Khaled Denies PM Is Surrounded By 'Yes Men'

PUTRAJAYA, April 2 (Bernama) -- Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin Wednesday dispelled the notion that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is surrounded by `yes men' who are afraid to speak their mind.
On the contrary, he said, they were bolder in voicing their opinions under the Abdullah administration as his leadership was more open.
"One thing that is different under Pak Lah (Abdullah), he doesn't dictate. We are free to say anything," he told reporters here Wednesday.
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Tuesday said members of the Umno Supreme Council (MT) and Cabinet were 'yes men' who were afraid to express views that differed from Abdullah's.
Dr Mahathir was also reported to have said that Umno could be rehabilitated if all members were bold in expressing their views and "if they still refuse to voice whatever is the truth, then Umno will face destruction".
Describing the claim as unfounded, Mohamed Khaled said every MT member had their own stand on any particular issue.
"What does he (Dr Mahathir) know, he does not sit in these (MT and Cabinet) meetings," he said.
Mohamed Khaled said an example that showed that the MT members dared to express their own opinion and were not acting merely as 'yes men' was on the quota issue in the contest for top posts in Umno.
"Look at the reaction on the issue... some had said yes, some said otherwise. It (the news) was reported in the press... who supported and who did not," he added.

tunku : at last khaled nordin spoke.i wonder why this chaps like him and nazri shuts their mouth. just because some of you agrees to abolish the quota system does not mean that you are brave. pak lah did not comment on it and this is just a show off thing.what you know about tun mahathir's handling of cabinet as you too did not sit in those meetings.for your information, tun always gets the update in the cabinet.