Mar 19, 08 11:03am
Rafidah Aziz said she will not relinquish her Umno Wanita chief post in the wake of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s decision not to include her in the new cabinet line-up.
"I will not resign, I will continue to head the Wanita (wing)," she told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.
“It is the will of the Wanita (members) that I head the movement and as long as I have the support of the movement, I will remain as its head,” she added.
Earlier, speculations were rife that the 65-year-old politician would quit her post.
The former international trade and industry minister said she would have considered quitting if she had lost in the March 8 polls. Rafidah had retained her Kuala Kangsar parliamentary seat.
Rafidah also expressed shock for being excluded from the cabinet line-up and wished Abdullah had informed her about this earlier.
“If I was allowed to contest (and won the seat), why was I not included in the cabinet line up?” she asked and added that she only learnt about Abdullah’s decision on the day of the cabinet line-up announcement at 9am yesterday.
She also said that the prime minister had only said that it was time that the ministry needed a “new face” as the reason for her discharge. She was replaced by Muhyiddin Yasin in the key cabinet post which she had held since 1986.
Private letter to PM
The veteran politician also confirmed that she had penned a 16-page letter to the prime minister after Barisan Nasional’s disastrous performance in the elections.
“Whatever I wrote in the letter is personal. If I had wanted the letter to be public I would have done so. It is unethical to dive into one’s personal matters,” she told the reporter who had queried her on the matter.
No matter what the outcome was, an upbeat and spirited Rafidah said that she accepted Abdullah’s decision as “God had willed it” and would now concentrate on strengthening the party.
“I have never been the vindictive type. This is God’s will and it is also part and parcel of politics. One day you’re up there, one day you’re not,” she answered when she was asked if she was angered by the discharge.
Moving on, she further said that she will do her best to serve the country through the party and will concentrate on moving forward to rebuild the party and return its popularity among the people.
When quizzed on whether or not the party can make a comeback after suffering its worst defeat since 1969, Rafidah confidently said “Umno ada, tapi terduduk sekejap, (Umno is always present but it is merely temporarily shocked).”
Umno’s battle of the sexes?
Rafidah also said it was up to Wanita Umno members if they wanted to send a protest note to Abdullah on the absence of any female leaders in the new cabinet.
“You should ask the Wanita members what they think of it. It is up to them,” she said and added that the wing will not fight against the party president’s decision as they have to tow the party line.
Rafidah has been the Wanita chief since 1984 - apart for one term from 1996 to 1999 when she lost to Siti Zaharah Sulaiman.
Rafidah's deputy Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was defeated in her Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat and had her cabinet post at the women, family and community development given to Dr Ng Yen Yen.
However Abdullah yesterday named Shahrizat as his special adviser on women and family matters, giving her the same status as a minister.
This means that it is the first time the Wanita wing has no representatives in the cabinet.
Not elaborating on what she thought of it, Rafidah only said that “without Wanita, Umno’s performance would have been worst” and did not explain further.
Asked if she would accept any cabinet post if she was suddenly offered, Rafidah gave a typically sharp reply by saying that she does not want to answer speculative questions.
She then ended the press conference by thanking the ministry’s staff and said that she appreciated the experience she had gained as a minister there and she has no regret but felt proud instead.
She also thanked the media, saying that the ministry and she could not have functioned properly without the assistance of the media.
“Negative or positive report, I thank you. I hope that we all would work towards building this country towards a better future,” she said.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Ku Li to challenge Pak Lah for Umno presidency
Mar 19, 08 8:57pm
Umno veteran former vice president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah today said that he wanted to challenge Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the presidency in the coming party polls.
The MP for Gua Musang offered himself to lead Umno to “heal the party” which was in “a bad way”.
“I still have ideas, I am still brave because I am independent and I don’t depend on anyone. If my service is still needed and my strength can still be used, I am offering myself to work for the rakyat,” he told a press conference in Kota Baru today.
“Even though I am old but I am still strong. If there are enough nominations for me to contest in the Umno election, I will give my service if I am needed,” he added.
Tengku Razaleigh had previously challenged and lost to then Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the 1987 party elections, causing a massive split in the party and the subsequent formation of Semangat 46 by Tengku Razaleigh.
He was later invited back into the Umno fold by Mahathir in 1996 when he dissolved Semangat 46 and brought back all its members into Umno.
In 2004, he tried to challenge Abdullah for the presidency but failed to obtain the necessary nominations. He obtained only one from his Gua Musang division.
Calling for Umno EGM
He is now planning to call for a special meeting in his division tomorrow to discuss his proposal for the party to hold a special meeting to discuss the defeat.
He described Umno’s defeat in the recent general election as the most painful and horrible moment in his political career.
The Kelantan prince also recently distributed letters to all Umno divisions and branch heads, urging them to call for a special Umno EGM on May 11, the party’s anniversary, to discuss the dismal polls performance.
He felt the meeting should be held before the annual general meeting in August to “avoid confusion.”
“I felt the general assembly has to deal with lots of issues, so let us have this special meeting to discuss the election results. I hope the other Umno divisions will consider this. This can be done according to the party’s constitution and it is an abnormal thing. We need to discuss this defeat. Haven’t the Umno members realise we’ve lost five states? Are they still sleeping?” he said.
Umno veteran former vice president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah today said that he wanted to challenge Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the presidency in the coming party polls.
The MP for Gua Musang offered himself to lead Umno to “heal the party” which was in “a bad way”.
“I still have ideas, I am still brave because I am independent and I don’t depend on anyone. If my service is still needed and my strength can still be used, I am offering myself to work for the rakyat,” he told a press conference in Kota Baru today.
“Even though I am old but I am still strong. If there are enough nominations for me to contest in the Umno election, I will give my service if I am needed,” he added.
Tengku Razaleigh had previously challenged and lost to then Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the 1987 party elections, causing a massive split in the party and the subsequent formation of Semangat 46 by Tengku Razaleigh.
He was later invited back into the Umno fold by Mahathir in 1996 when he dissolved Semangat 46 and brought back all its members into Umno.
In 2004, he tried to challenge Abdullah for the presidency but failed to obtain the necessary nominations. He obtained only one from his Gua Musang division.
Calling for Umno EGM
He is now planning to call for a special meeting in his division tomorrow to discuss his proposal for the party to hold a special meeting to discuss the defeat.
He described Umno’s defeat in the recent general election as the most painful and horrible moment in his political career.
The Kelantan prince also recently distributed letters to all Umno divisions and branch heads, urging them to call for a special Umno EGM on May 11, the party’s anniversary, to discuss the dismal polls performance.
He felt the meeting should be held before the annual general meeting in August to “avoid confusion.”
“I felt the general assembly has to deal with lots of issues, so let us have this special meeting to discuss the election results. I hope the other Umno divisions will consider this. This can be done according to the party’s constitution and it is an abnormal thing. We need to discuss this defeat. Haven’t the Umno members realise we’ve lost five states? Are they still sleeping?” he said.
BN won't be toppled, says Abdullah
Mar 19, 08 8:34pm
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today dismissed talks that the government is in danger of being toppled by the rumoured massive defection of his Barisan Nasional parliamentarians to the opposition.
“Why should the government be toppled? This government is very strong, we have the support too. We don’t go around purchasing people,” he told reporters after chairing a two-hour cabinet meeting, the first after the March 8 polls, in Putrajaya this afternoon.
The premier said this when he was asked to comment on opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim’s claims that a number of BN MPs are ready to cross over to the opposition parties.
“He (Anwar) claims so many things, let him claim whatever he wants,” said Abdullah, who was accompanied by his deputy Najib Abdul Razak.
The opposition parties, which jointly controlled 82 parliamentary seats now, will be able to take over the federal government from BN if they gain another 30 seats.
In its dismay electoral performance on the March 8 polls, BN for the first time lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament. The coalition also lost control of four states to the opposition on top of failing to retain Kelantan despite much hopes. BN now has 140 seats.
No infighting in Umno
In the same press conference, the premier also said Umno - the backbone of BN - remained strong as he rejected talks that the new cabinet line-up unveiled yesterday would cause a split in the party.
The new cabinet line-up so far has prompted Radzi Sheikh Ahmad to quit as the Umno and BN secretary-general while some Umno Wanita members complained of its non-representation. Two Umno persons have also declined to accept their deputy minister positions, stating that they were senior enough to be made ministers.
Umno Wanita chief Rafidah Abdul Aziz and Radzi were both unexpectedly dropped from the line-up and were the two most senior ‘casualties’ in yesterday’s announcement.
“Why should it create division? Tell me how it will create division? There is no (internal) fight,” Abdullah countered when asked by a journalist.
Abdullah did not directly answer whether the resignation of Radzi - seen as his right-hand man - was deemed as a setback but said he had no objections and respected the latter’s decision.
He said the decision was conveyed to him by Radzi through a phone conversation.
“He didn’t say anything that is improper, he just said he was giving up the posts,” said Abdullah.
Radzi had said that he decided to step down as he would not be able to discharge his duties effectively as he was not in the cabinet announced by Abdullah yesterday.
To this, Abdullah said that different individuals would have different perception on Radzi’s reasoning.
He argued that there have been previous cases where leaders who were not in the cabinet could still perform effectively in party works.
Abdullah, who is also Umno and BN chief, said he will meet with the Umno Wanita members to explain on the non-representation in the cabinet.
“I will be meeting them, and explain to them. They will understand (my decision because) not many Umno Wanita (members) who won in the last general election,” he argued.
Let Umno Youth decide
The premier also confirmed that former tourism minister Tengku Adnan Mansor would replace Radzi as the Umno secretary-general.
“I have spoken to Tengku Adnan and he is willing to accept the post,” said Abdullah.
On the two deputy ministers who have refused to take up the posts offered to them after the line-up was publicly announced yesterday, Abdullah said he has met with the duo last night.
The duo - Tengku Azlan Abu Bakar and Anifah Aman - considered they were senior enough to be made full ministers since they have been deputy ministers in the previous terms.
“Of course it’s sad, everybody will be sad if you are not having promotion, that’s only natural for (them). Nothing beyond that except to say that (they) are willing to make way (for others).”
Meanwhile, on Umno Youth’s decision not to act against its exco member Mukhriz Mahathir, Abdullah said it was entirely up to the wing to make the decision on the matter.
Mukhriz, the youngest son of ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has written to Abdullah to step down in the wake of BN’s disastrous showing in the last general election.
Mukhriz’s letter was leaked and has been widely circulated on the Internet.
“It’s a decision by the Umno Youth in what they think is the best interest for the party. It’s up to them, I don’t instruct the Umno Youth to do this and that,” said Abdullah.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today dismissed talks that the government is in danger of being toppled by the rumoured massive defection of his Barisan Nasional parliamentarians to the opposition.
“Why should the government be toppled? This government is very strong, we have the support too. We don’t go around purchasing people,” he told reporters after chairing a two-hour cabinet meeting, the first after the March 8 polls, in Putrajaya this afternoon.
The premier said this when he was asked to comment on opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim’s claims that a number of BN MPs are ready to cross over to the opposition parties.
“He (Anwar) claims so many things, let him claim whatever he wants,” said Abdullah, who was accompanied by his deputy Najib Abdul Razak.
The opposition parties, which jointly controlled 82 parliamentary seats now, will be able to take over the federal government from BN if they gain another 30 seats.
In its dismay electoral performance on the March 8 polls, BN for the first time lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament. The coalition also lost control of four states to the opposition on top of failing to retain Kelantan despite much hopes. BN now has 140 seats.
No infighting in Umno
In the same press conference, the premier also said Umno - the backbone of BN - remained strong as he rejected talks that the new cabinet line-up unveiled yesterday would cause a split in the party.
The new cabinet line-up so far has prompted Radzi Sheikh Ahmad to quit as the Umno and BN secretary-general while some Umno Wanita members complained of its non-representation. Two Umno persons have also declined to accept their deputy minister positions, stating that they were senior enough to be made ministers.
Umno Wanita chief Rafidah Abdul Aziz and Radzi were both unexpectedly dropped from the line-up and were the two most senior ‘casualties’ in yesterday’s announcement.
“Why should it create division? Tell me how it will create division? There is no (internal) fight,” Abdullah countered when asked by a journalist.
Abdullah did not directly answer whether the resignation of Radzi - seen as his right-hand man - was deemed as a setback but said he had no objections and respected the latter’s decision.
He said the decision was conveyed to him by Radzi through a phone conversation.
“He didn’t say anything that is improper, he just said he was giving up the posts,” said Abdullah.
Radzi had said that he decided to step down as he would not be able to discharge his duties effectively as he was not in the cabinet announced by Abdullah yesterday.
To this, Abdullah said that different individuals would have different perception on Radzi’s reasoning.
He argued that there have been previous cases where leaders who were not in the cabinet could still perform effectively in party works.
Abdullah, who is also Umno and BN chief, said he will meet with the Umno Wanita members to explain on the non-representation in the cabinet.
“I will be meeting them, and explain to them. They will understand (my decision because) not many Umno Wanita (members) who won in the last general election,” he argued.
Let Umno Youth decide
The premier also confirmed that former tourism minister Tengku Adnan Mansor would replace Radzi as the Umno secretary-general.
“I have spoken to Tengku Adnan and he is willing to accept the post,” said Abdullah.
On the two deputy ministers who have refused to take up the posts offered to them after the line-up was publicly announced yesterday, Abdullah said he has met with the duo last night.
The duo - Tengku Azlan Abu Bakar and Anifah Aman - considered they were senior enough to be made full ministers since they have been deputy ministers in the previous terms.
“Of course it’s sad, everybody will be sad if you are not having promotion, that’s only natural for (them). Nothing beyond that except to say that (they) are willing to make way (for others).”
Meanwhile, on Umno Youth’s decision not to act against its exco member Mukhriz Mahathir, Abdullah said it was entirely up to the wing to make the decision on the matter.
Mukhriz, the youngest son of ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has written to Abdullah to step down in the wake of BN’s disastrous showing in the last general election.
Mukhriz’s letter was leaked and has been widely circulated on the Internet.
“It’s a decision by the Umno Youth in what they think is the best interest for the party. It’s up to them, I don’t instruct the Umno Youth to do this and that,” said Abdullah.
PM: Assets declaration will be made public
Soon Li Tsin Mar 19, 08 7:01pm
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said that asset declarations by all new cabinet ministers and deputy ministers will be made public.
He added that these ministers and their deputies would be asked to declare their assets twice during the five-year parliamentary term.
"We will make an asset declaration to be made available for public viewing. We will decide on the methodology and how to do it.
"I have asked the Anti-Corruption Agency to help prepare the relevant forms. When the forms are ready, we will need to discuss and understand what assets need to be included in the form," he explained.
Abdullah told this to reporters after attending the first cabinet meeting at his Putrajaya office today.
However, he did not elaborate whether spouses and family members of the ministers should follow suit in declaring their assets as well.
Annual review
Flanked by his deputy Najib Abdul Razak, Abdullah said the government will also have an annual review of its policies beginning this year.
"We have also decided that for every year, we will review steps we took whether it was successful or effective and the problems faced.
"This is better than making a review after four years or before the elections. The problem with this (the review being done before elections) is that we won’t have any time to fix our flaws.
"We’ll do it on a yearly basis so that improvements will be better. I believe any corrective measures to be undertaken, we will be able to do it immediately," he announced.
Previously, the prime minister gave a report card to the citizens on the progress made by the government between 2004 to 2007.
Ruling coalition Barisan Nasional also gave its report card in the election manifesto that was released on Feb 25, three days before of the 12th general election.
Abdullah said the cabinet has unanimously decided that the government will address the major issues raised during the elections.
"We will address issues that were raised in elections such as inflation, crime, social problems and matters relating to the reform of the judiciary. These issue will be acted upon (by us)," he asserted.
Behave properly
The premier also warned new ministers to behave properly now that they are in the public eye.
"Minister must also behave well in the public eye. They should not fight among themselves in the open.
"Don’t embarrass the cabinet, don’t embarrass the people and don’t get involved with corruption. There is no compromise on that, reject corruption completely," he stressed.
He was quick to add that former ministers must also behave after thanking them for their services in the past years.
"Thank you to all the ministers that have served the people well. We acknowledge all the work they have done to benefit the citizens of the country.
"(However) former ministers should not air their grouses in public but take it to the cabinet itself because this is the best avenue for them," he added.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said that asset declarations by all new cabinet ministers and deputy ministers will be made public.
He added that these ministers and their deputies would be asked to declare their assets twice during the five-year parliamentary term.
"We will make an asset declaration to be made available for public viewing. We will decide on the methodology and how to do it.
"I have asked the Anti-Corruption Agency to help prepare the relevant forms. When the forms are ready, we will need to discuss and understand what assets need to be included in the form," he explained.
Abdullah told this to reporters after attending the first cabinet meeting at his Putrajaya office today.
However, he did not elaborate whether spouses and family members of the ministers should follow suit in declaring their assets as well.
Annual review
Flanked by his deputy Najib Abdul Razak, Abdullah said the government will also have an annual review of its policies beginning this year.
"We have also decided that for every year, we will review steps we took whether it was successful or effective and the problems faced.
"This is better than making a review after four years or before the elections. The problem with this (the review being done before elections) is that we won’t have any time to fix our flaws.
"We’ll do it on a yearly basis so that improvements will be better. I believe any corrective measures to be undertaken, we will be able to do it immediately," he announced.
Previously, the prime minister gave a report card to the citizens on the progress made by the government between 2004 to 2007.
Ruling coalition Barisan Nasional also gave its report card in the election manifesto that was released on Feb 25, three days before of the 12th general election.
Abdullah said the cabinet has unanimously decided that the government will address the major issues raised during the elections.
"We will address issues that were raised in elections such as inflation, crime, social problems and matters relating to the reform of the judiciary. These issue will be acted upon (by us)," he asserted.
Behave properly
The premier also warned new ministers to behave properly now that they are in the public eye.
"Minister must also behave well in the public eye. They should not fight among themselves in the open.
"Don’t embarrass the cabinet, don’t embarrass the people and don’t get involved with corruption. There is no compromise on that, reject corruption completely," he stressed.
He was quick to add that former ministers must also behave after thanking them for their services in the past years.
"Thank you to all the ministers that have served the people well. We acknowledge all the work they have done to benefit the citizens of the country.
"(However) former ministers should not air their grouses in public but take it to the cabinet itself because this is the best avenue for them," he added.
Anwar says he's moving toward forming new gov't
Mar 19, 08 6:59pm
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim today said he was moving towards forming a new government after landmark elections, with the help of defectors from the ruling coalition.
"I don't know how soon we can form the new government but we are moving in that direction," the former deputy premier, who was sacked and jailed a decade ago, told AFP in an interview.
The three-party opposition alliance made unprecedented gains in March 8 polls, seizing more than a third of parliamentary seats and four more states from the dominant Barisan Nasional coalition.
Anwar said that coalition lawmakers from Sabah and Sarawak had contacted him to discuss switching sides. The power bloc there could unseat the government if it changed hands.
"The MPs from there have come here to see me," Anwar said, adding that he was in no hurry to become the next prime minister, but that the opposition would already be in power if the polls had been clean and fair.
"I am maintaining that if there was no fraud in the election, we would have won. If we had two percent more votes we would have formed the new government," he said.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dismissed Anwar's plans, and downplayed suggestions of splits within Umno after the resignation of its secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.
The Umno leads the ruling coalition.
Umno in turmoil
"Why should the government topple? The government is very strong, we have strong support, we don't go around buying people," he said.
"There is no fight in Umno, it's just a matter of reorganisation," he said of Radzi's departure.
The coalition's worst election performance in its half-century history has triggered calls for Abdullah to resign, but he has secured his party's support and his new-look cabinet was sworn in Wednesday.
Anwar said however that Abdullah's future was in jeopardy and that the Umno was riven by infighting and looming defections.
"Certainly, Abdullah's Umno is in a turmoil since there is infighting in the party. Abdullah is in a precarious position," he said.
Cracks in the ruling party have already appeared, with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's son Mukhriz - himself a prominent Umno member - calling for Abdullah to resign and escaping punishment for his move.
The resignation of Radzi, who was dropped as home minister in the new cabinet, triggered more talk of internal disputes.
"I feel that I cannot work effectively any more in the present circumstances," Radzi said.
Anwar's return to Parliament
Anwar said Abdullah's attempt to rejuvenate his administration by downsizing the cabinet, dropping veterans and tainted politicians and introducing fresh faces will not spur confidence in his leadership.
"It is an attempt to assure public confidence. But I think it has fallen flat," he said.
"Abdullah brought some new faces... to boost his image but at the same time kept and also appointed some who are tainted with corruption," he said.
BN will have 140 lawmakers in the new 222-seat parliament, against 199 in the outgoing 219-seat parliament. The opposition alliance won 82 seats from just 20 previously.
Anwar's PKR, which is formally headed by his wife, will be the biggest opposition party in parliament, but Anwar is barred from standing for public office until April because of a corruption conviction.
Once heir apparent to Mahathir, he suffered a spectacular fall from grace in 1998 on graft and sex charges widely seen as politically motivated.
Anwar has said he will return to Parliament through a by-election in a seat held by PKR, but that the plan is on hold until he consolidates PKR's unexpected electoral gains.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim today said he was moving towards forming a new government after landmark elections, with the help of defectors from the ruling coalition.
"I don't know how soon we can form the new government but we are moving in that direction," the former deputy premier, who was sacked and jailed a decade ago, told AFP in an interview.
The three-party opposition alliance made unprecedented gains in March 8 polls, seizing more than a third of parliamentary seats and four more states from the dominant Barisan Nasional coalition.
Anwar said that coalition lawmakers from Sabah and Sarawak had contacted him to discuss switching sides. The power bloc there could unseat the government if it changed hands.
"The MPs from there have come here to see me," Anwar said, adding that he was in no hurry to become the next prime minister, but that the opposition would already be in power if the polls had been clean and fair.
"I am maintaining that if there was no fraud in the election, we would have won. If we had two percent more votes we would have formed the new government," he said.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dismissed Anwar's plans, and downplayed suggestions of splits within Umno after the resignation of its secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.
The Umno leads the ruling coalition.
Umno in turmoil
"Why should the government topple? The government is very strong, we have strong support, we don't go around buying people," he said.
"There is no fight in Umno, it's just a matter of reorganisation," he said of Radzi's departure.
The coalition's worst election performance in its half-century history has triggered calls for Abdullah to resign, but he has secured his party's support and his new-look cabinet was sworn in Wednesday.
Anwar said however that Abdullah's future was in jeopardy and that the Umno was riven by infighting and looming defections.
"Certainly, Abdullah's Umno is in a turmoil since there is infighting in the party. Abdullah is in a precarious position," he said.
Cracks in the ruling party have already appeared, with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's son Mukhriz - himself a prominent Umno member - calling for Abdullah to resign and escaping punishment for his move.
The resignation of Radzi, who was dropped as home minister in the new cabinet, triggered more talk of internal disputes.
"I feel that I cannot work effectively any more in the present circumstances," Radzi said.
Anwar's return to Parliament
Anwar said Abdullah's attempt to rejuvenate his administration by downsizing the cabinet, dropping veterans and tainted politicians and introducing fresh faces will not spur confidence in his leadership.
"It is an attempt to assure public confidence. But I think it has fallen flat," he said.
"Abdullah brought some new faces... to boost his image but at the same time kept and also appointed some who are tainted with corruption," he said.
BN will have 140 lawmakers in the new 222-seat parliament, against 199 in the outgoing 219-seat parliament. The opposition alliance won 82 seats from just 20 previously.
Anwar's PKR, which is formally headed by his wife, will be the biggest opposition party in parliament, but Anwar is barred from standing for public office until April because of a corruption conviction.
Once heir apparent to Mahathir, he suffered a spectacular fall from grace in 1998 on graft and sex charges widely seen as politically motivated.
Anwar has said he will return to Parliament through a by-election in a seat held by PKR, but that the plan is on hold until he consolidates PKR's unexpected electoral gains.
Rafidah to quit Wanita Umno post?
Mar 19, 08 11:03am
Speculations are rife that dropped Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz would be stepping down from her Wanita Umno chief post today.
Rafidah, dubbed the Iron Lady, for her no-nonsense approach, was a surprise casualty in the cabinet announced by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
She was replaced by Muhyiddin Yasin in the key cabinet post which she had held since 1986.
Rafidah, 65, is calling for an urgent press conference at the ministry this afternoon, where she is widely expected to make the announcement.
Abdullah did not offer any reason for dropping Rafidah from the cabinet. He however said that it was time for someone new to replace her.
Rafidah has been the Wanita chief since 1984 - apart for one term from 1996 to 1999 when she lost to Siti Zaharah Sulaiman. Rafidah defended her Kuala Kangsar parliamentary seat in the recent general election.
This is the first time the Wanita wing has no representatives in the cabinet.
Rafidah’s deputy Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was defeated in her Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat and had her cabinet post at the women, family and community development given to Ng Yen Yen.
However Abdullah yesterday named Shahrizat as his special adviser on women and family matters, giving her the same status as a minister.
Shahrizat vs Azalina?
If Rafidah steps down from her Wanita post, her deputy at present Shahrizat is then expected to contest for the top post in the coming party elections. And she is expected to face a fight from Umno supreme council member and the new Tourism Minister Azalina Othman Said.
Sources close to Umno however ruled out any such drastic announcement from Rafidah today.
“Most probably she is just going to hand over her duty to the new person. Also, why should she be making a Umno-related announcement in the ministry?” asked a well-placed source.
Rafidah’s tenure as a minister has been blighted with accusations of corruption and selective handing out of Approved Permit issues for imported vehicles.
She came under tremendous pressure to quit in 2005 after former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad questioned her on the AP issues.
Speculations are rife that dropped Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz would be stepping down from her Wanita Umno chief post today.
Rafidah, dubbed the Iron Lady, for her no-nonsense approach, was a surprise casualty in the cabinet announced by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
She was replaced by Muhyiddin Yasin in the key cabinet post which she had held since 1986.
Rafidah, 65, is calling for an urgent press conference at the ministry this afternoon, where she is widely expected to make the announcement.
Abdullah did not offer any reason for dropping Rafidah from the cabinet. He however said that it was time for someone new to replace her.
Rafidah has been the Wanita chief since 1984 - apart for one term from 1996 to 1999 when she lost to Siti Zaharah Sulaiman. Rafidah defended her Kuala Kangsar parliamentary seat in the recent general election.
This is the first time the Wanita wing has no representatives in the cabinet.
Rafidah’s deputy Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was defeated in her Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat and had her cabinet post at the women, family and community development given to Ng Yen Yen.
However Abdullah yesterday named Shahrizat as his special adviser on women and family matters, giving her the same status as a minister.
Shahrizat vs Azalina?
If Rafidah steps down from her Wanita post, her deputy at present Shahrizat is then expected to contest for the top post in the coming party elections. And she is expected to face a fight from Umno supreme council member and the new Tourism Minister Azalina Othman Said.
Sources close to Umno however ruled out any such drastic announcement from Rafidah today.
“Most probably she is just going to hand over her duty to the new person. Also, why should she be making a Umno-related announcement in the ministry?” asked a well-placed source.
Rafidah’s tenure as a minister has been blighted with accusations of corruption and selective handing out of Approved Permit issues for imported vehicles.
She came under tremendous pressure to quit in 2005 after former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad questioned her on the AP issues.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
