pak lah as the minister of defense? = joke of the century!

Assalamualaikum Wrt. Wbt.

1. The decision to swap portfolios between Pak Lah and Najib was reported by many online medias such as Utusan Malaysia and The Star.
2. I felt extremely shocked and disturbed by this latest political development in our country. I cannot help but keep pondering on the reasons and rationale behind such decision. Why does everybody in the cabinet keep silent?
3. I was shocked because there was no hint whatsoever on the need to revise the leadership in Ministry of Defence. Najib had lead the country’s security and safety branch very well.
4. I felt disturbed because Pak Lah’s track record as the Minister of Defense was literally bad. For instance, the decision to buy A4-PTM Skyhawk (read here).
5. People judge others from many perspectives. One of them is first impression. Can you imagine how the military community would perceive Pak Lah as the Minister of Defence? What is their first impression on Pak Lah? He, as the Minister of Defence, is the worst nightmare to the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) who recently celebrated its 75th anniversary on September 16, 2008.
6. In addition, his track records as the Prime Minister, Home Affairs Minister, and Finance Minister of Malaysia are not impressive enough. He is “indecisive” type of person. Many of his decisions were “flip-flop” and created havoc to laymen.
7. There are many strategic portfolios in managing this country. Finance and Defense are the most important portfolios beside Education, Internal/ Home Affairs, International Affairs, and Health. The politicians appointed to lead these ministries MUST have the capability to be effective and efficient leader. Does Pak Lah have these qualities?
   

   Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the press conference in Putrajaya on Wednesday (Sep 17, 2008) where Abdullah announced he and Najib would be swapping portfolios - The Star.

8. The reports mentioned that the portfolio swap was in line with the agreed transition plan between Pak Lah and Najib. In my personal view, the transition plan should work as follows: Pak Lah gradually hand over his responsibilities as the Prime Minister of Malaysia to Najib. In simple explanation, Pak Lah should reduce his political power from time to time until the specified transition date in 2010.
9. Nothing is achieved by simply swapping the portfolios. This is not considered as part of the transition plan. The decision would definitely send wrong message or signal to the “rakyat” at grassroots level. They might think this decision as Pak Lah’s wicked move to hinder Najib from challenging him in the coming UMNO’s General Assembly in November 2008. Najib sudah digula-gulakan Pak Lah!
10. Another thing that annoyed me is the fact that Pak Lah is very reluctant to appoint Nor Mohamed Yakcob as a full minister in the cabinet. If Najib is qualified (from Pak Lah’s perspective) to be the Minister of Finance, why not Nor Mohamed Yakcob? He has served as the Second Finance Minister quite well. Hmmm….something fishy about this.
11. Everybody is concerned about the sub-prime crisis in the US Economy. Few days ago, Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers (two of the world’s leading financial management and advisory companies) vanished from US financial landscape due to the crisis.
12. The chain-reactions of this crisis will definitely hit Malaysia sooner rather than later. Does Pak Lah plan to put all the blames of economic recession due to the sub-prime crisis on Najib? Does he hope the grassroots supports enjoyed by Najib to diminish as people get angry on their deteriorating economic situation?
13. It remains to be seen how events will unfold. What will happen next? Only time will tell.