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In the wake of the post 12th General Election The shocking results of the nation’s 12th general election has yet to come to terms with certain leaders of the component parties within the political identity of Barisan Nasional which had ruled this country for more than 50 years since our independence.
The leaders of MCA, GERAKAN, MIC and PPP had conceded political defeat and assumed their responsibility for the disastrous failure of Barisan Nasional to retain power in the last 12th general election. In the true spirit of political collaboration of power, the leader of UMNO should have the guts to resign honorably and pave the way for his deputy to pick up the pieces in order to redeem the leadership of UMNO within the context of the strength of Barisan Nasional. Looking back in the 2004 general election, the people had voted Barisan National with an overwhelming victory under Pak Lah’s leadership, after having taken over the helm of UMNO, Barisan Nasional and the government from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in October 2003. The disastrous results of the 12th general election had clearly shown that the people in the state of Penang, Perak, Kedah and Selangor had lost confidence in the Barisan Nasional to lead the state governments. The Barisan Nasional’s leadership had also miscalculated the mood of the people of Kelantan and their top UMNO leaders had lost miserably, although they had boasted possible victory during their election campaigns. Terengganu did not win with a convincing majority and a real setback when compared to the overwhelming victory in the previous general election. Why is Pak Lah reluctant to resign and make way for a new leadership in UMNO to take on the challenges in restoring political confidence within the collaboration of Barisan Nasional? The nation is facing a political dilemma with the current standoff between the Terengganu Sultanate and the UMNO leadership for the appointment of a new Menteri Besar in favour of Idris Jusoh. The people would like to know why was the Menteri Besar-designate Ahmad Said appointed by the Royal Advisory Council in favour of Idris Jusoh? Ahmad Said had openly declared that he was appointed by the Terengganu Sultanate and he had no reasons to reject the royal command to serve his state and the people. He is an elected Barisan Nasional representative and enjoyed the overwhelming confidence of the voters in his own constituency and to a certain extent the people of Terengganu. It is therefore undemocratic for UMNO to pressure Ahmad Said to reject his appointment as the legitimate Menteri Besar, at the pleasure of the Sultan of Terengganu. Why blame Ahmad Said when the option is available to resolve the crisis directly with the Sultan of Terengganu? I hope that the members of the UMNO Supreme Council in its meeting scheduled this coming Thursday, will adopt a fair and correct resolution to finalize the appointment of the Terengganu Menteri Besar that had already affected UMNO’s stability and political integrity. The UMNO Supreme Council should also take into serious consideration the displeasure expressed by a number of UMNO divisions, nationwide, including Muar calling for the resignation of Pak Lah as reported in the media. If we had given Pak Lah the honour of victory in the 2004 general election, we should also express our motion of “no confidence in Pak Lah’s continued leadership in UMNO and Barisan Nasional, without fear or favour”. This is a political reality for which Pak Lah has to concede and take full responsibility together with the prominent leaders of MCA, GERAKAN and MIC. Let us also echo the voices of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tengku Razaleigh that Pak Lah no longer commands the confidence of UMNO, Barisan Nasional as proven by the tragic lost of four strategic state governments, which will go into the nation’s history as one of our darkest political moments after more than 50 years of our independence. Mustapha Ong Abdullah
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