Tun Dr. Mahathir asks to change weak leaders

from bigdog
http://bigdogdotcom.wordpress.com

As announced earlier, former Prime Minister and UMNO President Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad was in Kota Bahru today. He spoke at the Majlis Tindakan Rakyat Kelantan Annual Lecture series, which was held at the Grand Riverview Hotel ballroom. It started at almost four even though scheduled at 2.45pm.
Tun Dr. Mahathir reiterated his earlier calls in Johor Bahru, 10 February and Kulai, 29 March. UMNO should reject weak and ineffective leaders. He re-emphasized that UMNO should be united and remove leaders who are no longer effective to lead the Malays and the party, despite their past contributions are immensely priceless. Unity for the betterment in the future.
The examples illustrated again were Dato’ Onn Jaafar and Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, two great leaders of the Malays and UMNO, with landmark contributions, were eventually asked to go when their leadership worth no more relevance. Dato’ Onn, who managed to consolidate and galvanize all the Malay organizations into UMNO, managed to pressure the Malay Rulers at that time, provided them the strength that they were supported fully by the rakyat to reject Malayan Union. Tun Dr. Mahathir put forth that Dato’ Onn changed the landmark of Malay politics from the autocracy based on the traditional feudal system to democracy and rakyat for once had a say in the politics. The Malays or rakyat showed in full force they want the Rulers to not accept Malayan Union and the MacMichael Treaty.
So was in the case of Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra. He was rejected by the Malays when he paid lackluster attention to the Malays underdevelopment needs despite his invaluable contributions of providing leadership that managed to earn Malaya’s independence and later formation of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir stressed, in both cases, UMNO became stronger and move a greater heights when the leaders were changed.
Tun Dr. Mahathir was very consistent in his emphasis that UMNO should be united and consolidated change ineffective and irrelevant leaders. Addressing this audience in Kota Bahru, a state self proclaimed as “Serambi Mekkah” (Corridor of Mecca), he used the metaphor of “Qurban” (sacrifice) to emphasize his case further. Qurban is an ibadah (a very noble deed) in the perspective of Islam. He interpreted Qurban as “reject something useful now for something better or beneficial in the future”. In a way, Tun Dr. Mahathir used the metaphor to sacrifice the current leadership for the betterment of the future.
Tun Dr. Mahathir actually used the phrase “Tolaklah pemimpin yang tidak berwibawa”. He also said “Negara ini tidak mungkin akan berjaya di era Globalisasi walaupun pada mulanya kita sudah mula berjaya”, his reference to the topic of the lecture when described how the nation’s developed wealth and once successful asset like Proton has been slowly allowed to digress and deteriorate.
He also touched on corruption. His interpretation that corruption is wrong from both ends. He reminded the audience that not to cry “corruption”, but list those who got these contracts through “corruption”. Kelantan UMNO liaisons chairman Annuar Musa’s statement in the media on the RM three billion contract for roads and other development project was taken into context on this angle.
He took a swipe from the tag line, “Leadership by example”. So if a leader called for continuous working, the leader should not fall asleep during work, including meeting. That drew laughter.
The phenomena of absolute refrained from criticizing leaders is not progressive. The ‘allergy’ towards Bloggers was also mentioned. The current administration’s foreign policy was touched. Tun Dr. Mahathir was critical Prime Minister Abdullah’s attempts to be closer to Singapore, Australia and even the George W. “Liar” Bush.
In the Q & A, he admitted he had made some mistakes in the past, including appointing the current leadership. Now, he said he is doing his best to make it right. Not all that he left have got be changed. He said he did some good things too, so those should be continued.
On the issue about the house, Tun Dr. Mahathir explained that he heard rumours about the RM 60 mil (Aus$ 25 mil) house in Perth belong to Prime Minister Abdullah. Later at Malaysiakini, his son in law Khairy Jamaluddin said the house was owned by Kamaluddin Abdullah. But when Malaysia Today did a search, he said the house owner is a Chinese woman. He asked “Siapa perempuan Cina itu dan apa hubungan dia dengan orang itu (PM Abdullah)?”. He also said that he is not to be blamed but Raja Petra should be blamed instead for the expose’.
Tun Dr. Mahathir explained that he does not hold anyone any grudge, even people who challenged him. In Anwar Ibrahim’s case, as the Prime Minister, he was convinced Anwar did something very unacceptable and decided that Anwar must go. So he did what he did, out of his resolution to the issue.
On the issue of capital control, Tun Dr. Mahathir explained we should be in control of our own currencies, not the free market. If the economy was strong enough, the country need not raise the RM but use the power of purchase to make the foreign suppliers reduce the prices of their goods.
The message is very clear and consistent. Tun Dr. Mahathir wanted UMNO members and the Malays change the present leadership in this country.

tunku : i am very sure what Tun had spoke earlier regarding the above, he had said that sometimes it is good for Umno to lose some seats in order to make UMNO work harder and the leaders won't be on 7 skies all the time.We need to sacrifice sometimes according to Tun.I agree with him on this issue 100%.Just look what happened at Ijok, millions ringgit spent to "buy votes".Najib said that all the by elections won because public is with Pak Lah.... are they really with him? To win with a 55-65% is not strong enough, and sometimes the 45% group can beat the 55% group.So if Umno to survive, it should get rid of the corrupt leaders.Just can't wait the GE.