On Tuesday, Umno’s Supreme Council met and decided that it would no longer support Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the Perikatan Nasional government.
Its president, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said the PN government had collapsed, following Umno’s withdrawal.
Since the announcement was made, many were wondering if the Umno ministers would toe the party line and quit Muhyiddin’s cabinet.
Many also wondered about Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican’s stand. Reezal Merican is also an Umno Supreme Council member.
Would he follow the party’s directive and resign, or stand by Muhyiddin – just like his colleague, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob?
In his latest column in Malay-language news website Getaran, Twentytwo13 editor Haresh Deol wrote that ministers come and go, and regardless of Reezal Merican’s decision, the show must go on.
“Continuity is important as sports policies cannot be changed or replaced each time there’s a new minister,” wrote Haresh in his column published on Thursday.
“The minister’s aides, who generally aren’t sports savvy, should not be given the mandate to make any decision without consulting with the experts.
“This is where the civil servants play a key role, and we should not be quick to glorify the ministers or the minister’s aides.”
Haresh said whether or not Reezal Merican, who is currently in Tokyo for the Olympics, is still in Muhyiddin’s cabinet, the revamp of the Podium Programme and the canvassing of the National Sports Vision 2030 must continue.
“Efforts to ensure industry players return to the scene, after being benched for a long time due to the various movement control orders, must also continue.”
For the record, Ismail Sabri had yesterday said the Umno MPs will remain in Cabinet.
Read the full article on www.getaran.my.
