Sorry Umno Youth. No Rotation Of Penang CM's Post.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the post of Penang Chief Minister will not go through a rotation system. "There are no changes for now," he told reporters. He said this when commenting on a proposal by Umno Youth's Nibong Tebal division last Sunday that the post of Penang Chief Minister should be rotated.

Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon Thursday reminded the Umno Youth movement to make a careful study before making the demand. Koh, who is also Deputy Gerakan President, said at the moment, the rotation system should not be used as an issue by any quarters.

Speaking on the same issue, Umno Youth head Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein asked Koh to look into the crux of the matter, which prompted the Nibong Tebal Umno Youth to raise the rotation issue. He said there was something wrong between the state leadership's relationship and the Umno Youth movement, which caused the Umno divisional Youth to use the issue as a resolution.

"The resolution does not merit a lengthy study as it has become part of tradition. But since the issue was raised by the Umno Youth division at its meeting, then they should also look into the state leadership's own weaknesses in the context of their ties with the Penang Umno Youth," he said.

Hishammuddin, when met by reporters after officiating the Umno Youth and Umno Puteri delegates meeting for Besut division, held simultaneously, said he had gone to Penang to get the real picture on the issue. He said personally he did not know how the resolution came about and did not rule out the possibility that it must have been due to the dissatisfaction over the fate and interests of the Malays in the state.

Koh, who coincidentally was in Kuala Terengganu to attend the official opening of the Terengganu Gerakan party delegates conference, said, he was ready to discuss the issue with Hishammuddin. He denied the issue had emanated from the dissatisfaction over the fate of the Penang Malays.

Gerakan President Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, who was also present, reminded certain quarters not to play up on issues which had racial overtones. "There are people with ulterior motives or as the Malay saying, ada udang di sebalik batu. What we can do is to remove the stone and eat all the prawns," said Lim in jest.

**** Basically the problem is that the Umno Youth kiddos can't bear to see a Chinaman in the big chair. They probably feel that if a Malay occupies that seat they will be in for a bonanza. Of course no such thing will happen as can be seen in other states where their men are placed comfortably in the MB/CMs office. In reality the Penang Gerakan would most probably have done much more for these ignoramuses as they would be acutely aware that these jokers are just waiting for an opportunity to start making politically untenable demands like now.

As for Hishamuddin, he more than all the other Youth leaders knows the score and is probably laughing quietly at this ambitious bunch of jutawan wannabes. In any case there is no harm I suppose if they just keep up this annual ritual without creating problems for the Penang leadership. Better the pest you know than the backstabber you don't.