PM Backs Down?
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Monday the government cannot do anything more if people who criticise it are not satisfied with the explanation given. He said the important thing was that the explanation had been provided as best as possible. "We'll leave it as it is. If there is anyone who is yet not pleased, including Tun (Dr Mahathir Mohamad), we will only provide the full explanation of the matters raised," he told reporters here.
Abdullah, who is Umno president, had earlier chaired a meeting of the party's Supreme Council. Over the last few months, the Abdullah-led government had come under severe criticisms from former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over its decision on several issues, including the Approved Permit (AP) for the import of vehicles and the half-bridge on the Malaysian side of the causeway linking Singapore.
Abdullah had said last week that the relevant ministries would explain the issues raised by Dr Mahathir. Asked whether the Umno Supreme Council would meet Dr Mahathir to resolve the issues, Abdullah said the matter was not touched on at today's meeting.-- BERNAMA
**** So it looks as if the PM is going to continue on 'elegant silence' mode for a while longer leaving his cabinet colleagues to reply or explain as Pak Lah puts it. If you've noticed Dr M too has slowed down on his criticism, leading to speculation that a deal may be on the cards. Top on the list is of course the Khairy Jamaluddin question. Some sources have made him out to be the crux of the problem in the current impasse. Others have even fingered him as a conniving person who is busy selling out to Singapore, a potentially damaging accusation for the PM.
All said, things do look better now than last week, when an all out war seemed imminent. Much of that is to due to the restraint shown by the PM. If he had then engaged Dr M in the spate of accusations, things would have been on a slippery slope much like the landslide prone areas of Ulu Klang. What Dr M does next is crucial. If his tirade continues then no deal has been cut and Khairy has to watch his flanks with extra care. This is a continuing episode which this blog will follow with diligence.
Abdullah, who is Umno president, had earlier chaired a meeting of the party's Supreme Council. Over the last few months, the Abdullah-led government had come under severe criticisms from former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over its decision on several issues, including the Approved Permit (AP) for the import of vehicles and the half-bridge on the Malaysian side of the causeway linking Singapore.
Abdullah had said last week that the relevant ministries would explain the issues raised by Dr Mahathir. Asked whether the Umno Supreme Council would meet Dr Mahathir to resolve the issues, Abdullah said the matter was not touched on at today's meeting.-- BERNAMA
**** So it looks as if the PM is going to continue on 'elegant silence' mode for a while longer leaving his cabinet colleagues to reply or explain as Pak Lah puts it. If you've noticed Dr M too has slowed down on his criticism, leading to speculation that a deal may be on the cards. Top on the list is of course the Khairy Jamaluddin question. Some sources have made him out to be the crux of the problem in the current impasse. Others have even fingered him as a conniving person who is busy selling out to Singapore, a potentially damaging accusation for the PM.
All said, things do look better now than last week, when an all out war seemed imminent. Much of that is to due to the restraint shown by the PM. If he had then engaged Dr M in the spate of accusations, things would have been on a slippery slope much like the landslide prone areas of Ulu Klang. What Dr M does next is crucial. If his tirade continues then no deal has been cut and Khairy has to watch his flanks with extra care. This is a continuing episode which this blog will follow with diligence.
posted by The Malaysian. at 6/19/2006 05:22:00 PM
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