Political jokes, political ploys and immunity of rulers.

It was reported today in Utusan Malaysia that former PKR Youth Chief, Mohamad Ezam Mohd Noor has proposed that PAS leadership should take over the Selangor Chief Minister's post from PKR. Ezam claims that the present Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has created a lot of contraversies during his eight months tenure as Menteri Besar. Issues like UITM quota, appointment of non Malay senior management post in PKNS and threat by certain reformist group to demonstrate naked, are clear examples of failures on the part of the PKR's leadership in Selangor. Ezam seems to favour PAS than PKR, for a very valid and logical reason, though from a very invalid political character!!!

Ezam, the former Anwar Ibrahim's loyalist has been missing in action lately. His last appearance was during the Permatang Pauh by election where he was expected to upset his mentor's chance of winning the by election. He could not and his appearance was more contributing to the reduction of votes for the BN. Ezam was a non starter and a non performer, and he will never be. He has lost his `six boxes' of evidence of political stunts. Now still looking for a greener political pasture, he seems to have lost in his own political wilderness. A proposal by Ezam as his last few attempts to be on political stage and it makes a good political jokes!!!

Then in NST today, we read about another deputy presidential hopeful, Muhammad Mohd Taib, who out of the blue moon, giving his `thump up' to proposals to `scrap' the UMNO election quota system. Muhammad was quoted as saying` maybe we need to go back to the old way, back to the basics of democracy'. We need to remove aspects that create money politics, such as the quota system for nominations'. Wow..wow..look who is talking. It is indeed Muhammad Mohd Taib, the candidate for UMNO deputy president who claimed that he`was blocked to be nominated by certain people'. He is now echoing the same chorus as the other leaders whom Muhammad was seemed to be very reluctant to be associated with. Quota system blamed for money politics! A good laugh considering it is coming from Muhammad Mohd Taib!!!

The irony is, the man responsible for the creation of the quota system in none other than Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is now the number one critic of his own creation. My..my..history has never been a familiar subject to our Malaysian politicians. It proves one thing, in politics, there is a lot of self interest and greed. It is indeed an art of possible though it is never the norm and culture of the Malays and the Muslim.

`Restore the immunity of rulers' says the Regent of Negri Sembilan, Tunku Naquiyuddin Tunku Jaafar. The Tunku was speaking at a luncheon by corporate leaders in Kuala Lumpur, went on to say that the immunity could help the rulers to be effective `guardians of the Constitution'. He said it was critical for rulers when intervening in political stalemates such as when elections resulted in a hung legislature with no party holding a convincing majority. He quoted examples from the recent appointment of the Chief Ministers in Perak, Selangor, Perlis and Trengganu where the use of constitutional powers by the rulers to influence the make up of coalition governments. This decision should not be contested in court though it should not be applicable to instances where a ruler committed a crime.

Tunku Naquiyuddin also argued that rulers have had to intervene when politicians are busy fighting and throwing chairs at each other and I get the feeling that the people are grateful that the rulers got involved. A very serious proposal to ponder by all and a very healthy food for thought!