Desperate Ali Rustam Wants In On the Act.
Umno Vice-President Datuk Seri Mohamed Ali Rustam said Saturday efforts to reconcile the differences between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should be done discreetly and away from the media glare. He said the efforts to clear the air do not need media publicity so as to avert any inaccurate reporting. "I wish to see the problem settled amicably. It is better if no publicity was given to it."
Dr Mahathir launched stinging attacks recently against the Abdullah-led Government as he was unhappy with several decisions made, such as the scrapping of several projects started by him when he was prime minister.
Mohamed Ali, who is Melaka chief minister, said all quarters could play their role to clear the air and everyone hoped that the matter could be settled amicably so that the government's decisions can be understood by Dr Mahathir.
"It is not binding that Tun (Dr Mahathir) should agree to everything that the government has explained but the government will continue to explain and if the explanation was done in the media, it will fizzle out as a media discussion," he said. He said it was most welcome if there were people who could strive to deliver the explanations face-to-face.
Meanwhile, several Melaka Umno leaders urged the media to refrain from worsening the situation while efforts were being taken to reconcile the differences between Abdullah and Dr Mahathir.
**** Ali Rustam must have secretly cursed that it was not him but the Malacca Governor, Khalil Yaacob, who has been mentioned as the probable mediator between Dr M and the PM. What a PR coup it would have been for Rustam if he had pulled off a reconciliation between the two giants!
Alas, it was not to be. So he is making the best of a bad situation by now giving his 5 sen worth of advice which nobody really cares to listen or is bothered to heed. He knows his limitations and that in the current scheme of things he, apart from being insignificant at that high a level, cannot even contribute indirectly to the resolution of the political stalemate.
Therefore he very cleverly acts concerned and has directed attention to himself by appearing to advice the media and anyone else who cares to give him a hearing. Apparently the other hangers-on in tiny Malacca have also tried to squeeze in on the act.
A case of desperately attempting to extract some reflected glory from Khalil Yaacob's stroke of good luck perhaps?
Dr Mahathir launched stinging attacks recently against the Abdullah-led Government as he was unhappy with several decisions made, such as the scrapping of several projects started by him when he was prime minister.
Mohamed Ali, who is Melaka chief minister, said all quarters could play their role to clear the air and everyone hoped that the matter could be settled amicably so that the government's decisions can be understood by Dr Mahathir.
"It is not binding that Tun (Dr Mahathir) should agree to everything that the government has explained but the government will continue to explain and if the explanation was done in the media, it will fizzle out as a media discussion," he said. He said it was most welcome if there were people who could strive to deliver the explanations face-to-face.
Meanwhile, several Melaka Umno leaders urged the media to refrain from worsening the situation while efforts were being taken to reconcile the differences between Abdullah and Dr Mahathir.
**** Ali Rustam must have secretly cursed that it was not him but the Malacca Governor, Khalil Yaacob, who has been mentioned as the probable mediator between Dr M and the PM. What a PR coup it would have been for Rustam if he had pulled off a reconciliation between the two giants!
Alas, it was not to be. So he is making the best of a bad situation by now giving his 5 sen worth of advice which nobody really cares to listen or is bothered to heed. He knows his limitations and that in the current scheme of things he, apart from being insignificant at that high a level, cannot even contribute indirectly to the resolution of the political stalemate.
Therefore he very cleverly acts concerned and has directed attention to himself by appearing to advice the media and anyone else who cares to give him a hearing. Apparently the other hangers-on in tiny Malacca have also tried to squeeze in on the act.
A case of desperately attempting to extract some reflected glory from Khalil Yaacob's stroke of good luck perhaps?
posted by The Malaysian. at 7/02/2006 11:40:00 PM
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