Showing posts with label Rafidah Aziz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rafidah Aziz. Show all posts

Monday, November 24, 2008

The Lady Is A Shrew

Hantu Laut

In my earlier article "Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned" I said I place my bet on Shahrizat winning the race against Rafidah.I still do and the ground swell is moving in favour of Shahrizat.

Rafidah has burned almost all her bridges to the top leadership in UMNO including former PM Tun Mahathir Mohammad and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.She only respect those who wield power and have no qualms about running them down once they ceased to be of any use to her.The many years of being in one of the most important ministries has made her lost her balance and made her arrogant,abrasive and completely inconsiderate.She has no finesse and social grace in dealing with her colleagues and the public.She and Azalina both need to go to finishing school.You can be tough yet graceful but unfortunately both of them are not.

During his tenure as prime minister Mahathir ignored the many allegations of abuse of power and corruptions against her and closed his eyes and ears to such talk.When Mahathir announced his resignation she was one of the first on stage, cried and pleaded to him not to resign.Her recent tussle with Mahathir on the issue of AP(Approved Permit) is a lingering reminder of her imperious,ungrateful and opportunistic nature.

Her biggest undoing maybe her recent barbs at Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.She told him he was so unpopular that he wouldn't be able to get enough nominations to contest the presidency and asked him to cut short the transition plan .This is the man who defended her from Tun Mahathir attacks during the AP controversy.Gratitude is not in her lexicon.

Isn't she "The pot calling the kettle black" by asking Abdullah to cut short the transition period.What is she doing contesting the Wanita Chief post and hand it over three months later.Isn't there element of insincerity in that promise.Since she going to forgo the position why not just let Shahrizat contest it and be done with it.

I believe majority of members of Wanita UMNO had already decided who they want as their leader.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned

Hantu Laut

The contest for the top post of Wanita UMNO is taking on the shape of a match between David and Goliath.It seems so but might not be so.

The shrewed, aggressive and volatile incumbent Rafidah Aziz got 117 nominations against potential challenger Shahrizat Jalil who got an impressive 73 nominations in spite of the fact that she is supposed to contest the deputy post and not the chief post.There are voices of discontent in Wanita UMNO against Rafidah pushing her luck.

Rafidah didn't expect someone to spring a surprise and challenge the deputy Wanita position putting the whole succession plan in disarry and a threat to Shahrizat's chance of taking the deputy post and successor to the Wanita Chief position when Rafidah step down in June next year. Her refusal to bring forward the succession plan to March as requested by Shahrizat and the new development is likely to cause Shahrizat to challenge her.Do not underestimate her capability to spring a surprise of her own.The demure Shahrizat may not be as aggressive and volatile as Rafidah but she could be a wolf in sheep clothing.

The ground is swelling in opposition to Rafidah's power crazy decision to contest the Wanita Chief post which she had held since 1984 with a short break of three years when she lost to
Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman.Many in the Wanita wing felt she has been there far too long.

Many leaders in UMNO have surpassed their shelf-life but refused to go, wanting to keep their position for life and Rafidah is one of those that may have reached the end of her shelf-live.How she obtained such high number of nominations is a mystery.

She has also been implicated in the over-indulgence of issuing of Approved Permits (AP) for the benefits of a few people close to her.Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad blamed her for the losses at Proton due to the big invasion of imported cars that compete with the national car.In spite of this allegation the issuance of AP continued unabated during her tenure.

Prime Minister Abdullah has said he would mediate the two to resolve the problem.I think the Prime Minister should leave the two ladies alone, let them fight it out.There is no such thing as the tussle would split the party, it is good for the party, it should teach people how to compete.Such argument is reserved only for those who are coward, unsure of themselves and feared being challenged.

Shahrizat felt she has been played out and I don't blame her for being so.With more than sufficient nominations there is no reason why she shouldn't take on Rafidah.Better to die fighting the champion than die fighting an unknown killer.

They say 'Hell hath no fury like a women scorned'. Shahrizat can surely rock the boat in a sea of discontent and send Rafidah plunging into the sea.

I place my bet on Shahrizat.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

The Arrogance Of Power

Hantu Laut

Arrogance, incorrigible and insolent are the trademark of some politicians. I have seen many that have to eat the humble pie when they were no more in position of power.Than there were those who had selective memory or amnesia and can't remember the faces of their less fortunate friends when they were constantly intoxicated with the political world.There are also those who rode the high horses and forgot there are ground beneath their feet.

With due respect and my sincere apology to those who are not in those category,I don't mean to be rude but I really don't have that many kind words for politicians from both sides of the political fence.Most are just self-serving brown-nosing little weasels.

What struck me as strange and inconceivable were reasons given by UMNO Wanita Chief Rafidah Aziz on why she decided to stand for the party elections and subsequently hand over to Sharizat 6 months later, a move quite rightly questioned by former wanita chief and matriarch AishahGhani.It's something in dire need of comprehension.

As usual our iron lady was fast to throw tantrums when asked what was her reaction to the call by Kalabakan Wanita UMNO division for her to step down gracefully during the party elections in December and make way for Sharizat to contest the elections. Her response was "Why don't you ask them? Why don't you talk to them.She said "If I do that ( step down in December), it would create fighting for the chief and deputy chief posts.I want to avoid a contest, I don't want to contest" Whatever that meant, I am not sure.

I can understand the Prime Minister power transition to his Deputy which makes some sense, this one is absolutely ridiculous.

What political system are we using in this country, democracy, socialism, feudalism or communism.Even in the politburo of the communist party elections are held to choose its leaders.Assuming we practise democracy, isn't elections part and parcel of the democratic process and people should be allowed to contest freely.

She said "I am doing them a favour".That sounds really insulting to Sharizat.It means she can't win on her own account and have to depend on Rafidah to deliver the title to her on the platter.

It's also amazing that she thinks nobody dare to challenge her.

If that's not arrogance, what is?

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