CALL FOR ABDULLAH TO BE APPOINTED SENIOR MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- A backbencher on Monday suggested that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi be given a role as senior minister after he steps down as prime minister next month, the same way Singapore appoints Lee Kuan Yew as minister mentor.

Member of Parliament Mohamad Aziz said the move was apt as Abdullah had done
a lot of good deeds for the people, country and parliament throughout his career
as a leader.

"When the prime minister relinquishes his post, he will become an ordinary
member of parliament.

"Can we then follow our neighbour and appoint him as senior minister?" he
said when debating the motion of thanks on the Malaysian King's address in
the Lower House of Parliament.

Mohamad said the suggestion was apt as Abdullah's predecessors neither
"relinquished their post midway" nor contested in subsequent elections.

Mohamad, who paid tribute to Abdullah, said the power transition was a
process which had been accepted by the people.

Meanwhile another Member of Parliament, Abdul Ghapur Salleh, hoped that the
new cabinet line-up under the leadership of Najib Razak would carry out their
duties to the best of their abilities.

Abdul Ghapur said the ministers should not just "sit in the office."

"I hope that ministers will be appointed from among those who can really
work for the people," he said.

He said he himself was disappointed with the attitude of some ministers who
seldom go to the grassroots to see for themselves the actual situation on the
ground, particulary in East Malaysia state of Sabah, which still lacked basic
infrastructure.
-- BERNAMA