Wednesday September 17, 2008
Zaid’s resignation accepted
KEPALA BATAS: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has accepted the resignation of Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
He said the de facto Law Minister, who tendered his resignation on Monday, had called him yesterday morning to say he could no longer continue with his duties and insisted on resigning.
“If he is adamant, let him resign. In performing the duties of a minister, there are bound to be problems and difficulties and you have to be patient.
”It is not easy to do something or make changes,” he said, adding that Zaid’s resignation would take effect immediately.
Farewell press conference: Zaid fielding questions from the media on his last day at Putrajaya Tuesday. Abdullah, who was handing out Hari Raya goodies to orphans here, said he had not decided on who should replace Zaid but emphasised that the legal reforms the former minister was tasked with doing would continue as planned.
Earlier in Putrajaya, Abdullah had said that the Government was not dependent on a single individual.
“The Government will continue, it does not depend on any one particular person to the extent that it will fall or be weak,” he told reporters after meeting with secretaries-general of ministries at his office here yesterday.
Abdullah said he read Zaid’s letter of resignation yesterday morning but he refrained from revealing its contents.
On the Internal Security Act, which was used on three civilians that had precipitated Zaid’s resignation, the Prime Minister said there was nothing wrong with the Act and so there were no plans to repeal it.
“I will say that it is good. But we must ensure that its enforcement is fair and rational.”
Abdullah was responding to a question on six Cabinet members expressing their unhappiness over its use. He said the ministers could have been unhappy with the way the ISA was enforced rather than critical of it.
“This is what happens when I allow ministers to speak. But it is good because the rakyat will know there are people in the Government who do speak out on the people’s opinions on certain issues. It can be a healthy democracy but it will not affect the position of the Government,” he said.
Abdullah also said the Government was not pressured to declare Sept 16 a public holiday as suggested by the Opposition.
Related story:
Zaid blames Cabinet, Umno members for opposing judiciary reforms
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