Malaysian PM urged to get on with governing
The ruling party in Malaysia should stop "bickering and pointing fingers" and get on with the job of running the country, a pro-government daily said Wednesday.
In a front page editorial, the New Straits Times newspaper, seen by many as the government's standard bearer, criticised Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) for its behaviour after poll losses.
The UMNO-led coalition lost its two-thirds majority in parliament and control of five states in March 8 general elections, in the worst performance of its half-century rule over Malaysia.
The drubbing led former premier Mahathir Mohamad and critics within the party to call for Abdullah's ouster amid anger over the poor showing.
There have also been calls by numerous party leaders throughout the country for an urgent change in leadership.
But the paper on its front page urged: "Get on with the job."
"(UMNO party members have been) bickering, pointing fingers, baying for vengeance and doing everything imaginable except rolling up... sleeves and getting down to the work of governing. Enough is enough," the paper said.
"The truth is that the people have long been disgusted with the kind of boorish, loutish behaviour that UMNO leaders had exemplified because of their grip on power since independence in 1957," it added.
Deputy Premier Najib Razak Tuesday left it up to Abdullah to decide when he wanted to hand over power.
"Leave it to the prime minister to determine the appropriate time frame," he told the paper.
"I am confident of his wisdom in deciding what is appropriate for the party and nation," Najib said, commenting on Abdullah's decision to contest party polls at the end of the year and to hold handover talks with Najib after the elections.
Traditionally, the president of the UMNO becomes the country's prime minister
Source: AFP via MSN News - http://news.my.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1345409
NST says: Get on with the job - IT’S been five weeks since the general election. The Barisan Nasional was returned to power, albeit with a smaller majority and the loss of five states.
Despite the shock of the result, it was still a mandate that no one could argue with, not even Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his wildest allegations of electoral fraud.
But what has Umno, the leading partner of the coalition and largest party in parliament, been doing since March 8? Bickering, pointing fingers, baying for vengeance and doing everything imaginable except rolling up its sleeves and getting down to the work of governing.
Enough is enough.
People are getting fed up with Umno’s moaning and groaning, the political wayang and sandiwara its cast of characters is playing up and down the country.
The truth is that the people have long been disgusted with the kind of boorish, loutish behaviour that Umno leaders had exemplified because of their grip on power since independence in 1957.Full Story
'Leave it to PM to determine time frame' - PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday expressed confidence in the wisdom of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to decide what was best for Umno and the nation.
The deputy Umno president reiterated that no time frame had been decided for the transfer of power between him and Abdullah, who is prime minister and Umno president. "Leave it to the prime minister to determine the appropriate time frame. I am confident of his wisdom in deciding what is appropriate for the party and the nation."
Najib, when asked about the strong statements made by Umno leaders against the party leadership, said Umno was a democratic party and that "we allow for different views and opinions so that we can act accordingly".
Abdullah, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, had on Monday refused to be rushed into a succession plan, saying he would defend the post of Umno president in party elections in December.
Abdullah said he wanted a smooth transition and would not leave the party in disarray.
Najib said he believed that Abdullah made the statements in line with his intention to revive and strengthen the party and also to get Umno on the right track to face political challenges.
"The prime minister made the statements to defend his post and I believe it is a decision he made in line with his intention to rectify the situation in the party and revive its spirit."
Earlier, Najib launched the RHB-New Straits Times Spell-It-Right Challenge at the Putrajaya Corporation building.
The ruling party in Malaysia should stop "bickering and pointing fingers" and get on with the job of running the country, a pro-government daily said Wednesday.
In a front page editorial, the New Straits Times newspaper, seen by many as the government's standard bearer, criticised Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) for its behaviour after poll losses.
The UMNO-led coalition lost its two-thirds majority in parliament and control of five states in March 8 general elections, in the worst performance of its half-century rule over Malaysia.
The drubbing led former premier Mahathir Mohamad and critics within the party to call for Abdullah's ouster amid anger over the poor showing.
There have also been calls by numerous party leaders throughout the country for an urgent change in leadership.
But the paper on its front page urged: "Get on with the job."
"(UMNO party members have been) bickering, pointing fingers, baying for vengeance and doing everything imaginable except rolling up... sleeves and getting down to the work of governing. Enough is enough," the paper said.
"The truth is that the people have long been disgusted with the kind of boorish, loutish behaviour that UMNO leaders had exemplified because of their grip on power since independence in 1957," it added.
Deputy Premier Najib Razak Tuesday left it up to Abdullah to decide when he wanted to hand over power.
"Leave it to the prime minister to determine the appropriate time frame," he told the paper.
"I am confident of his wisdom in deciding what is appropriate for the party and nation," Najib said, commenting on Abdullah's decision to contest party polls at the end of the year and to hold handover talks with Najib after the elections.
Traditionally, the president of the UMNO becomes the country's prime minister
Source: AFP via MSN News - http://news.my.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1345409
NST says: Get on with the job - IT’S been five weeks since the general election. The Barisan Nasional was returned to power, albeit with a smaller majority and the loss of five states.Despite the shock of the result, it was still a mandate that no one could argue with, not even Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his wildest allegations of electoral fraud.
But what has Umno, the leading partner of the coalition and largest party in parliament, been doing since March 8? Bickering, pointing fingers, baying for vengeance and doing everything imaginable except rolling up its sleeves and getting down to the work of governing.
Enough is enough.
People are getting fed up with Umno’s moaning and groaning, the political wayang and sandiwara its cast of characters is playing up and down the country.
The truth is that the people have long been disgusted with the kind of boorish, loutish behaviour that Umno leaders had exemplified because of their grip on power since independence in 1957.Full Story
'Leave it to PM to determine time frame' - PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday expressed confidence in the wisdom of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to decide what was best for Umno and the nation.The deputy Umno president reiterated that no time frame had been decided for the transfer of power between him and Abdullah, who is prime minister and Umno president. "Leave it to the prime minister to determine the appropriate time frame. I am confident of his wisdom in deciding what is appropriate for the party and the nation."
Najib, when asked about the strong statements made by Umno leaders against the party leadership, said Umno was a democratic party and that "we allow for different views and opinions so that we can act accordingly".
Abdullah, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, had on Monday refused to be rushed into a succession plan, saying he would defend the post of Umno president in party elections in December.
Abdullah said he wanted a smooth transition and would not leave the party in disarray.
Najib said he believed that Abdullah made the statements in line with his intention to revive and strengthen the party and also to get Umno on the right track to face political challenges.
"The prime minister made the statements to defend his post and I believe it is a decision he made in line with his intention to rectify the situation in the party and revive its spirit."
Earlier, Najib launched the RHB-New Straits Times Spell-It-Right Challenge at the Putrajaya Corporation building.
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