APART from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic which hit our shores in 2019, Malaysians have also been faced with endless political crises. One by one, political issues keep cropping up and the quest for power seems endless among our politicians.
UMNO and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) have been at each other’s throats for some time now and the ones on the losing end, are us, the voters.
And now, once again, despite the ongoing pandemic, we will have to go out to vote, come the Johor state polls.
It is really high time our politicians get their priorities right and not just go on a witch-hunt anytime they feel like it.
Also, another thing voters like us cannot understand is why some ministers, who are so obviously slacking in their duties have been retained, while some who are actually working for the nation seem to be targeted.
For me, as a son of a third-generation palm oil farmer, I must admit that we are enjoying the highest profits in recent years and the minister concerned, Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin, has been doing her part to help us.
For us, it seems like Bersatu is making a hasty decision in planning to sack her as she is among the performing ministers in the current Cabinet line-up and we do not see any reason to replace her.
Zuraida excelled where others had failed
From what I know as a voter, there are other Bersatu ministers who have failed miserably and yet, they are retained.
As a third-generation settler, I am grateful for all that Zuraida has done for us and the way she has stood up against all those foreign bodies for discrediting our palm oil industry.
She is also a prominent woman leader and with more calls for greater women representation, and with Undi18 coming into play, Bersatu should be capitalising on Zuraida’s strengths and contributions.
However, at the end of the day, it is not up to the party, but the prerogative of the Prime Minister and based on what Zuraida has done for the palm oil industry and other commodities, she is certainly a minister to be retained.
We hope the premier will not influenced by those who have their personal agendas in mind.
We need a minister like Zuraida to continue to fight for greater palm oil exports, not someone who will succumb to the pressures of the Western world. – Feb 02, 2022
Abdul Razak Ahmad is contributor to FocusM.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
