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The Abdullah Administration has perpetrated a new form of governance - a “somnambulant” governance.
For those uninitiated, the Oxford Dictionary defines 'somnambulism' as 'sleepwalking'.
The last time Abdullah was caught being somnambulant was when he was featured in a stinging Malaysiakini editorial by Steven Gan, November 27: "Abdullah is arguably the most incompetent PM we ever had. He has just sleep-walked his way through his first term."
This time, the 'sleepwalker' affix was found appropriate on Abdullah by Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Lim Kit Siang.
Lim arrived at this ‘somnambulant’ possibility after reading conflicting newspaper reports on the prime minister’s reaction to the proposal to set up a Non-Muslim Affairs Department to handle sensitive issues pertaining to religion.
The proposal, for that matter, was made by a coalition of Indian non-governmental organisations who met Abdullah in the aftermath of arrests of Hindraf leaders under ISA.
Abdullah was asked by the government-controlled mainstream media to comment on the proposal. Nobody knew if the press misunderstood the PM, or the PM misunderstood the issue, or both and 4th Floor Boy Kamal didn't mind it -- nwhat resulted was news reporting, including those by the Umno mouthpieces, to be described by Lim as “utterly befuddling and confusing”.
Let's scan the contradictory headlines in the mainstream press and see if anybody knows what Abdullah was talking about:
- Berita Harian: Kerajaan tubuh Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Bukan Islam
(Gov’t forms non-Muslim Affairs Dept)
- New Straits Times: Government considers setting up panel for non-Muslims
- theSun: Non-Muslim affairs dept, if necessary
- The Star: Non-Muslims looked after – We already have panels to handle their affairs, Abdullah
- Bernama: Not necessary for Non-Muslim Affairs Dept now, says PM
“How can Abdullah's one response produce three different perceptions as to what he meant - from setting up the department, to studying the proposal and an outright dismissal?” asked Lim.
“I do not blame the journalists, whether reporters or sub-editors for getting three completely different versions from one response, as nobody really knows what Abdullah was talking about,” he added.
Ministers of faiths -- OKT, Samy, Dompok/Ongkili
There appears to be another cock-up in how Abdullah recognises his own XXL-sized Cabinet.
Lim said Abdullah's statement that various ministers in the cabinet have been charged with the responsibility of looking after the interests of different religious groups also come as a surprise.
He accused the prime minister of making cabinet appointments on-the-run, with the public and ministers themselves completely unaware of the existence of such portfolios and responsibilities. Quote Malaysiakini:
According to the premier, Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting is looking after the interests of the Buddhists, Works Minister S Samy Vellu covers the Hindus and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Bernard Dompok covers the Christians in the country.Lim said no one in the past four years of Abdullah's premiership was aware that Ong is also Minister for Buddhist Affairs, Samy Vellu, Minister for Hindu Affairs and Dompok, Minister for Christian Affairs.
“This utter ignorance that there are ministers for Buddhist, Hindu and Christian Affairs is illustrated by the fact that the New Straits Times – an Umno-owned newspaper – reported that it is another minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Dr Maximus Ongkili, who is charged with looking after Christian Affairs,” he noted.
“I do not believe that Ong, Samy Vellu, Bernard or Maximus are aware that they are also ministers for these respective religions - or can they give a report as to how they had been discharging their ministerial responsibilities over these portfolios since their appointment?” he added.
Lim also asked if MPs could direct questions falling specifically under these respective subjects to the ministers in Parliament?
“When did the prime minister make these cabinet appointments and why were they never announced to the public. Were these appointments ever gazetted?” he added.
Lim said this “disturbing episode” of Abdullah making cabinet appointments on-the-run is an antithesis of a vibrant, dynamic, far-sighted and visionary leadership and government.
Perth is summer now. Time to jean todt the boat through new year, once again?
Leave the crisis management to the anak sulung among them foxy guys, if you may. You are majority. The rakyat can pick up the bills.
Comments
This is one humongous BS that the PM is saying. If the three ministers were truly in charge of their respective religions, then where were they when dead bodies were snatched, temples were demolished and the inability to obtain permit to build more churches? Why was it necessary for nine ministers to hand in a memorandum to the PM and then were forcibly made to rescind the memo a couple of days later? BS BS BS BS.
Posted by: William D![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 20, 2007 10:37 AM
"....tapi Khairy kata OK..."
Posted by: Tan Sir Lord Toddie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 20, 2007 11:03 AM
I saw this interesting comment in Malaysia-Today, just would like to share with yours..
http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=54&Itemid=36
written by KopiO, December 18, 2007 | 18:47:57
Here's an idea on how to protest agains the spin-doctoring in Malaysian mainstream print media, which my friend and I came across it in a blog.
http://fast0811.blogspot.com/
Here's the translation and gist of the article:
FLASH MOB AGAINST SPIN-DOCTORING
Time: Main Concourse, Suria KLCC
Date: 1 Jan 2008 (Public Holiday)
Time: 3pm
To do:
1. Go to Suria KLCC Main Concourse on 1 Jan 2008 at 3pm.
2. Bring a copy of local newspaper; it can be The Star, NST, Metro, Malay Mail, Utusan Melayu, Berita Harian, Sin Chew Jit Poh, Nanyang Siang Pow, or any Tamil dailies.
3. At 3.30pm sharp, crumple the newspapers and throw them inside the rubbish bins.
4. Disperse IMMEDIATELY
NOTE:
DO NOT LITTER. If the rubbish bins are full, stack your newspapers on top of the pile. If you can’t do that, find other rubbish bins at 1st Floor or other floors. The ultimate goal is to dumb the newspapers collectively as the sign of protest!!
-------
Imagine this: FRUs guarding the rubbish bins, uniformed and plain clothes policemen arresting people for dumbing newspapers into the rubbish bins!
Posted by: Namewee1![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 20, 2007 03:48 PM
His thinking processes are a bit scrambled with regards what is going on in the country.
Hardly confidence-building for someone seeking a second term.
Were that the only concern, one can pray.
But what happens when he also doesn't seem to know what are the critical issues; he has been showing that by only reacting, and badly too, to so many problems,
What's higher than 'pray'?
Posted by: Neil![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 20, 2007 04:20 PM
The factual standard of news reporting is deteriorating especially so if Abdullah is rambling sleepily off-the-cuff and newsmen trying to get a transcript of what was spoken. More often a gist of what was said was reported and hence we find the discrepancies from various sources.
But we have factual news being rehashed and distorted all the time – the most recent from Bernama quoting the IGP and adding that Hindraf held an unlawful assembly on Nov 25 and “marched to the British High Commission to hand over a petition”. Those who have followed that fateful event on that day would know that was a distortion an untruth, but how many reading it would care?. Details Go H E R E 1
But the pressing issue now is that Opposition leader has speculated that the GE would be in March 08 and Samy is in a Big Dilemma.
He is unable to Deliver BN Indian Votes and Fearful of Protest Votes was given marching orders by UMNO Youth Hishamuddin to send MIC youths on a Nationwide 1-week Tour for Damage Control.
It has finally dawn and sunk on Samy Vellu and his MIC stalwarts that the recent HINDRAF uprising has greatly affected his ability to deliver the votes in the coming GE which might greatly affect a number of marginal seats in which the Indians votes might hold sway for the BN candidates. The BN think tank is fearful of these “protest votes” and the UMNO Youth through its leader Datuk Hishamuddin has advised the MIC youths to do a quick “damage control” exercise and go on a Nation wide tour to correct the change in “loyalty”. The hurt and damage would be difficult to correct & erase now and this is more so with the five Hindraf icons safely locked up in Kamunting. What has been done cannot be so easily undone within a week. More details
Go H E R E 2
& Zam's 60 Min on RTM1 for Samy's Story time
Posted by: mwt![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 20, 2007 08:43 PM
Check the Hansard, you will see that an MP has been doing his job. Some elected officials in the government just conveniently hijack other's efforts!
Remember the MP who's seconding speech to Agong's address in Parliament got him into trouble with UMNO radicals last year?
Posted by: Nana![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 20, 2007 08:50 PM
I honestly think we should give this guy a break. He is after all already reaching 70yrs and hectic schedule around.
Though I am nvr a great fan of his but we all at least should have some heart for him
To think back, I can never find TDM falling asleep like AAB
Posted by: Kenneth Ng![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 22, 2007 11:30 PM
The sleep-walking PM has caused roofs to fall and leak. Read more at: simonscwee.blogspot.com.
rgds
Simon Wee
Posted by: simonscwee![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 26, 2007 09:11 PM