Step down, Kadir tells non-performing ministers, mentris besar and excos

(The Star) – Ministers, mentris besar, chief ministers and state executive councillors who do not meet the mark after a year in charge should relinquish their posts, says Datuk A. Kadir Jasin.

Writing in his blog The Scribe, the Prime Minister’s special media adviser did not mince his words, saying that those who were incapable of handling the job entrusted upon them should ship out.

“If there are those who are still crawling and feeling around a year after being given the opportunity and responsibility, then it is our responsibility to ask them to reconsider their positions, and if needed, to voluntarily leave so that others can replace them,” said Kadir.

He said a year was long enough to learn the ropes on how to do their jobs in order to meet the people’s aspirations.

He also wrote that people like him could only give opinions and hope for the best, as the right and discretion to do the necessary was the Prime Minister’s.

“He (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) certainly is more aware as he himself has given his cabinet a mark of only 50%,” said Kadir.

When asked in an interview recently how he would rate his Cabinet, Dr Mahathir said he gave it “five out of 10”.

“I am very conservative. I have been in the government for 22 years and I know how government functions, but these people (ministers) are new – they do not know how,” Dr Mahathir had added.

Meanwhile, Kadir wrote that from his understanding, the mark that Dr Mahathir gave was based on average grading.

“There are those below 50 (points) and those above 50. Those below 50 can be targeted to be replaced,” he said.

According to Kadir, people, especially those who voted Pakatan Harapan, had the right to assess who in their opinion had succeeded or failed to meet their aspirations.

He said those holding key positions in the civil service, statutory bodies and government-linked companies must also ship out if they under-performed or were still loyal to the previous Barisan Nasional government.

He added that some of those appointed by the Barisan government were still in their positions and still loyal to their previous bosses or continued to adhere to the old ways of doing things.

“They are directly and indirectly sabotaging the Pakatan government in order to keep their positions,” said Kadir.

He said this was because they knew it was the only way to protect and keep their “previous involvements” secret.

“In principle, the public service must be neutral and loyal to the government of the day,” said Kadir.

The veteran journalist added the time had come for the Public Services Department and the Public Services Commission to remove the “virus” loyal to the previous administration in order for the executive and administrative branches of the government to collectively serve the people and the nation.