Chinese Do not Believe In Anwar But Wish To See Change, Says Salehuddin

MySinchew
15 September 2008

Some Chinese are mentally contradicting themselves as they may not believe in or do not like opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, but at the same time, they are eager to see changes and refuse to live under a racist leadership, said PKR Secretary-General Datuk Salehuddin Hashim.

He said that Malaysians have called for changes in existing rule along ethnic lines. Even if Anwar suddenly wants to be "turncoat" in the future and change the situation, he would not be likely to succeed because Malaysians are strongly demanding for a multi-racial political development.

This was Salehuddin's fist media interview after he took over the post of PKR Secretary-General from incumbent Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

He told Sin Chew Daily that despite many Chinese are not yet PKR's members, but the party understand that Chinese do not hate PKR. As long as the party can keep Chinese's trust, they can gradually gain Chinese recognition and support.

Salehuddin said that Chinese and Malay younger generation do not like racist political parties. Also, after all these years of racial rule, Malaysia are now facing a lot of problems.

He said opportunites to higher education for the Chinese hav ebeen blocked, causing them to seek opportunities to study abroad. Although many Malay young people have university qualifications, most of them rely on the government and become civil servants, while the others become "mat rempit", and causing many social problems.

"Most Malay would not think that this is in their interest. Just try to think how could a player improve if he plays in a lousy league? Eventually, no one shows interest in many skills and vacancies have to be filled by foreign workers," he said.

Salehuddin also said that Malays and Chinese are tired of such situation. Nowadays, young people no longer blindly accept the government's policies. They have started to pay attention on how much benefits such policies could bring to the country.

He said that politicians in the past resolved problems from the racial perspective and no one thought from the multi-racial point of view. And such multi-racial point of view is also very challenging for PKR.

The first challenge would be Malaysians must consider themselves as Malaysians rather than Malays, Chinese, Indians or Kadazans, he said.

He continued that Bumiputra and non-Bumiputra are complaining that the country's policies are unfair to them. "Yes, there are many Malays living in poverty, but there are also those who possess more than one approved permits (APs). Meanwhile, Chinese have many outstanding students who scored 10As, but are unable to study in local universities," he added.

He believed that the 916 date for a change of governmentpower is a symbol for the concept of freeing racist politics. If MPs from BN member parties do not join Pakatan Rakyat by the deadline, they should not blame the BN government for unfair policies and treatments later.

He added that staying in BN means recognising BN's and Umno's policies. Under this circumstances the people are asking for changes, BN MPs must think about their "survival", that is, whether they want to stay or leave in the next general elections. (Sin Chew Daily)

Who does Ahmad Ismail of Bukit Bendera act for? Who gains from his acts?

Tuesday, September 09, 2008 by Ganesh Sahathevan

Readers will see from the articles below that Ahmad Ismail appears to be both an Anwar and Badawi loyalist. Might be stirring tensions in Penang so as to bring to a conclusion a shared, or common agenda?

As reported in The Edge Financial Daily , 10 September 2008:
Wanita Gerakan has urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to sack Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail and detain him under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
The result of non-action by the prime minister could lead to Wanita Gerakan urging the party’s leadership to leave the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, Wanita Gerakan chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe told reporters at Gerakan’s headquarters in Cheras here yesterday.
“We are very angry at the irresponsible act of Datuk Ahmad Ismail, who tore the portrait of Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon in front of the media yesterday afternoon in Penang,” she said.
Showing a portrait of Abdullah, Tan questioned: “How would Umno members feel if a member of the component party in BN tore the picture of Umno’s president?
“Surely, Umno members would feel angry and go berserk. This is how we feel right now,” Tan added.
Ahmad incurred the wrath of the Chinese community by referring to them as “pendatang” and, therefore were squatting in the country at a ceramah during the recent Permatang Pauh by-election. He also blamed Gerakan and its loss of support among the Chinese community as the reason for BN’s dismal showing in Penang.



Ahamd Ismail's history:


A) The crowd of supporters at sacked deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's residence came alive tonight when his wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, took centre-stage to thank them for their support.
Another speaker was Senator Datuk Ahmad Ismail of Umno Bukit Bendera who said the division fully supports Anwar. Anwar, who addressed the crowd about 10pm, said he was touched by their support
(Anwar's wife thanks gathering for support.
By Toh An Nee
270 words
15 September 1998
The Sun)


B) The Umno Bukit Bendera division, which held a special meeting yesterday, decided to ask that Anwar be given a fair trial in defending himself against the allegations.
"As stated by Dr Mahathir before, we should not pronounce someone guilty until the courts have stated so.
"Anwar should be given a chance to explain his side to the people so that peace can be preserved in the country," the division said in a Press statement today.
The statement was signed by Bukit Bendera division chief Senator Datuk Ahmad Ismail, his deputy Azmi @ Iskandar S.H.O. Merican, its Youth wing leader Mohd Ismail Mohd Othman, deputy Youth chief Ismadi Abu Bakar, assistant secretary Syed Abdul Kadir Aidid, deputy Youth treasurer Azhar Ahmad and the division's Youth information chief Yahaya Ibrahim.
Other signatories were Bukit Bendera Wanita chief Haslinda Mohd Hashim and her deputy Asnah Hussain.
The division said it supported Dr Mahathir as Umno president and Prime Minister.
"We also support Anwar as both are personalities and leaders who are hard to replace," they added.
(All 11 Youth divisions in Penang back Dr Mahathir
9 September 1998
The New Straits Times)

C) The tour kicked off Saturday afternoon at Datuk Seri Anwar's birthplace of Cherok Tok Kun, in the northern Malaysian state of Penang, where more than 8,000 people swarmed the whitewashed wooden house of Datuk Seri Anwar's father. The crowds spilled onto the narrow village roads and into neighbors' gardens in the usually quiet village of wooden huts and coconut trees.
He was joined on stage by several local officials of the United Malays National Organization, the ruling party headed by Dr. Mahathir. "We support Dr. Mahathir," said Ahmad Ismail, an UMNO division chief from Penang island, part of the state of Penang. "But sometimes, even he makes mistakes."
(Malay Crowds Flock to Anwar In Heartland
By Chen May Yee
Staff Reporter
1174 words
14 September 1998
The Asian Wall Street Journal)


D)The state Umno's recent meeting which endorsed the supreme council's decision to expel former deputy party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was held in proper manner.
Its deputy liaison committee chairman Datuk Mohd Shariff Omar, in saying this, dismissed Bukit Bendera division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail's claims that the meeting was not properly held and therefore the decision taken by the nine division leaders present was null and void.
(Meeting on expulsion was proper - Penang Umno. 14 September 1998,The Sun)


E)THE hottest topic at the Umno General Assembly yesterday was the posting of a list of recipients of special shares and Finance Ministry projects allocated during Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's tenure as Finance Minister.

Highway and outer ring-road in Penang to Metroworks Construction Sdn
Bhd. Major shareholders: Datuk Ahmad Ismail, Datuk Annuar Othman and Datuk
Ahmad Fuad Mohd Ali


F) Datuk Ahmad Saad, Datuk Ahmad Ismail and other Penang politicians closely allied with Anwar attended a dinner at Datuk Abdullah's house on Saturday night.
Datuk Ahmad Saad, the acting divisional chief in Anwar's former constituency, said that the former No 2 should have refrained from attacking the party, and put his own interests on the backburner.
"When Pak Lah was dropped from the Cabinet in the 80s, he did not attack the government or anybody. He just kept quiet," he said, referring to the current Deputy Premier.
(Anwar made me raise crony issue, says ex-ally.
583 words
21 June 1999
Straits Time)


G)Umno's leadership will decide the fate of Datuk Ahmad Ismail, who was ordered to relinquish his post as a Penang island municipal councillor because he was bankrupt.
Penang Umno liaison committee secretary Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said it would leave it to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is the committee chairman, to decide.
He said the matter would be discussed when Abdullah returned from his overseas trip.
It was reported yesterday that Ahmad, who is also a director of a firm linked to the Penang Outer Ring Road, had to relinquish his councillor's position as he was a bankrupt.
(Abdullah to decide Ahmad's fate
139 words
24 May 2006
New Straits Times)


H) Umno Bukit Bendera division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail is adamant that he will not relinquish any of his posts.
Ahmad, who was declared a bankrupt, had been ordered to give up his Penang Island Municipal Council position and his Umno post.
He said he had obtained a stay of execution order from the High Court and lashed out at Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon for rushing to announce that he had been stripped of his councillor's post.
"I don't know why a small fry like me has been given such widespread publicity.
"I was declared a bankrupt because of a technicality and I have sorted it out.
"All this could have been avoided if the Chief Minister had checked his facts first," he said
(Defiant Ahmad refuses to quit
477 words
26 May 2006
New Straits Times)

I) Bukit Bendera Umno Chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail is not bankrupt and will continue back as a member of the Pulau Pinang Town Council (MPPP).
Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon today said that he had received a letter from the Insolvency Department confirming that Ahmad was not bankrupt.
Yesterday, Ahmad had described the actions of the state government and the MPPP in terminating him from his post of a member of MPPP as being hasty and unreasonable.
(MPPP MEMBER AHMAD ISMAIL NOT BANKRUPT, KOH SAYS
186 words
26 May 2006
Bernama Daily Malaysian News)

J)Bukit Bendera Umno Branch chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail will keep his job of councillor in the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP).
Ahmad cleared his name today when the Penang High Court nullified a lower court ruling declaring him a bankrupt.
A jubilant Ahmad said he has received a letter from the state government confirming that he will be retained as MPPP councillor.
He said he was a "victim of circumstances". He acted as a guarantor for a RM1.8-million loan taken by a private company which had defaulted on the repayment.
"I thank Allah that it's all over now. I have cleared my name and now I am looking forward to serving the people of Bukit Bendera (and the MPPP)," he said.
(HIGH COURT ANNULS BANKRUPT ORDER ON AHMAD ISMAIL
136 words
27 June 2006
Bernama Daily Malaysian News)

K)Bukit Bendera Umno division head Datuk Ahmad Ismail claimed that Koh and Chia did not honour their election promises, which included introducing a programme to eradicate poverty and inculcating entrepreneurship among the Malays in the city.
Describing the Malays in Penang as the victimised minority, he asked Koh and Chia to fulfill the pledges they made and asked them to hold discussions with Umno leaders to work out the programme for the Malays.
(KOH, CHIA TAKEN TO TASK FOR NOT HONORING ELECTION PROMISES
264 words
27 August 2006
Bernama Daily Malaysian News)

SYED NADZRI: Five reasons Anwar could lose

By : Syed Nadzri
2008/08/05
NST

EVEN his harshest critics are making no bones about the fact that he is the odds-on favourite in this by-election. But frankly, will Permatang Pauh be all that safe for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim?

True, the parliamentary constituency has been a home ground of sorts for him ever since, as a party rookie, he helped Umno wrest it from Pas control in the 1982 general election by defeating Zabidi Ali, a revered local ustaz.

And though he was not born and never went to school in Permatang Pauh (he is from Cherok Tok Kun which is somewhere between Kulim and Bukit Mertajam) Anwar's assumed formidability -- whether in spirit or even on the opposite side of the political fence -- hardly ebbed as his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail took over the seat under Parti Keadilan Rakyat in the 1999, 2004 and 2008 elections.

But circumstances have changed somewhat -- more significantly so after March 8.

The Election Commission meets tomorrow to decide on the date of the by-election. And there can be many reasons Permatang Pauh may not live up to be Fortress Anwar after all. Here are just five of them:
1. Barisan Nasional hardly ever loses in a by-election. The near-impeccable record is due largely to its clinical machinery derived from the years of experience of contesting all the by-elections there had ever been as a coalition force.

The record of the last four years speaks for itself: 6-0 in BN's favour -- in Kuala Berang, Terengganu (August 2004), Ba'kelalan, Sarawak (September 2004), Pengkalan Pasir, Kelantan (December 2005), Batu Talam, Pahang (January 2007), Machap, Malacca (April 2007) and Ijok, Selangor (April 2007).

Quite significantly, Ijok featured PKR strongman Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as candidate, with Anwar himself as chief campaigner.

On this score, the odds are against Pakatan Rakyat which is likely to find it more difficult to strike good teamwork.

The PKR-DAP-Pas coalition announced on Sunday what BN had already been doing all these years, that they had reached a pact to jointly take on BN in the by-election arising from Dr Wan Azizah giving up the seat.

Penang PKR elections director Mustaffa Kamal Yusof has been appointed to oversee the coordination efforts and for a start, the coalition has agreed to set up operation centres in all 28 polling districts in Permatang Pauh.

2. Anwar will go into this fight with a sodomy allegation hanging over him and this could be crucial to the outcome either way.

Most probably, he would rebut the allegation with guns blazing by saying it is all a conspiracy to do him in or that there is vote-rigging and then draw out all the sympathy with his supreme oratory skills that could turn around even the hardest of his detractors. But at the same time, it is exactly this issue that could prove to be his nemesis, especially with BN, it is learnt, already coming out with a series of counters.

3. Anwar's opponent. It is understood that the BN, in anticipation of Anwar's attack strategy, is strongly considering fielding either a respected religious figure or someone who knows Anwar inside out. Winning over the voters in Permatang Pasir and Penanti will be crucial for both sides.

4. The timing of this by-election seems to favour BN because the coalition, after a dismal outing in the March 8 general election where it lost five states, including Penang, is looking hard for redemption. Added to that is the upcoming Umno elections. Just about everyone in the party would want to use Permatang Pauh as a stage to impress and perhaps score points for the party polls in December. There is the right mood in BN.

5. Voter sentiment, perhaps the most significant. It cannot be denied that the ground has shifted much since March 8 with a change in state government and, with that, political leaning.

It cannot be denied too that some of the policy changes instituted by the DAP-led Penang administration have not gone down well with at least some of the 58,449 registered voters in Permatang Pauh, 69.4 per cent of whom are Malays, 24.5 per cent Chinese and 5.7 per cent Indians.

BN is expected to capitalise on this to the core, put Anwar on the defensive and try to prove that he is not that invincible in Permatang Pauh as thought.

Kenapa Mahathir keluar UMNO? (ii)

Menyingkir juak-juak yang merosakkan Abdullah

Umum mengetahui, Mahathir telah membebankan kesilapan BN dalam pilihan raya pada Abdullah. Selain kesilapan secara langsung yang dilakukan oleh Abdullah (secara individu), juak-juak di sekelilingnya dilihat oleh Mahathir sebagai 'perosak'.

Dalam blognya, Mahathir ada menulis:

Perkara pertama yang dilakukan selepas menjadi Perdana Menteri ialah untuk membawa masuk ahli keluarganya secara tidak rasmi ke dalam pentadbiran Kerajaan. Beliau boleh menafikannya tetapi orang ramai tahu akan kegiatan Khairy Jamaluddin dan Kamaluddin Abdullah serta konco-konconya termasuk budak-budak Tingkat Empat. Mereka sering turut serta dalam mesyuarat rasmi Kerajaan dan apabila Perdana Menteri mengadakan perjumpaan.

Sering dikhabarkan, Abdullah merupakan pemimpin yang mudah menuruti nasihat juak-juaknya. Manakala juak-juaknya pula, dikatakan sering menapis maklumat kritikal, sehingga apa yang disampaikan kepada Abdullah semacam tidak ada masalah berlaku.

(Kita akan bincangkan lanjut perkara yang dilakukan oleh juak-juak Abdullah ini kemudian)

Dan penyingkiran juak-juak ini juga sekali gus menyelamatkan reputasi Mahathir.

Bagaimana?

Ada yang menduga bahawa juak-juak Abdullah semakin giat melancarkan serangan politik ke atas Mahathir, baru-baru ini berkenaan isu klip video VK Lingam. Laporan suruhanjaya diraja siasatan klip video itu disegerakan, dan nama Mahathir turut disebut terlibat sama. Apabila namanya dikaitkan dengan penyelewengan (apatah lagi jika disahkan benar), maka kredibiliti beliau semakin pudar. Ini menyebabkan ramai yang akan hilang percaya terhadap beliau.

Juak-juak ini mahu memastikan tiada lagi ancaman ke atas kedudukan dan keistimewaan mereka di bawah naungan Abdullah. (Jika Abdullah turun, mereka juga terpaksa 'turun').

Nah, katakan Mahathir benar-benar terlibat - maka haruslah beliau membuat sesuatu untuk menangkis serangan itu. Maka tindakannya keluar UMNO ini dilihat sebagai alat mendesak Abdullah meletak jawatan. Mahathir menggunakan simpati penyokongnya bagi menutup segala tuduhan salah laku (penyokong tidak akan percaya berita itu) ke atas beliau. Malah, mungkin segala laporan berhubungnya akan diterima dengan perasaan marah hingga menyebabkan mereka akan bertambah benci pada juak-juak itu.

Yang menariknya, Mahathir dilihat begitu pantas bertindak. Sebaik sahaja namanya diheret ke dalam kes Lingam (dalam media), beliau terus cuba untuk mematahkan serangan politik ke atasnya, sekali gus cuba untuk 'menyingkir juak-juak itu.

Kenapa Mahathir keluar UMNO? (i)

Hanya Mahathir sendiri yang dapat menjawab persoalan ini. Kita hanya boleh mengandai serta meneka muslihatnya, atau menjangka kebarangkalian yang akan berlaku. Kita kemiskinan maklumat sebab setakat berlegar-legar di luar proses perancangan muslihat tersebut.

Bagaimanapun, saya cuba menghimpunkan seberapa banyak andaian yang termampu - manalah tahu, salah satunya tepat mengena.

Kita akan meneka berdasarkan rasa empati pada dua sudut pandang: di sudut pro-Mahathir, satu lagi pro-Abdullah.

Mengheret wajah hodoh dalam UMNO

Teman-teman (dan ramai orang) sering merintih dengan wajah hodoh yang ditampilkan oleh sebahagian ahli UMNO. Antaranya, kaki ampu, gemar melukut di tepi gantang, talam dua muka dan hipokrit.

Pasca pilihan raya umum baru-baru ini telah menonjolkan lebih ramai ahli yang berani menentang Presiden (Abdullah), malah mengasak beliau supaya meletakkan jawatan. Sebabnya, keputusan undi yang teruk pada BN telah dihumbankan ke atas beliau. Selari itu, makin banyak kempen-kempen mengasak beliau meletak jawatan galak dianjurkan secara terang-terangan.

Nah, sejauh mana 'barah dalam UMNO ini mahu dibuang' secara bersungguh oleh penentang terbabit?

Tindakan Mahathir keluar UMNO (dan mengajak yang lain) berjaya memerangkap penentang-penentang ini - termasuklah anaknya (Mukhriz). Kalau benar mereka bersungguh mahu memulihkan UMNO dengan menyingkir Abdullah, seyogianya bersama-sama bekas PM itu menjayakan ultimatum ini.

Setakat ini, hanya tiga ahli UMNO (yang terkenal), termasuk Mahathir yang bersungguh. Mana yang lain?

Inilah yang Mahathir cuba tampilkan - wajah-wajah hodoh dalam UMNO seperti yang dinyatakan di atas - terutamanya hipokrit. Mana perginya yang lantang-lantang sebelum ini? Kalau benar mahu menyingkir Abdullah, bukankah ini masa terbaik dan kaedah yang sesuai? Setakat mana keberanian penentang-penentang ini?

Walhal, Mahathir tidak mengkhianati UMNO. Beliau berjanji akan kembali, hanya jika Abdullah letak jawatan. Apa kerosakan pada UMNO, melainkan jika Abdullah tetap dengan keputusannya untuk tidak berundur? (Kalau ramai yang mengikut jejak Mahathir, sementara Abdullah pula tetap berkeras, benar-benar akan berlaku kerosakan).

Sementara itu, Shahrir Samad meramal, barangkali akan berlaku pilihan raya semula sebab banyak Ahli Parlimen (yang menentang Abdullah) akan menuruti jejak Mahathir. Bagaimanapun, setakat ini, ramalan itu dibidas tepat oleh Dr Chandra Muzaffar:

"Ahli-ahli Parlimen BN khususnya Umno tidak akan berbuat demikian kerana mengambil kira keperluan kedudukan dan status bagi mereka sebagai ahli politik."

Ternyata ramai yang tidak sanggup berkorban, selari dengan apa yang dicanangkan.

Kita juga boleh bersoal, atas sebab (sebenar) apakah mereka selama ini marahkan pada Abdullah? Kita sedia tahu ada banyak sebab. Namun, pada wajah yang ditampilkan ini, ada yang boleh dianggap berpunca daripada kekecewaan - tidak mendapat keistimewaan daripada Abdullah dalam banyak perkara.

Mungkin agaknya, gempita menentang Abdullah ini telah dijadikan alat menebus kekecewaan itu.

Bagaimanapun, saya tidak menolak wujudnya kelompok yang cuba meneruskan gempita ini dari dalam parti, atau memilih untuk tidak bergiat aktif dalam UMNO.

Di sebelah pihak lagi, Mahathir berjaya mengheret wajah-wajah 'pembela' Pak Lah ke khayalak. Yang inilah wajib kita analisis cakap-cakap mereka - yang mana satu jujur, yang mana satu kaki ampu, yang mana satu dahulunya (ketika di bawah payung Mahathir) bermati-matian membela bekas PM itu, tetapi hari ini berpusing serta-merta dan yang mana satu setia pada parti (bukan pada individu berpengaruh).

Mahathir, he got nothing to lose. Sudah kaya, sudah 22 tahun jadi PM, sudah lebih dua dekad jadi Presiden dan sudah berumur. Jadi, pada hari-hari tua sebegini, apakah yang lebih menyeronokkan beliau berbanding tersenyum-senyum melihat telatah lucu ahli-ahli UMNO?

Mahathir pernah bersungut tentang menteri lantikannya (ketika beliau menjawat PM) termasuklah Abdullah sebagai 'mereka yang tidak mengenang budi'. Saya petik sebahagian daripada blog beliau:

Saya tidak akan sebutkan berkenaan perkara-perkara yang dilakukannya yang menyentuh diri saya dan umumnya tidak diketahui orang ramai. Ini kerana pengundi tidak mungkin dipengaruhi perkara ini.

Tetapi apa yang diketahui ialah reaksinya terhadap kritikan saya berkenaan APs (Approved Permits) dan keputusan untuk tidak membina jambatan bengkok di Johor. Dia dan menteri-menterinya menghina saya di khalayak ramai dan di satu ketika hendak melucutkan saya daripada keahlian parti. Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz terutamanya, amat biadap.

Rakyat juga tahu bahawa dia dan rakan-rakan Kabinetnya, yang kebanyakannya adalah lantikan saya amat tidak mengenang budi. Rakyat juga tahu bahawa jika bukan kerana saya Abdullah tidak akan jadi Perdana Menteri hari ini. Begitu juga kebanyakan yang lain yang dilantik Menteri oleh saya. Mereka dahulunya merupakan penyokong kuat saya, cium tangan saya dan menangis apabila saya meletakkan jawatan.

Sekarang mereka menentang saya dan menghina saya dengan cara yang amat tidak sopan. Saya tidak tersinggung kerana ini tetapi saya fikir orang ramai anggap perangai sebegini amat buruk.

Mahathir juga menyelar sikap-sikap mereka (menteri-menteri yang diangkat beliau) yang 'begitu takut' dengan Abdullah sehingga tidak mampu mempertahankan bekas PM itu:

Majlis Tertinggi UMNO dan Kabinet dipenuhi "Yes-Men" yang tidak pernah menyuarakan ketidakpuasan hati ahli UMNO di peringkat akar umbi. Ahli UMNO diugut tindakan disiplin jika mendengar ucapan sesiapa yang tidak mendapat restu atau kelulusan Presiden. Ini termasuk saya. Polis dan UMNO Negeri akan memanggil pihak yang menjemput saya dan diarah menarik balik jemputan mereka.

Ketakutan yang Abdullah semaikan dalam diri Menteri-Menterinya, ahli Majlis Tertinggi UMNO dan kepimpinan UMNO yang lain begitu hebat sekali sehinggakan tiada yang sanggup berdiri mempertahankan saya ataupun untuk mempertikaikan apa yang Abdullah dan rakan-rakannya kata.

Apakah tindakan Mahathir keluar UMNO ini bertujuan untuk menyemarakkan kelompok penentang yang kuat bagi menyingkir, atau mengajar menteri dan individu terbabit (dengan mengheret wajah-wajah ini ke khayalak agar rakyat yang menghukumnya)?