| 2000-08-21 | A Genius Is Now Mentri Besar Of Selangor But this is the tip of the iceberg. A federal deputy minister is
married to an underaged girl -- she was 15 at their marriage, have a child
of that union, remains a teenage -- while a cabinet minister is reputed to
have more than a handful of children out of wedlock. One born recently
causes no end of trouble because the lady, suitably bought off with
blandishments others took quietly, insisted on putting his name as father.
Like the Profuma scandal that felled the Conservative MacMillian
administration in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, the Mahathir
administration seem consigned that way. He cannot act, for that would
alienate much needed support; nor can he ignore it, without timebombs
from his opponents, especially the Gentleman from Sungei Buloh. The Prime
Minister does not know where his next crisis comes from. But if he does
not look into this more closely, he would be in more trouble than he
bargained for. Dr Mohamed Khir is selected not because he is competent,
or unusually bright, or has sure political instincts. He is selected
because they could not find any blemishes into his character. Surely,
that is not why he should be appointed mentri besar. But he is. And that
raises more questions about the Prime Minister than Mr Lee Kuan Yew spoke
of last week.
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