15-Nov-2006 (Wednesday), Abdullah’s presidential address at the opening of the 57th UMNO GA said:

‘Second Pillar…I respect the voices of the elected representatives of the people and they have the freedom to deliberate and debate. They have the opportunity to evaluate the government’s performance; the executive branch is now openly criticised not only by members of the opposition, but also by government backbenchers, members of Umno and members of the public…I hold to the principle that a nation should provide channels that enable its people to voice their concerns. Constructive criticism is encouraged. Differences of opinion should be viewed objectively and not necessarily be seen as being anti-government. The media is a partner in our efforts to build a responsible democratic society’

16-Nov-2006 (Thursday), Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said :
‘I think it’s an address he delivered last year. I was hoping for something new. Perhaps, he has other ideas’

17-Nov-2006 (Friday), State UMNO Youth Chiefs called for emergency meeting to discuss Mukhriz comments as they claimed he has belittled the president’s policy speech.

Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said Mukhriz’s remark was extreme and an embarrassment for the movement.

18-Nov-2006 (Saturday), Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein warned Mukhriz of this statement and demanded explanation or risk his position as UMNO Exco Council member.

Do you think Badawi is too weak to control his wing men. He is preaching one thing while his kakitangan is doing completely the opposite.

I disagree, I would like to think that he is not walking the talks. Remembered that Datuk Shahrir Samad resigned as BackBenchers Club Chairman in May 2006 because he voted for Opposition Motion over the custom’s ‘Close One Eye’ issue while none of the BN MPs back him. To comment over his resignation, Abdullah reminded all BN MPs to toe the party line, which is not to vote for Opposition’s Motion regardless of the issues.

What’s the crap about democracy if a person is not allowed to air his view and vote for things that he thinks is right? And we are not even talking about issues regarding Races or Religions. What is the point if Abdullah is promoting Malaysia as a democratic country but clamp down on those who speak up ??

What I can see is that UMNO would like everyone to brand Abdullah like a God where everybody within the party must obey and ‘carry-balls’ of what he says. Well, after so many years of independence, we are not anywhere closer to becoming a democratic country but we are definitely not too far from the North Korea Regime. -eng