Evaluating our future Deputy Prime Minister (and potentially Malaysia's 7th Prime Minister) Part 3

Enter Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (TSMY), a widely known figure whose strong roots sprouted from the strongest fort of them all, Johor. Having years and years of experience as UMNO Vice President, he is ready to move one notch up.

TSMY stood out since the blood bath of March 8th being the sole critique of the current administration. He was one of the bold ones to open up the can of worms and has been pushing for reform in Barisan Nasional. Although one might say that he carries a resemblance of Tun Mahathir as a Malay ultra, he fully acknowledged the importance of wooing support from the Chinese and Indians to solidify BN's position towards gearing up for the next election. He is after all one of the few cabinet ministers left from the Mahathir era, obviously he will inevitably carry some resemblance of Mahathir's style during his strict, decisive and firm regime. This is a plus point.

Just after the debacle of PRU-12, TSMY was adamant for regime change. He led the pack of recalcitrant ministers to scrap the 2010 transition plan. He patiently waited for DS Najib to announce his intentions before announcing his own, trying to avoid tripping himself and having to contest against DS Najib. A very noble gesture of a loyal confidante to Dato' Najib. The nomination numbers from UMNO divisions proved that TSMY's move has wide support within the party.

He was once affiliated to DS Anwar in 1993 as part of the Wawasan team, together with Md Taib and Dato' Najib. The Wawasan Team led by Anwar displaced Ghafar Baba as Deputy President of UMNO, Pak Lah and Sanusi Junid as Veeps.

He is quite a mysterious figure and does not surround himself with a horde of special officers and advisers. He's fully experienced in the federal and state apparatus (Johor Menteri Besar 82-95), becoming an MP an age 25. He is, without a doubt, poised and confident. In addition, he brings with him vast experience in the international arena. He is definitely in touch with the grass root people, especially the rural Malays. This was enhanced during his short stint as Minister of Agriculture. Lots of praises went around in the Ministry for his numerous initiatives to reinvigorate the slow-moving industry.

With all these credentials, unfortunately, he does not escape controversies. Who does in the political landscape of Malaysian politics? He was widely rumored to have stakes in several lucrative projects during his tenure as Menteri Besar, but the allegations remained as such.

Sin Chew on TSMY
Jebat must die on TSMY

ISA dan Pakatan Rakyat

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Sept (Hrkh) - Tindakan kerajaan menahan tiga individu di bawah ISA, baru-baru ini dilihat sebagai langkah terdesak BN apabila parti itu menghadapi masalah dalaman, mahupun perselisihan sesama mereka.

"Kami berharap tindakan kerajaan ini bukan merupakan percubaan awal untuk menangkap lebih ramai ahli politik pembangkang dengan tujuan menggagalkan usaha Pakatan Rakyat membentuk kerajaan dalam masa terdekat," kata kenyataan itu.

> Saya pasti dengan penahanan Teresa Kok yang dituduh menghina Islam tidak akan menggagalkan usaha PR membentuk kerajaan dua hari lagi. Bukankah 30 orang MP nak melompat dua hari lagi? PAS juga tak konsisten. Mula2 menggunakan orang bukan Islam untuk bertanding atas tiket PAS. Sekarang membangkang penahanan ISA ini atas sebab BN ingin menakutkan parti pembangkang tetapi tidak menyebut pula bahawa apa yang Teresa Kok buat itu wajar atau tidak (atau pun Tan Seng Giaw di dalam blognya, kononnya azan terlalu bising di Kepong). Selepas itu membuat mesyuarat secara senyap dengan UMNO demi perpaduan orang Melayu. Tambahan lagi dikelar oleh rakan DAP kerana ingin menubuhkan negeri Islam di Kedah! Yang hairannya juga, sejak ahli2 Parlimen PR di Parlimen untuk beberapa bulan lamanya, tidak ada yang membentangkan usul untuk menghapuskan ISA kerana nak tak nak, ianya satu akta yang diluluskan di Parlimen. Mungkin saya ketinggalan atau mungkin mereka nak pakai ISA untuk menangkap orang2 BN pula setelah membentuk kerajaan baru dua hari lagi!

Dulu, YB Salahudin dan Dewan Pemuda PAS menggesa agar konsert Avril dibatalkan. Sebelum ini konsert Inul juga didesak dari pelbagai pihak untuk dibatalkan. YB Salahudin, yang telah berjaya mengumpulkan kononnya satu juta orang ramai untuk demonstrasi memang pakar berdemonstrasi dan berkonsert. Jika ini dianggap elemen2 yang merosakkan, maka YB perlu memboikot saluran MTV dan sebagainya. YB juga perlu mendesak semua hotel2 membatalkan pertunjukan 'live band' yang menampilkan artis2 yang memakan pakaian yang terdedah dan sebagainya.

Senator Dato' Zaid pula menggesa Tan Sri Muhyiddin supaya meletakkan jawatan sekiranya beliau tidak setuju dengan tarikh peralihan kuasa. Kenapa beliau tidak memberi ulasan mengenai kenyataan Timbalan Perdana Menteri? Beliau pula nak letak jawatan kerana tidak setuju dengan penggunaan ISA. Bila nak letak jawatan? Katanya, beliau juga 'bosan' kerana di Bahagian pun tak dapat pencalonan.

Tentang azan ini, dah lama dipertikaikan. Orang2 di Kepong, Kg Tunku dan tempat2 lain telah membuat petisyen untuk menghapuskan azan di kawasan mereka. Petikan dari blog Tan Seng Giaw:

"As with all Muslim suraus, the prayer room at Taman Aman Putra, has five muezzin's calls for prayers a day, 365 days a year. In our multireligious society, all people must accept religious practices and traditions of various religions, including the calls for prayers. Those who do night shifts and young children would appreciate if the volume of the early morning calls can be turned down".

"DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw urges the Malaysian Department for the Advancement of Islam (Jakim), Prime Minister's Department, to interpret the meaning of azan (a Muslim call for prayer by a muezzin) in the Koran.

A religious issue is often very sensitive, more so in a multi-religious society such as Malaysia. Hence, we have to handle it with extreme care.

On 27 September, 2005, I spoke in the House on the complaints by non-Muslims of azan being too loud especially the call at dawn. Then, some newspapers carried the news with titles such as 'People should not raise the azan issue' (Bertita Harian)."


> Yang hairannya orang Islam sekarang takut bersuara. Mana taknya, sehinggakan di persatuan2 alumni pun tak pertikaikan apabila membuat bar untuk minuman keras di bangunan alumni. Mungkin sebab orang2 Islam sekarang lebih liberal. YB Zulkifli yang menegakkan agamanya dikeji oleh rakan2 seperjuangan apabila Majlis Peguam mengadakan forum terbuka mengenai memeluk agama Islam. Ramai sangatkah orang2 di Malaysia yang bermasalah tentang penganutan Islam?

Kalau berlaku lagi insiden May 13, bukan kerana kerajaan yang menghasut, tetapi sememangnya masyarakat Malaysia sudak tidak bertoleransi.