Despite Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s simple 2011 New Year message stressing how his ‘government was sensitive to the people’, he has nevertheless done his utmost to let the people down by undermining the Pakatan-led state government in Selangor.
He did this by challenging the Selangor Menteri Besar’s choice of State Secretary.
He did this by the back-door route.
But perhaps the most damning bit is that he dragged royalty into this fracas.
Najib reminded us not to gamble away the future of the coming generations with wrong decisions: “Let’s mould a better future for the coming generations.”
He then stressed that the success of the Government’s plans and programmes was dependent on the support and cooperation of the people.
“The power to build lies in the hands of the people. Fulfil this responsibility as best as you can.”
He said that the Government always adopted full responsibility in the management of the country, in particular the economy.
“As a government sensitive to the pulse of the people, we will not at all neglect the people’s interests by making a promise or a decision which seems to be popular but is actually to the detriment of the interests of everyone.”
If so, why has he engineered the current state of confusion in Selangor? Why has he gone against the people’s wishes?
The Federal government appointed outgoing Selangor Islamic Religious Department director Mohd Khusrin Munawi as the new state secretary.
Selangor Menteri besar Khalid Ibrahim was not consulted and the state government under his leadership, rejected the appointment. Khusrin is known as a 'thorn' because he likes to undermine state decisions.
Moreover, Khusrin was the least capable candidate in the selection round conducted by the state-appointed panel.
Nevertheless, Khalid is furious with the Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Sidek Hassan, who appointed Khusrin, because a wrong message is being sent to civil servants.
Khalid fears that civil servants will wrongly believe that merits and ability are not priorities in the promotion of government servants, whom he said was already facing criticisms for being ineffective and incompetent.
He is right.
Last September, Rembau MP and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar admitted that the ‘over-inflated’ civil service had to be culled and streamlined.
He suggested ways of reward and promotion improvement: “At the moment, it is not based on productivity, but seniority and length of service. We need to change that so that we can cull the inefficient.” Khairy’s father was a civil servant in Wisma Putra.
Everyone is aware that Umno’s most potent political weapon is the civil servant. With 1.2 million bureaucrats (over 4% of the population), Umno is assured of political commitment. These civil servants represent the fifth column.
But now Umno have introduced another lethal weapon: Royalty.
Perhaps, it is to be expected of a charlatan; A Prime minister who was not elected; who has no sense of how to govern.
Najib’s strategy is to drag the Sultan of Selangor into Umno’s muddy brand of politics. He fears that Umno/BN may lose at the next General Election. He fears the humiliation of not wresting control of Selangor, the ‘jewel in the crown’, from Pakatan.
Failure to regain control of Selangor will mean the end of his career.
Devoid of proper governance, Najib’s only recourse is gutter politics.
The chorus of people who have come to the defense of this controversial appointment include ex-Menteri Besar, Khir Toyo, who faces a corruption charge and who is probably best remembered for his multi-million ringgit mansion and his all-expenses family holiday to Disneyland – his ‘study trip’.
The second voice is that of Noh Omar, a weak and unpopular leader.
Perhaps Najib believes his personal record is relatively clean.
Najib orchestrated a political coup in Perak in 2009. He is attempting a repeat performance in Selangor.
He has already sullied the name of democracy. What is the point of a democracy if the Opposition has to constantly seek redress in the courts?
Najib is a man with no moral scruples. Did he have to compromise the neutrality of our Sultan just so he can perform his dirty deed because he does not want to lose control? - Malaysia Chronicle
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