Why 2 press conferences within 24 hours?
Apparently, there are unrestrained parties within Abdullah Badawi's camp that do not want the Umno president patch up with his predecessor. You saw it over TV3 and ntv7 on October 22 -- -- didn't you? -- on how the Umno-controlled mainstream media tried to handcuff Mahathir's next-step manoeuvres over his 2-hour meeting with his nemesis.
I picked up a copy of the East Coast edition of Utusan Malaysia the morning after. This is how Utusan had wanted hoodwink the Malay readers in the East Coast that Mahathir was satisfied with the meeting -- not to mention the choice of an unflaterring frontpage picture of the old man in a less-than-graceful posture.
Let me tell you, most hotel guests and men-on-the-street I talked to in Kuala Terengganu had thought that 'perkara dah selesai' between the two Umno men!
It was not.
I was told that, in an immediate response to the media when the 4-eye meeting ended, Mahathir had stated his stand very clearly, quote: "I can't say I'm happy. I am satisfied I have been ableto say these things directly to him... If I find something is wrong, I will reserve my right to speak out."
To be fair, the East Coast edition of The NST has used that paragraph on its frontpage blurb, though the context, salient in the post-2004 modus operandi of Jalan Riong, was to portray Mahathir as an insatiable, spiteful political has-been.
But it was no 'peace talk'. after all. Hence, Mahathir had to call for a second press conference to rebutt the spin-doctors' distorting. No newspapers, except The Star, had printed the close-to-verbatim transcript of Mahathir'ssecond press conference on October 23. theSun only has it in snippets online later.
Notably, Mahathir harped consistently and persistently on what he has been saying since April... sluggish economy, nepotism as encased in the son and son-in-law, spin-doctors as encased in Kalimullah and Brendan Pereira, AP scams as encased in the Fat Lady etc. The only new thing that Mahathir added spice on was the late Endon's manoeuvres in setting up a rival to Bakti, a Siti Hasmah legacy.
Is this Endon element that is what Abdullah described as "doses of venom" yesterday? But isn't all this part of the script?
Blogger AMLG of Cuit Sikit observes that not even Wanita Umno stalwarts in the league of Aishah Ghani, Fatimah Hashim, and Zainun @ Ibu Zain had the honour of having a dewan in PWTC named after them.
Oh dear, when will this Umno debacle stop unsettling the whole country further?
Comments
Jeff,
This only deals with the little sniplet you tagged on at the bottom of the 'why 2 press conference' posting. Somewhat off on a tangent from the main trust of the posting, but you did post this caption to the Dewan Seri Endon photo:
"Blogger AMLG of Cuit Sikit observes that not even Wanita Umno stalwarts in the league of Aishah Ghani, Fatimah Hashim, and Zainun @ Ibu Zain had the honour of having a dewan in PWTC named after them."
It reminded me of something which continues to puzzle me:
Just which previous PM's wife has ever been conferred the title of 'Tun'? Just what on earth has Siti Hasmah done to deserve that the highest Malaysian civilian honour?
Posted by: Leithaisor![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 27, 2006 03:14 PM
"Oh dear, when will this Umno debacle stop unsettling the whole country further?"
Actually, I would like to see this 'unsettle the country further' as although Mahathir definitely has his own agenda but at least he is forcing things out in the open. It may hurt the FDI, KLSE etc in the short term but I believe (optimistically) that we Malaysians will come out stronger.
Posted by: tigerporc![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 27, 2006 03:20 PM
Folks
UMNO had been unsettling the country since 1970. And it will continue to do until the rakyat comes to the realization ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
UMNO had lost the trust of the nation. It remains in power through its manipulation of the politics of fear, worse still, the politics of communal fears, and the divide and rule between communities and with the Malay community.
It is fear of unsettling of the country orchestrated by UMNO that it had remained in power all these years.
Dr.M cannot claim he is not a party to this. He was. But he could only do so because he played along UMNO's politics and Malaysians allowed UMNO to exploit the inherent racial fears of different communities in the country.
Posted by: Frank&Honest![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 27, 2006 04:21 PM
The 'unflaterring frontpage picture of the old man in a less-than-graceful posture' shows to what levels journalism will stoop to in Malaysia to gain some brownie points from some corrupt entities.
Is this the way we show respect to a former PM who showed the World that we do not live out of handouts from the IMF or any of the Western 'powers'? Shame on Utusan Malaysia.
Posted by: bnaipal![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 27, 2006 05:02 PM
Leithaisor says...
"Just which previous PM's wife has ever been conferred the title of 'Tun'? Just what on earth has Siti Hasmah done to deserve that the highest Malaysian civilian honour?"
If I'm not mistaken, I believe they all have. Certainly Tun Rahah, wife of Tun Razak has the title.
Posted by: LLtwigs![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 27, 2006 08:57 PM
Folks
Malaysian mainstream press is a disgrace and shameful.
As I was saying, NST, Star and the Malay papers are not the kind of newspapers for a country, so called democratic country, we can be proud.
NST is UMNO media propaganda machine, owned by UMNO
Star is MCA media propaganda machine, taking its cue from UMNO, and owned by MCA.
I used to wonder WHY intelligent and educated Malaysias still fork out their money each morning or subscribe to these two socalled Malaysian newspapers, NST and Star, and get brainwashed, their intelligence insulted, especially on local politics.
NST and Star do NOT report NEWS on the politics of the country. They are very good at reporting motor accidents, Ministers cutting ribbons or launching company functions and silly news items which you can get in 3rd rate magazines sold locally.
I am talking about those city dwellers who wake up each morning hungry for local news, and to be fed with local political garbage.
Posted by: Frank&Honest![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 28, 2006 12:02 AM
can anyone believe TDM didnt know about the AP scam when he was the PM?
we the rakyat biasa all knew about it except TDM, now only he brings it up bcoz his pet projects have been abandoned by them.
Posted by: memang.tak.boleh![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 28, 2006 05:19 PM