score points...

1st june 2008
from: www.nst.com.my

Azalina: Mokhzani should quit SIC

KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said yesterday joined Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob in calling for Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir's resignation as chairman of Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

Azalina said in a statement she was surprised at and disappointed with Mokhzani's stand to continue as SIC chairman when Ismail Sabri had called for his resignation, citing the post as a government appointment.

"Mokhzani should know that SIC is a government entity and he should resign in the interest of the sport," said Azalina, who is also an Umno supreme council member.

"His continued presence is going to hamper the sport because the government's support will have to be reviewed."

Mokhzani, who on May 21 quit Umno, as his father and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had done, had said in response to Ismail Sabri's call that he would continue to hold the post as he had not received a directive from either Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad or the Finance Ministry to resign.
SIC is a subsidiary of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, which is controlled by the government through Khazanah Holdings.

Azalina said Mokhzani had been disrespectful when he said that if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wanted him to resign, he (Abdullah) could do so by penning in the date on his undated resignation letter which he had signed when he was appointed to the post in 2003.

"Mokhzani should be a gentleman with principles and resign. His action now is certainly disrespectful. SIC does not belong to him and since he is no longer with the government that appointed him, he should just leave with dignity," said Azalina. -- Bernama

31st may 2008
from: www.nst.com.my

Mokhzani told to step down as SIC chairman

PUTRAJAYA: Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob has asked Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir to resign as Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chairman, citing the post as a government appointment. "The post belongs to the government. As he (Mokhzani) has left Umno, in principle, he has to relinquish the position," said Ismail Sabri, citing SIC as a subsidiary of Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad, which is controlled by the government through Khazanah Holdings.

Following the move by his father and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Mokhzani resigned from Umno on May 21.

Ismail Sabri yesterday boycotted the launching ceremony of the Malaysian International Super GT held at the ministry. By coincidence, he chaired a post-cabinet meeting of his ministry in the same building.

Asked why he did not attend the ceremony, he said, "In principle when he (Mokhzani) left Umno because he no longer had faith in the prime minister's (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) leadership, he is also not confident of me as a minister appointed by the prime minister.
"So why should I attend the ceremony? It's not that I do not like motoring sports, but as a cabinet member, it was not proper," said Ismail Sabri.

In his response, Mokhzani who was the former Umno Youth secretary said he would not step down as there was no directive from MAHB or the Finance Ministry.

He said Ismail Sabri should refer the matter to MAHB or the Finance Ministry.

"There is no directive for me to step down. As such, I will continue to carry out my duties as SIC chairman," said Mokhzani when contacted.

He said if the prime minister wanted him to resign, he (Abdullah) could do so by marking the date on his undated resignation letter which he had signed when he was appointed to the post in 2003. -- Bernama


my thoughts:

ridicolous!

imagine that. A minister boycotting the launch of an international event that would promote and benefit the country. what does he gain by boycotting the event? score extra points with his boss? couldnt he see pass the politics? as a rakyat, i am totally disgusted! and i am sure many more share this feeling. as a minister, he should be intelligent enough to know the difference. politics has no business in sports.

with all due respect to Dato Ismail Sabri, his line of thinking could cause embarassment to the government. i am no longer an UMNO member. maybe someone in UMNO should demand the government to show proof that the chairmen, CEOs and senior management of all GLCs are UMNO members. or the very least fully support UMNO. otherwise, his call for Dato Mokhzani to step down is actually a punishment. and simultaneously aimed to 'hit' Tun M. nothing more, nothing less. and nothing to do with Dato Mokhzani's capability to chair SIC. the rakyat would see it as the action of a vindictive government. imagine the points you are going to score with the rakyat.

plus, i am flabbergasted that a minister could really say this - "His continued presence is going to hamper the sport because the government's support will have to be reviewed." this is a 'threat'. no two way about it. all this while, the government has been singing praises on the success of SIC. promoting malaysia to the world. bringing in tourists. etc etc. and yet, now willing to jeopardise this success. just because the Chairman is no longer an UMNO member?! what a load of cr*p! is this how this government thinks and acts?

to be fair, these may be comments from over eager 'employees' trying to score points with their Boss. so may not actually be the stand of the government. what say you, Boss - any points scored?!