Thursday June 8, 2006
Cabinet rallies behind PM
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Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should not forget that when he (Dr Mahathir) was Prime Minister, the Cabinet had stood by him.
This was especially so when previous premiers, such as Tunku Abdul Rahman or Tun Hussein Onn, had interfered with his administration.
“We stood by him and his decisions, and so it is only right that we stand by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi now.
“It is not something he (Tun) has not experienced himself. So, he should know better.”
Nazri said no one was accusing Dr Mahathir of anything.
“He is definitely entitled to his opinion, but it is not necessarily correct. There has been no allegation by the current Cabinet that he had finished the Government’s money because of mega-infrastructure projects.
“It is merely a fact, as one can check with the Treasury, that the money allocated in the Eighth Malaysia Plan was used up two years before the plan ended,” Nazri said when contacted yesterday.
“Perhaps people at the grassroots, who do not know the whole story, are saying he bankrupted the country, but there is no such allegation from the present Cabinet.
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“For example, how can we build the Johor bridge if Singapore does not agree to it? It would be unfair of him to say that things did not go as pro-mised.
“And regarding his choice of Pak Lah, Dr Mahathir could not have made the wrong choice, as Umno elected him (Pak Lah) as president.
“So it wasn’t his decision alone, it was the party’s decision and the party cannot be wrong.”
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique said it must be remembered that Abdullah had received the biggest mandate ever in the 2004 general election.
“Tun Dr Mahathir has unfairly come out to harshly criticise Datuk Seri Abdullah.”
Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Khaled Nordin said: “It shows that Tun was not being sincere when he chose Pak Lah by now saying that Pak Lah was the wrong choice.
“Tun himself won the least votes compared with two other deputies but Tun Hussein Onn, at that time, still chose Tun (Mahathir).”
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“Whatever decision was made, took into account new information,” she said, adding that often new information emerged only later.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said she respected and admired Dr Mahathir as one of the greatest leaders in the country.
But it was imperative that Dr Mahathir give his blessings and support to Abdullah
“He has brought Malaysia to great heights and was an excellent leader; and today, Abdullah is leading the country and is equally able,” she said.
Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin said Dr Mahathir had the right to express his views but the Government had the right to carry out its projects and policies.
He said that a nation-wide survey carried out by the Information Department showed that 70% of respondents approved the cancellation of the Johor Bridge project, which was criticised by Dr Mahathir.
“They also approved of Abdullah’s decision not to reply to the criticisms made by Dr Mahathir,” he said.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis said Abdullah had the full support of the party.
He said he had no doubt that everyone in the Cabinet fully backed Abdullah, adding that there was no deliberate plan to “dismantle anyone’s plans or projects” as everything was done for the greater good of the people.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said the state government fully supported the leadership of Abdullah.
“We have full confidence in his leadership,” he said.
Former Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Shahrir Samad said Dr Mahathir should stop making comments and let Abdullah carry out his work.
“He should be happy that his (Tun’s) Vision 2020 is being upheld and maintained by the Government, and should not get involved in other issues.”
Related Stories:
Najib stands by Pak Lah
Group defends Mahathir’s right to air views
Dr M slams Pak Lah but BN leaders rally behind the PM
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