Umno’s interests too embedded into Malaysia’s, says FT writer
(MMO) – Putrajaya’s Cabinet shakeup demonstrates the dangers of concentrating power in a single arm of the government.
The intertwining of Umno’s interests with Malaysia’s as a result of its decades-long rule is being exposed in the crisis following investigations into a state-owned firm, a Financial Times writer said.
Pointing out that allegations that surfaced from the probe would have been damaging elsewhere lead to censure, the British daily’s David Piling said that these were instead being held up to defend the party and the administration against claims of graft.
Putrajaya’s shakeup of the Cabinet and key government institutions following the same investigation also demonstrates the dangers of concentrating power in a single arm of the government, Piling added.
“That is Malaysia’s real problem. Umno interests and those of the nation have been artificially fused. For the good of Malaysia, they should be prised apart,” Piling added.
From the nexus between Umno and Putrajaya, Piling added that Malaysia was now facing a crisis in its institutions, which he added were not strong to begin with.
