Kerismuddin to be rejected despite insincere apology

Do you trust this man (picture below) when he says that he regrets the keris incident and now apologies? I know, you will say that this apology is dictated by politics post March 8—and I agree. The Barisan Nasional, in particular UMNO Malay nationalists like Kerismuddin and Khairy Jamaluddin, was rejected by the Malaysian voters. If not for the postal votes, fancy tricks of the Elections Commission headed by Rashid Rahman and vote buying antics of the cash rich Barisan Nasional, Malaysia would be under the Pakatan Rakyat government today. And Kerismuddin would probably have retired or just be an ordinary Member of Parliament if he were elected.

Laughing when he should be crying

In my opinion, Kerismuddin is making a tactical retreat because it is politically expedient for him to express remorse or swallow the bitter pill, so to speak. Imagine what he would have done if the Barisan Nasional had won resoundingly in 2008, as it did in 2004. My guess is that he would be wearing the keris under his coat with arrogance as he heads to his Ministry every morning. UMNO arrogance will be on display again.

Unfortunately, like the rest in Barisan Nasional including our Prime Minister, Kerismuddin totally ignored the signals which our Special Branch and Military Intelligence had given to them of an impending political tsunami. In stead, he and Khairy Jamaluddin were talking “sifar pembangkang” (zero opposition). As if in defiance, Malaysian voters sent 82 Pakatan Rakyat candidates to the 13th Parliament, which opens on April 28, 2008.

If he is serious about his apology and wants to show remorse, then Kerismuddin should resign as Minister of Education whose portfolio is in mess, Member of Parliament and senior UMNO party member and retire quietly from politics. In addition, he should do at least a week’s community service, wearing a vest with the words “I am sorry” printed on its back. Otherwise, this apology is meaningless.–Din Merican

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Monday April 28, 2008

Kadar Shah: Hisham should resign

(The Star) MUAR: The Muar division wants Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein to resign over the keris issue.

Datuk Kadar Shah Tun Sulaiman Ninam Shah, claiming to speak for several branch leaders, made the call yesterday after Hishammuddin admitted that the keris issue was among the causes of Barisan’s poor performance in the March general election.

To admit the mistake is not good enough if the Youth chief does not take the responsibility and resign from all party and government posts, he said.

Hishammuddin had agreed that the keris issue was one factor which had caused Barisan to lose the people’s support, Kadar Shah said here yesterday.

Kadar Shah said besides resigning, Hishammuddin should also seek forgiveness from all Umno and Barisan members as the DAP had manipulated the keris issue to woo supporters.

He said that as a Cabinet minister for several terms, the Youth chief should be mature enough to know what a leader could do, and brandishing the keris could hurt the feelings of other races.