Zainuddin: Mediator To Show Concrete Action Being Taken

Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin said Monday that he initiated the move on a mediator to show that concrete action was being taken to clear the air between the government and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The people needed to know about the concrete action which showed that the government led by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had no intention to confront the former prime minister. "At one stage in the crisis it appeared to the people that Dr Mahathir and the government were clashing and in such a situation, the people needed to be informed," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

He also said that the move was his own initiative as an individual and not as a representative of the party or government. Zainuddin, who announced the initiative last Friday, said he obtained Abdullah's consent before the prime minister left the country last Wednesday and also informed Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the matter yesterday.

**** I'm not going to ask Zam why he took his time to inform the No. 2 man, DPM Najib. From Wednesday to Sunday is 'centuries' in this fast-paced thriller. I'm sure he must have his reasons. Reminds me of an article I read recently which conjectured that the biggest loser in this whole fiasco may be Najib!