Malaysiakini - Insubordinate ministers must quit or be axed - PAS (extracts):
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad should remove members of his cabinet who are often opposed to his policies, according to PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.
He cited Article 43(2)(b) of the Federal Constitution, which stipulates that a cabinet minister is appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the prime minister.
“Therefore, cabinet ministers cannot adopt a stand which is different from the prime minister on matters related to national policies, especially after it is decided by the government through cabinet.
“Such action is a violation of ministerial responsibility and can even be considered insubordination,” he added in a media statement this afternoon.
Therefore, Takiyuddin urged cabinet ministers who are not on the same page with the prime minister to resign to prevent chaos and instability in the nation.
“PAS also feels that if the prime minister finds any of his ministers being frequently opposed to the policies which he intends to bring forth for the interest of the nation and people, then the prime minister must advise the Agong to revoke the ministers' appointment based on the above mentioned article,” he added.
Takiyuddin was among the opposition leaders who met Mahathir in Putrajaya last month to reportedly pledge their support for the latter to continue serving until the end of his term.
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PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan |
He cited Article 43(2)(b) of the Federal Constitution, which stipulates that a cabinet minister is appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the prime minister.
“Therefore, cabinet ministers cannot adopt a stand which is different from the prime minister on matters related to national policies, especially after it is decided by the government through cabinet.
“Such action is a violation of ministerial responsibility and can even be considered insubordination,” he added in a media statement this afternoon.
Therefore, Takiyuddin urged cabinet ministers who are not on the same page with the prime minister to resign to prevent chaos and instability in the nation.
“PAS also feels that if the prime minister finds any of his ministers being frequently opposed to the policies which he intends to bring forth for the interest of the nation and people, then the prime minister must advise the Agong to revoke the ministers' appointment based on the above mentioned article,” he added.
Takiyuddin was among the opposition leaders who met Mahathir in Putrajaya last month to reportedly pledge their support for the latter to continue serving until the end of his term.
Of course Takiyuddin was 'char koay teow-ing' and it's not even halal (politically). He was deliberately causing 'grief' to the Pakatan cabinet by stirring shit amongst them, casting the golden apple of discord as Eris, the Greek goddess of strife and discord, did to plant the casus belli for the Trojan War.
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Eris, the Greek goddess of strife and discord |
In a Westminster parliamentary model, the PM is known as the 'primus inter pares', which means 'the first among equals'. Note in particular the key word 'equals'.
In other words, the PM is not superior to the other ministers even if the Constitution lays down the procedure for building up and thus appointing personalities to the cabinet. He is given the No 1 position in the cabinet, thus making him the First or by consensus the leader but only among equals (elected representatives).
But there is some truth in what Takiyuddin said, that if any of his ministers has been frequently opposing the cabinet agreed policies which the PM intends to bring forth for the interest of the nation and people, then the PM has a right to advise the Agong to revoke the ministers' appointment.
But poor Takiyuddin left out some vital points to the condition of the PM revoking appointments of ministers, namely:
(a) in the first place the policies must be agreed by the cabinet, and not just the unilateral decision of the PM alone, wakakaka. I believe through our reading of current news, most cabinet ministers did (do?) NOT agree with the PM on the cases of Lynas, Zakir Naik, Dong Zong, Khat, Car No 3, etc.
But what could they do when Mahathir might have threatened to play 'silly boy' and take his soccer ball home if the team doesn't agree to him being centre-forward. He does have at least 13 MPs which is a critical number in a coalition without 2/3 majority. By merajuking, Mahathir could bring down the Pakatan government.
So if ministers still disagree or oppose the PM, but watch helplessly as the PM's policies are nonetheless being issued, it's the PM (not those ministers) who needs to watch out, resigns or STFU.
(b) the cabinet decision must be consensual which we doubt considering Mahathir's character and proclivity for unilateralism (discussed above), but by Takiyuddin's own words, those policies must be brought forth for the interest of the nation and people, which we all know, the cabinet has been vociferously questioning on those (absence of) purported merits, eg. Lynas.
Would the PM dare to take that issue to the final end? He may find his own appointment revoked instead.
But in the end, we know Takiyuddin has been 'char koay teow-ing' in a most un-halal way, wakakaka. Naughty naughty.
More importantly for us, let's read the subtext of Takiyuddin's message. He has at the same time unwittingly projected his mentality (and no doubt those of his PAS colleagues) a scenario of the unquestioned, unchallenged and supreme Ayatollah-ish powers of a PM. And that's what frightens me to sh*t.
If PAS ever comes to majority rule in Malaysia, bye bye Democracy.