…all know too well.
    It’s another 4 long years….Lawan Tetap Lawan!!!

  12. #12 by pulau_sibu on Friday, 17 May 2013 - 6:41 am

    It is now more than 10 days after the election. We still haven’t seen any one shifting camp. People like Tiong King Sing of Bintulu should consider shifting. BN is lacking Chinese minister and yet he was not considered.

  13. #13 by good coolie on Friday, 17 May 2013 - 12:10 pm

    How can you budge, with a mere nudge, a fellow who is fresh from victory at the the Sulu War? The fellow is free to fire any filth. He is a war hero.

  14. #14 by seetee64 on Saturday, 18 May 2013 - 9:16 am

    LKS LKS LKS

    Need the Malay votes afterall. How to get it? Get the Malays to rebel against UMNO by creating this illusion.

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