KEEPING THE FAITH PM puts reputation

KEEPING THE FAITHPM puts reputationon the line

Feb 14:
YESTERDAY was not about the ebullient Datuk Effendi Norwawi being hoisted onto the political mainstage once again, two years after his health scare. It was not about International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz proving that there is life after the Approved Permits fiasco. It was not about Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor showing that there is no such thing as political oblivion in Malaysian politics. It was about Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi putting his reputation on the line and banking on 33 ministers and 39 deputy ministers to deliver big over the next two years.The stakes are high for the ruling coalition, and for the man who currently occupies the top job in the country. Fail, and the consequences will be grave.He knows that the reservoir of goodwill which followed the Barisan Nasional’s grand election victory in 2004 is emptying. He knows that after the pundits and armchair critics have exhausted all their arguments in coffee houses, the only thing that would really matter in Malaysia is this — whether the economy is humming.He is aware that the next 24 months will define how well he is judged and how well the BN fares in the next election. There will be little wiggle room for Abdullah and his band of ministers. Day One of their task will be on March 31 — the day the Ninth Malaysia Plan is tabled. Privately, Abdullah likes to use this analogy when describing the challenge that lies ahead for him and his team.He says that Malaysia is at the base camp. His Government will have to provide the impetus to drive the country all the way to the peak by 2020. Several new initiatives will be announced as part of the 9MP. But Malaysia has come unstuck in the past because the best plans have remained just that — plans. It is this concern that has influenced several of his Cabinet choices.Rafidah scores poorly in the popularity stakes and will never lose that streak of abrasiveness. But she can work. Abdullah mulled over the possibility of appointing another senior politician to the portfolio but she has an in-built advantage over the other candidate — she can hit the ground running.


"I don’t think there is anyone as capable as her at the moment. She also knows the mechanics of FTAs better than anyone else," said a government official.Effendi was brought out of retirement because he has a track record of getting things done. During his tenure as a minister between 2000 and 2004, he carved a reputation as someone who preferred action to poring over feasibility studies. It also helps that he is from Sarawak.Why? Because geographical considerations played a significant role in Abdullah’s choices. With Natural Resources Minister Adenan Satem returning to state politics and Tourism Minister Datuk Dr Leo Michael Toyad returning to family life, there was a need for a representative from the East Malaysian state.Let’s face it. Every Prime Minister operates within certain constraints when selecting his Cabinet. By convention, he has to include the head of component parties, even if some of them have been around forever. For political considerations, he has to include some members who will do the grunt work — not only will they be aggressive in their respective ministeries but they will be his enforcers on the ground. For sentimental reasons, he may have included some politicians who have been with him through thick and thin. Three names come to mind — Datuk Azmi Khalid, Datuk Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Datuk Aziz Samsuddin.For practical reasons, he stuck with several veterans. If it ain’t broke, don’t change it. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin fall into this category. The PM views their portfolios as too important to be given to greenhorns. For his Government’s well-being, he must hope that all his ministers and deputy ministers implement the 9MP and help him create a buzz in the country. Do that, and the election down the road will take care of itself.


Saya hargai kepercayaan PM - Rafidah

KUALA LUMPUR 14 Feb. - Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz cukup menghargai kepercayaan tinggi yang diberikan oleh Perdana Menteri ke atasnya untuk meneruskan portfolio yang telah dipegang sejak 1990.

Katanya, selagi diperlukan, beliau akan berusaha sedaya upaya menjayakan misi kerajaan, lebih-lebih lagi dalam tempoh menghampiri pelancaran Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9) yang memerlukan dedikasi penuh.

``Saya amat menyanjungi pandangan Perdana Menteri dan akan berusaha untuk terus mengekalkan keyakinan beliau (terhadap saya) yang jelas berada pada tahap yang tinggi.

``Saya akan pastikan tidak akan menggagalkan atau menghampakan beliau,'' katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini.

Semasa mengumumkan rombakan Kabinet hari ini, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata, Rafidah dikekalkan dalam jawatannya kerana pengalaman dan kebolehannya diperlukan untuk memandu kementerian tersebut, apatah lagi negara akan berusaha meningkatkan pelaburan dan perdagangan antarabangsa tahun depan.

Apabila diminta mengulas dakwaan bahawa beliau `terselamat' dalam rombakan kali ini, Rafidah enggan memberi sebarang komen kerana ia telah dijawab oleh Abdullah sendiri.

``Anda telah mendengar jawapan Perdana Menteri di dalam televisyen petang tadi, itu saja yang boleh saya katakan.

``Saya bersedia, kalau rasa tidak diperlukan, tidak menjadi masalah. Ia adalah fakta kehidupan,'' ujarnya.

Dalam pada itu, beliau memberitahu bahawa beliau tidak terkejut dengan rombakan Kabinet kali ini.

Ini kerana, beliau selama ini tidak pernah meramalkan sebarang pergerakan di dalam barisan Kabinet.

``Adalah tidak betul untuk menjangkakan siapa yang akan tersungkur atau terjatuh. Saya memang tidak pernah mencatur siapa akan ke mana kerana ia adalah hak mutlak Perdana Menteri.

``Percaturan sebegini adalah sia-sia,'' tambahnya lagi.

Pengalaman, kebolehan Rafidah diperlukan - PM

PUTRAJAYA 14 Feb. - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi menjelaskan, Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri (MITI), Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz yang dilanda kontroversi permit import kenderaan (AP) tahun lalu dikekalkan dalam Kabinet kerana beliau memerlukan pengalaman dan kebolehannya menerajui kementerian itu.

Perdana Menteri berkata, peranan Rafidah di peringkat antarabangsa khususnya berkaitan dengan kerjasama ekonomi dan perdagangan banyak memberi faedah kepada kerajaan.

``Sebenarnya peranan beliau selama ini adalah baik dan diterima elok oleh masyarakat dan antarabangsa.

``Cuma masalahnya beliau baru-baru ini dikaitkan dengan isu AP. AP bukan segala-galanya berkaitan MITI. Isu AP kini adalah satu subjek yang diletakkan di bawah satu jawatankuasa yang dipengerusikan oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

``Apa-apa masalah berkaitan dengan AP akan ditentukan oleh jawatankuasa itu. Rafidah adalah salah seorang anggotanya,'' katanya pada sidang akhbar mengumumkan rombakan Kabinet, di sini hari ini.

Perdana Menteri menjawab soalan mengapa beliau masih mengekalkan beberapa menteri kanan terutama yang telah berkhidmat lebih 20 tahun.

Isu AP yang bermula pada 26 Mei tahun lalu menjadi begitu `panas' dengan berapa kenyataan terbuka antara Penasihat Proton Holdings Berhad, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad dan Rafidah.

Ia bermula dengan rasa tidak puas hati Dr. Mahathir berikutan `kebanjiran' kereta import yang dilihat menjejaskan industri automotif tempatan dan bekas Perdana Menteri itu mengaitkan situasi itu dengan pengeluaran AP yang banyak.

Bagaimanapun Rafidah selaku menteri terlibat menjelaskan keadaan sebenar dan menolak dakwaan Dr. Mahathir.

Isu tersebut bagaimanapun tidak berakhir di situ apabila tidak lama selepas itu Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Proton, Tan Sri Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff mengkritik dasar kerajaan secara terbuka dalam sebuah akhbar berbahasa Cina.

Kabinet kemudiannya campur tangan dengan mengarahkan supaya Rafidah membuat penjelasan secara bertulis kepada Dr. Mahathir yang kemudian Perdana Menteri menyifatkannya sebagai telah selesai.

Menurut Abdullah lagi, khidmat Rafidah masih diperlukan kerana pada tahun ini kerajaan akan melaksanakan pelbagai rancangan bagi meningkatkan pelaburan di peringkat antarabangsa selain meneruskan usaha-usaha berkaitan kerjasama ekonomi serta perdagangan bebas.

Utusan Malaysia 15th FEB '06
Utusan Malaysia 15th Feb '06 part 2

Comment:
What a bad news from PM? Rafidah arr, You think PM got choice? Percaya YOU?
This Fat Women should be OUT too!!
YAU MOU GAU...CHOR!!