PM's succession plan, Malaysia's corruption at critical level, protest over fuel price hike

Dato Seri Abdullah Badawi has announced again his plan to hand over the premiership to Dato Seri Najib in due course. As usual no time frame was mentioned. PM Abdullah said that, because it was brought up during the Kelantan State UMNO Committee meeting in Kota Bahru today. He and Najib has decided on the right time for the transition to materialise, he said at the press conference after meeting the UMNO leaders.

It was also rumoured during the UMNO Supreme Council's retreat in Shah Alam recently, the issue of transition was also discussed. It was reported that Abdullah and Najib were engaged in another room while the rest of the council members were `brainstorming' in another room.

Najib has said in London that since UMNO is at its lowest point, a serious fight for leadership would further weakened party and unabale to face the challenges ahead. He would not want to lead a party to defeat.

Like it or not UMNO is at the `croosroad' to many. The grassroots feel that something must be done immediately. The public want even more. Every aspects of UMNO appearance, approach and hierachy should be revamp, most them demanded. UMNO must be `cloroxed' not only `soaped'. Otherwise it will be hard to present UMNO to the voters in the the next general election. The young generation wants more than just by `murmuring' the words `UMNO for the Malays and the nation'. The `simplified' words are just no enough. They want action and proof.

Meanwhile, Malaysia has reached a critical level of corruption, according to a UN's Asia Pasific Human Development Report. The report shows Malaysia has decline from a score of 4.00 in 1996 to 2.38 in 2006, with a lower score representing higher corruption index.

Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, President of the Malaysian's chapter of Transparency International echoed the same sentiment. He said corruption in Malaysia was deeply entrenched in negotiation of Government contracts, bribes were paid to expedite trade licence and loan transactions. He wants the economic structure to be reviewed and redesigned.

In Kuala Lumpur, more than 2,000 protesters marched in protest against the fuel hike in price recently. They were lead by the opposition party PAS, who called on the Prime Minister to reverse the decision on the increase in fuel price. There will be more protesters if the demands are not met. Police were there to monitoor the situation as the marchers dispersed peacefully to the PAS headquaters later. No untoward incidents were reported.

These are two serious issues. The Government has to addressed them now and not later. It is getting late, and the people have lost their patience. There must be a strong political will to address these issues. With all the current political turmoil in the ruling party, these issues are damaging the Government image locally and internationally. Many doubts that the current leadership could handle the situation effectively.