DONT REPEAT 1988 DEBACLE SAID AHMAD SHABERY

KUALA LUMPUR: The debacle that saw Umno being declared illegal in 1988 during the leadership of former prime minister and Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should not be allowed to be repeated.

As such, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek suggested that Dr Mahathir be careful when making public statements. "I feel it would be appropriate if Tun (Dr Mahathir) exercised more caution in making statements because we don't want the demise, destruction and de-registration of Umno that occurred during his leadership to be repeated," he said after attending the Information Ministry's monthly assembly for the first time at Wisma Radio in Angkasapuri here yesterday. Ahmad Shabery said during the former prime minister's leadership, many regulations were imposed, including a resolution that there should be no contest for the president and deputy president's posts.
"There was no contest (for the president's and deputy president's posts) after 1987 but now he is saying it is undemocratic. The Malays have not forgotten all these things but maybe Dr Mahathir has forgotten. "I am sad to bring up these things but the openness in Pak Lah's era should not be taken advantage of." At one time, he said, Umno supreme council members couldn't even be challenged in their divisions. Division chiefs in Kelantan also couldn't be opposed when Dr Mahathir was the state Umno liaison head, he said. Ahmad Shabery added that the former Umno president had also reminded delegates at the Umno general assembly in 1997 that any criticism of the party and its leadership could only be made through party branches, divisions and the supreme council. "This is because if everyone starts criticising and condemning one another from outside the party, it will destroy the party. I worry if this happens, he (Dr Mahathir) will be the one considered to have destroyed Umno." On calls to convene an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to brainstorm Umno's dismal showing in the general election, he said Dr Mahathir should not conclude that grassroots members were angry. "We will see which branch wants to hold an EGM. Actually, there were no problems with the grassroots during the general election. "The kampung folk in the agriculture sector were very happy with the high prices of rubber and oil palm. Only people living in urban areas voted against us." He added that in the 1999 general election, the anger of the grassroots was aimed at Dr Mahathir's leadership. However, he did not step down. He said more Malay voters rejected Umno and Barisan Nasional in the 1999 general election compared with the March 8 elections. Ahmad Shabery also said he was disappointed with Dr Mahathir's comments as during his leadership, many Umno leaders were detained under the Internal Security Act as they were seen as threats to national security. In actual fact, they were threats to his leadership.

Why is that KEMENTERIAN PENERANGAN (Information Ministry) always, I SAID ALWAYS, becomes the KEMENTERIAN PENERANGAN for the sake and purpose of PROTECTING its Prime Minister (of his doings), both in WORDS and ACTIONS. It has been too long too many years and of too many MAKESHIFT HEROES put in charged of this ONE SECULAR SIDE MINDED ministry, yet with only one same ol' visible power-that-be and obvious mission, which is the POWER TO PROTECT the BOSS. In whatever way it may look like, whatever face it may flashes on the tv screen; the script and screenplay are always the same. Its like shooting different scenes of different movies at different locations BUT with the same ol' title and tired genre. Ahmad Shabery may be honest enough in inviting BLOGGERS to come forward (surrendering themselves in a way) for his cute bunny-like conferencing etc. He may be bold enough (as the new kid on the govt block) to spell all the wrongdoings of the former and famous PM Tun Mahathir Mohamad. But his direction and directive (given by the boss) are CLEAR enough for everyone to see. He is DOING IT for his boss, although he may argue about the interpretations labeled by others; the fact cant be denied. And as much as he wanted to, talking about the bad and ugly of Tun Mahathir's era of secular-directive, power-chuckling administration; he is proving TO BE DOING EXACTLY THE SAME, albeit for a different boss in the like of PM Abdullah. Its good to know at last, what Tun Mahathir really looked like when Tun was in power, but (Shabery) to be dared to voice it out NOW, is a question of where and what Ahmad Shabery was then, when all the things he spoken of about Tun during Tun's era (and Ahmad Shabery's dyas too), happened? If such arrogance done against the wishes of many, against the very clear conscious of the Malays and UMNO members (and majority leaders), by one person Tun Mahathir Mohamad, THEN why afraid of voicing it out when it did happens. If there is anything to lose by then (of Ahmad Shabery), it was of only his position (jawatan) in UMNO, but he would subsequently then gained respects and supports from the Malays particularly UMNO members for such bravery acted against. Why not STAND UP AND SHOUT ABOUT IT then? WHY NOW, when things have passed, time has gone, Tun is no longer in control of UMNO and the government? Why be the HERO when the VILLAIN is already counting days and breathes? Where is the SINCERITY? Whats the CATCH? Is there much to LOSE then but so much to GAIN now? Ahmad Shabery is only strengthening the fact that WHEN YOU ARE UP THERE AMONG THE ELITE IN UMNO (WHAT MORE WITH POSITION IN THE CABINET), THERES MUCH TO CONCERN ABOUT THE 'PERIUK NASI' (RICE BOWL) RATHER THAN THE PARTY MAIN OBJECTIVES AND THE MALAYS HOPES.
Ahmad Shabery should be more CONCERNED about Malay LOSING FAITH in UMNO rather than Tun Mahathir losing faith in PM Abdullah. And he can do himself a favor by searching the Rakyat grouses and complains on UMNO and its leadership especially PM Abdullah, before wasting time, commenting that the Rakyats are OKAY and not ANGRY.