Michael KaungSabah's political maverick Jeffrey Kitingan, slams critics who criticise his proposal to limit the terms of prime minister and chief ministers.
The proposal by United Borneo Front (UBF) chairman Jeffrey Kitingan last week has set off a rash of criticism from leaders and members in Umno, who currently enjoys a stranglehold on the prime minister’s post as well as the top positions in states under Barisan Nasional (BN) control.
In response to the criticism, Jeffrey said the call for a maximum two-term rule is not a denunciation of any leader in the country and Sabah Umno leaders should not be so defensive and paranoid when debating the issue.
“The suggestion has been thrown into the prime minister’s court and it is for Parliament to consider the rationale of this request.
“The fact that two Umno leaders have insinuated that this has nothing to do with the chief minister’s abilities only shows a terrible lack of comprehension on their part as to what is being legitimately requested by our movement,” he said.
He said the request to the prime minister is to put in place a national policy that would lead towards the eventual amendment of the Federal and State Constitutions to allow for a two-term maximum rule for the prime minister’s post and chief ministers of every state.
“The basis for this suggestion is to eliminate systemic corruption and greed that comes with the complacency felt by dictators who are in positions of leadership for too long.
“We want to avoid the type of revolutions that are taking place in countries where the people are at boiling point against leaders who are far too selfish to release their seats to younger leaders and, instead of planning a proper succession plan, they want to hold on to power forever.”
‘Debate with an open mind’
Jeffrey added: “Any right-thinking leader who understands first-world politics would comprehend the rationale of our arguments and as such, should debate with an open mind.
Many great leaders who did great jobs as prime ministers have vacated after a maximum of two terms because they accepted the rationale of this argument.
“They are remembered for excellence and not tyranny.”
The former PKR vice-president also said that Malaysia should not make policies on the assumption that the country will remain undeveloped.
“This country needs to move from being a developing country to a developed nation and if policies like a two-term rule is not in place now, then when are we ever going to start being ready for Mahathir’s (former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad) Vision 2020, which is only nine years away?”
“If we hope to make it into the (ranks of the) OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) and speak with any credibility on the world stage, we must embrace the reality of the two-term rule as being the premise upon which our political system can function with a proper succession plan for the benefit of future generations,” he added.
Jeffrey also chided Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who is also Sabah BN secretary, for jumping to the conclusion that placing limits on the terms of leaders would result in unstable policies.
“The thing in Malaysia is that when we change a new prime minister, the prime minister will have his own set of policies,” the local media quoted Rahman as saying on Monday in reply to the term limit suggestion.
Respecting predecessors
Jeffrey, who is campaigning for a host of changes in the current policy which he hopes will lead to the political autonomy of Sabah and Sarawak, however, brushed off Rahman’s argument with disdain.
“Leaders normally respect their predecessors and attempt to be consistent in their policies, especially if the prime ministers are from the same party.
“Changing policies with every prime minister suggests inconsistency, which is obviously not the way to go in good governance unless of course Rahman is suggesting that all previous policies were so bad they had to be changed.
“This is not a good reason to refuse a two-term maximum rule and we must not think of the chief minister alone but the good of the whole country when putting in place this important policy for change,” he said.
TRUE!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAgreed.Nothing wrong in the proposals moving forward.
ReplyDeleteWho is the one who determine how long the terms should be?
ReplyDeleteI think the PM should be chosen based on people's choice.
ReplyDeleteImprove the race-relation between us first. the reality is, some of the rakyat is a very racist minded person & always think that his race should be on top of other race.
ReplyDeletebiarlah suara ramai dlm parti/parlimen yang menentukan samada cadangan untuk menghadkan tempoh 2 penggal kpd PM/MB/KM diterima secara +ve atau -ve.
ReplyDeleteperlanjutan jawatan KM untuk penggal seterusnya juga bergantung kepada prestasi dan kewibawaannya memerintah negeri itu
ReplyDeleterakyat Sabah mesti bijak memilih KM yg betul2 layak memegang jawatan ini
ReplyDeleteberkuasa terlalu lama boleh menyebabkan pengaruh kesan negative seperti rasuah dan pelaburan wang haram tanpa dikesan dll
ReplyDeletei think to limit the term of the prime minister, menteri besar and chief ministers to two terms should be the fair system
ReplyDeleterasanya cadangan ni lebih baik daripada sistem penggiliran KM yang diperkenal pada tahun 1994.
ReplyDeleteapapun, tunggu keputusannya nanti.
ReplyDeletetempoh jawatan tersebut bergantung kepada prestasi KM tersebut.
ReplyDeletejika prestasi baik, lanjutkan sahaja tempoh jawatan.
ReplyDeleteini hanyalah cadangan, tapi yang penting tugas sebagai pemimpin dilaksanakan dengan baik.
ReplyDeleteJika dipersingkatkan adakah ini akan menjamin tidak ada rasuah akan berlaku, dan adakah ini juga akan menjamin segala masalah dapat diselesaikan dengan masa yang singkat?
ReplyDeleteBaru cadangan harap segala positif dan negatif dapat dipertimbangkan dengan jayanya.
ReplyDeleteApapun keputusan yang diambil pastikan semua kebaikkan itu berpihak kepada rakayt!
ReplyDeletekuoalabear, sejak bila rakyat menjadi keutamaan kerajaan umno/bn? mereka akan tinggalkan kamu selepas saja mereka menjadi wakil rakyat. bila dikejar yg kamu dapat ialah ayat keramat "tunggu", "sabar", "tahun depan", "akan dibawa meeting minggu depan", "sedang dalam pemerhatian", "sedang dipertimbangkan", "sudah lulus tapi budget tiada", sudah lulus dan sedang ditender", "sudah lulus, petender pun sudah ada tapi nak kena re-tender kerana penilaian awal peruntukkan lari", bla,bla,bla dan banyak lagi sampailah tempoh satu penggal tamat. bila nak dekat2 Pilihan raya, barulah sibuk hantar paip, jentera, sorong jalan sana sini, melawat kampung itu la kampung ini la... alasanya, nak bersemuka dgn pengundi utk memperjelaskan isu2 tertunggak. buku catatan setiausaha hampir separuh ditulis masalah penduduk, bila datang kempen mulalah jual "gula-gula" balik. ada isu yg dikitar semula hampir 3 ke 4 kali. lepas tu cakap, kalau kamu undi saya, saya akan bla,bla,bla, manis, gula melaka, aiskrim............. dalam tempoh 5 tahun. bila pembangkang tegur, terus saja panggil team rasis@lucah TV3 utk buat kenyataan media, pembangkang... bla,bla,bla,... hanya tahu janji... mereka tiada duit seperti kerajaan bn. mereka hanya tabur janji kosong, bla,bla,bla, sampai mulut berbuih bau nafas kuda... last2 dlm statement, pengundi2 khususnya penduduk di kawasan blablabla ini sudah cukup matang dan tahu siapa yg paling membela mereka. mereka sudah bijak memilih. seminggu sebelum buang undi, dtglah pengagih rm50. duit ini utk kamu buat makan2. walaupun sikit tapi kami ingin meyakinkan kamu bahawa kamu akan mendapat faedah jika calon ini menang. KAMPUNG KAMU AKAN MAJU!!!!!!!.... Semasa mengundi, dlm pintu2 masuk pusat mengundi, di pelusuk2 bangunan yg tiada org ambil perhatian, di pondok parti, ada agent kasi rm50 lagi dan kata... kasi kamu utk tambang balik.... nah, kalau beliau2, sudah dia PANGKAH... Tapi cubalah ini kali... bila generasi2 muda yg datang berperang. tahulah mereka tinggi ka rendahnya langit itu.
ReplyDeletetempoh masa bukan isu...yang akan menjadi isu ialah sama ada seseorang KM/PM itu melaksanakan tanggungjawab dan amanah yang diberikan oleh rakyat dengan baik.
ReplyDeletejika seseorang KM itu menjalankan tugas dengan baik maka sudah pasti rakyat akan menyokong beliau seperti mana musa aman.
ReplyDeleteapa2 pun, ini hanya cadangan JK...belum tentu ianya akan dilaksanakan..kita tunggu dan lihat.
ReplyDeleteapa pula kata pihak pembangkang terutamanya PR?
ReplyDeleteLimit ni ada pros dan cons ba... Jadi pertimbangkan hal ini sebaik mungkin sebelum buat apa2 keputusan.
ReplyDeleteKalau telampau pendek pun susah juga, kalau panjang pun lagilah susah.. Namun bagi saya soal masa bukan jadi isu, yang isunya di sini ialah mampu atau tak pemimpin itu jalankan tugasnya:P
ReplyDeleteSo sekarang ini, pemimpin harus memastikan t/jawab mereka dijalankan dengan baik.. Kalau tak even dipendekkan tempoh kepada sebulan sekalipun orang tetap tak suka kalau kerja tak best.
ReplyDeleteNamun semuanya terpulang pada rakyat.. Kalau rakyat sukakan pemimpin tu, saya yakin rakyat akan terus beri sokongan tak kira berapa lama sekalipun masa yang diberi.
ReplyDeleteApapun, kita tunggu dan lihat sajalah nanti.
ReplyDeleteRakyatlah yang menentukan semua ini. Rasanya limit untuk KM dan PM ini tidak perlu dilakukan. Sekiranya KM dan PM sekarang masih sesuai dan bertanggungjawab terhadap rakyat, perlulah diteruskan begitu juga sebaliknya.
ReplyDeleteCriticism is okay for me.
ReplyDeleteSabar semua, itu cuma satu pernyataan.
ReplyDeleteMocking?
ReplyDeleteYa ka?
ReplyDeleteSorry I dont think so.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the term should be extended based on the cm and pm performance. If its good, then it should be extended.
ReplyDeletePeople should be given the power to vote whether they wan to extend the PM or CM term when the term is nearly over.
ReplyDeleteIf the minister is capable , why limit the term ? Let the people deciede
ReplyDeleteIt's right to extent the minister service terms, but limti to 2 terms for 10 years, it's sufficient enough. Let other people to take over, they may have come with more it's strategic plan that good for the people and country.
ReplyDeleteIndeed right, if really our PM & CM prioritise the people, then let the people to decide what they want inclusive the terms service.
ReplyDeleteTempoh perkhidmatan baik juga supaya mengelakkan rasuah dan duit haram dll. Perkhidmatan selama 10 tahun memang cukup dan matang untuk membuktikan kebolehan seorang pemimpin negara.
ReplyDelete“This is not a good reason to refuse a two-term maximum rule and we must not think of the chief minister alone but the good of the whole country when putting in place this important policy for change,”
ReplyDeleteUtamakan rakyat! Buatlah apa yang patut dan betul-betul manfaatkan semua rakyat dan negara. Sebagai seorang pemimpin negara, kepentingan diri sendiri seharus diketepikan.
Payah untuk dilulus dan dilaksanakan. Cadangan ini seolah mengugat kuasa dan kedudukan pemimpin sekarang.
ReplyDeleteTrue from Nazha. The proposal seems challenging the leader power and authority. Not that easy to approve and execute.
ReplyDeleteKalau cadangan 2 penggal ini baik untuk negara dan rakyat, seharus dipertimbangan dan dilaksanakan. Kajian kebaikan dan keburukan cadangan tersebut. Dengar suara rakyat terhadap cadangan ini.
ReplyDeleteNo lah. Two terms is enough to make the CM/PM/and all the YBSrich.I mean more than enough because kita sdh tahu benaaarrr feel para pemimpin kita. I mean they all grabbing for the Job just for their Pockets. So i agree dgn apa yg DR. Jefry cadangkan itu. We dont want them to rob all the rakyats money. Lebih lama mereka memegang jawatan itu lebih banyak yg mereka sapu. KM Sarawak 30 tahun. Dr, Mahathir Tukang buat IC Projek 20 tahun. Org bilang sampai 7 keturunan harta mereka ini tak akan apa2 punya. Sedangkan ramai rakyatnya tinggal digubuk buruk makan ubi berlaukan garam. Takan kita mahu semua pemimpin kita memegang sesuatu jawatan dlm tempoh yg terlalu lama.Kalau bgitu kita hanya mempertebalkan ketamakan mereka. Fikir2 kanlah.
ReplyDeletekalau tidak suka, masa PRU nanti tolak saja ba.. dengan parti2 sekali turun pangkat.. tidak payah tunggu cadangan itu dilaksanakan..
ReplyDeleteI think at the time when there was very little, if any, challenge to the BN, the idea of limiting the term of the PM/CM was pluasible. However with the current political senario (two-party system - BN vs PR), there is not much neeed for the loimitation. This is because the voters can now meaningfully exercise their political rights, especially in determining to retain or reject the party in power. Not everything being practiced in dev countries is good for Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteWe urge William and Catherine to avoid meeting Musa: Jeffrey Kitingan
ReplyDeleteJeffrey pernah menjadi Pengarah Yayasan Sabah pada tahun 1984-1994. Sepanjang memegang jawatan itu, beliau pernah berhadapan dengan tuduhan terlibat dengan skandal RM4 Bilion, malah pernah dihadapkan ke makamah atas tuduhan itu.