ID :
24822
Thu, 10/16/2008 - 11:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/24822
The shortlink copeid
MINISTER DISMISSES TALK DR M MASTERMIND OF M'SIA'S FUTURE ADMINISTRATION
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin Wednesday dismissed talk that Dr Mahathir Mohamad orchestrated the increasing popularity of him and Najib Tun Razak so that they could be the future leaders of the country.
"I don't think you need to be in any way confused because you see us
together (with Mahathir). The fact that we meet in certain functions doesn't
mean that there are major developments happening," he told reporters after
co-chairing the 1st Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Trade and Investment Committee
Meeting here Wednesday.
Muhyiddin said this when asked by a reporters whether Dr Mahathir had a
role to play in determining the future leaders of the country.
"He (Mahathir) still is respected as an elder Malaysian statesman. You
people also have high regards for him. I don't think we can deny that fact. But
to what extent he has influence in terms of the administration, I think that is
something that Najib should be able to manage," he said.
He said Najib had the requisite experience to manage the country and had
worked in the previous cabinet with Dr Mahathir.
"I was also in the old cabinet and now a member of the present cabinet. I
think a blend of past experience together with that of the present is
important," he said.
Najib and Muhyiddin are the frontrunners for the president and deputy
president posts for Umno's upcoming elections in March next year. By convention
Umno president and deputy president become prime minister and deputy prime
minister respectively.
Meanwhile, when speaking to reporters at Puteri Umno's Aidilfitri open
house here, Muhyiddin said experience and capability should be the main
criteria when nominating candidates for leadership posts and not the factor of
age.
"As long as the person is healthy, has a sharp mind and is capable of
handling the job, one's age, old or young, should not be the main concern," he
said when asked to comment on remarks by Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin
that the old should make way for the young.
At the same function, Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin told
reporters that he was confident of making the cut to contest the Umno Youth
chief post.
Asked about the slow pace of nominations for him at Umno Youth's ongoing
delegates meetings, Khairy said :"Maybe because I have been said to have become
the underdog now".
He has garnered 19 nominations and is trailing behind Umno Youth executive
council member Mukhriz Dr Mahathir who has picked up 40 nominations,
two more than the 38 nominations to be eligible to contest.
Of the others in the fray and after 72 divisions have held their meetings,
former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohamed Khir has obtained 12
nominations while Perlis Umno deputy chief Datuk Zahidi
Zainul Abidin just one.
The United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO, is a right-wing party and
Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the Barisan Nasional
coalition.
-- BERNAMA
"I don't think you need to be in any way confused because you see us
together (with Mahathir). The fact that we meet in certain functions doesn't
mean that there are major developments happening," he told reporters after
co-chairing the 1st Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Trade and Investment Committee
Meeting here Wednesday.
Muhyiddin said this when asked by a reporters whether Dr Mahathir had a
role to play in determining the future leaders of the country.
"He (Mahathir) still is respected as an elder Malaysian statesman. You
people also have high regards for him. I don't think we can deny that fact. But
to what extent he has influence in terms of the administration, I think that is
something that Najib should be able to manage," he said.
He said Najib had the requisite experience to manage the country and had
worked in the previous cabinet with Dr Mahathir.
"I was also in the old cabinet and now a member of the present cabinet. I
think a blend of past experience together with that of the present is
important," he said.
Najib and Muhyiddin are the frontrunners for the president and deputy
president posts for Umno's upcoming elections in March next year. By convention
Umno president and deputy president become prime minister and deputy prime
minister respectively.
Meanwhile, when speaking to reporters at Puteri Umno's Aidilfitri open
house here, Muhyiddin said experience and capability should be the main
criteria when nominating candidates for leadership posts and not the factor of
age.
"As long as the person is healthy, has a sharp mind and is capable of
handling the job, one's age, old or young, should not be the main concern," he
said when asked to comment on remarks by Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin
that the old should make way for the young.
At the same function, Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin told
reporters that he was confident of making the cut to contest the Umno Youth
chief post.
Asked about the slow pace of nominations for him at Umno Youth's ongoing
delegates meetings, Khairy said :"Maybe because I have been said to have become
the underdog now".
He has garnered 19 nominations and is trailing behind Umno Youth executive
council member Mukhriz Dr Mahathir who has picked up 40 nominations,
two more than the 38 nominations to be eligible to contest.
Of the others in the fray and after 72 divisions have held their meetings,
former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohamed Khir has obtained 12
nominations while Perlis Umno deputy chief Datuk Zahidi
Zainul Abidin just one.
The United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO, is a right-wing party and
Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the Barisan Nasional
coalition.
-- BERNAMA
