Hey! a black dot on your forehead

Kadayan Banaa   

AFTER waiting for sometime, finally Datuk Seri Abdullah Hj Ahmad Badawi announced the new cabinet lineup. This time the size is smaller, with much hypes on those 18 new faces.

Not that he purposely keen on injecting new bloods to the cabinet, but he definitely had no choice at all.

Most of the big guns either lost – in case of Zam (Datuk Zainuddin Maidin), or, phased out – in case of Datuk Paduka Rafidah Aziz.

I will focus on UMNO as it is the backbone of Barisan Nasional. As a matter of fact in Semenanjung, the fate of UMNO in a dying situation is much better in comparison with Gerakan, MCA and MIC – as they are all DEAD.

First, about Datuk Shahrir Samad.

He is undoubtedly a man of principle. A man of good character. Only, he isn't shining quite brightly enough in Malaysia's politics. He is bloggers darling too.

I don't know if he is a wealthy man now. But i still remember that he once operated up a laundry shop in Johor Baharu (JB) to earn a living.

But looking from the first assignment he is up to – he will fall into Malaysian classical economists trap if he isn't careful. He already announced that price controlled goods may became thing in the past in Malaysia. So expect a higher price level in future.

Second, comes Zaid Ibrahim. A long time supporter of BN. Outspoken and hyperactive lawyer of some sort. Beside a politician, he is a quite a successful lawyer cum writer.

His first (assigned) task is to make a proposal to government. According to him, government need to seeks an apology from Tun Salleh Abbas, a former Lord President of Supreme Court of Malaysia.

Although it is a wise move, it is also a tactical one. It is motivated by several factors. To reimpose, and to refresh memory of the Malaysians on how bad Tun Dr Mahathir was, is one. To portrays how sensible the BN government is another. Also to show how committed BN government to changes for the better. It is a useful temporary measure to divert attention of the public on BN miserable state of being by doing something noble to remember.

But how about Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib? He is a man with bad reputation, no matter how soft I look at him. At least this is how I feel about him and I don't think Pak Lah unaware about this.

He did bad things in the past. He tarnished the Selangor royalty image. He carries bad image to Malaysia in Australia. Public, especially educated Malaysians have many says on him. Malaysia netizen curse him. They treated him as a good punching bag, second only to Zainudin Maidin.

My question is why, why him. It is truly a black dot in the cabinet.