Stop allowing Syed Abu Hussin to undermine ministers, confuse public, govt told
Syed Hussin’s antics could be seen as undermining parties in the unity government and lead to suspicions of him regardless of his intentions.
(NST) – A political analyst has cautioned the government that Bersatu’s Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal’s antics risks damaging the credibility of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration.
Sunway University’s political scientist, Professor Dr Wong Chin Huat said the government should not “enable” Syed Abu Hussin to continue with undermining ministers and confusing the public.
He was commenting on Syed Abu Hussin’s remarks on Saturday which appeared to contradict Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on the rice issue.
Zahid had said the reported shortage of rice in the market only affected certain areas in the country.
However, Syed Abu Hussin, the Naccol food cluster task force chairman, said the shortage should not be brushed off lightly.
The Bukit Gantang member of Parliament also said his team had deployed “Madani enforcement teams” to 30 locations across the Peninsula to check on rice shortages.
Wong however questioned what power Syed Abu Hussin had to override ministers.
“What is ‘his team’ he talked about when Naccol. let alone his task force, is neither a government agency nor a statutory body?” he told New Straits Times.
“Syed Abu Hussin’s statements and behaviour are undermining the authority of the ministries and confusing the public.”
Wong said the issue went beyond communications and that the crux of the matter was policymaking which requires professionalism and expertise rather than showmanship and egoism.
He said if left unchecked, the situation could lead to the public and investors getting an impression of “administrative incompetence and chaos”.
“This would be very unfair to many civil servants who do their work diligently and dedicatedly.”
Political analyst Associate Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya said the relevant ministries and agencies had sufficient resources to monitor rice shortages.
“They go beyond the the checks at 30 places that Syed Abu Hussin mentioned,” he told New Straits Times.
Awang Azman said Syed Abu Hussin should use proper channels to communicate with the government on the rice issue.
He said it was likely that the Bersatu man wanted to appear useful to the unity government now that he was backing Anwar’s leadership.
“But at the same time, he seems to have forgotten that Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu is the Amanah president and that Zahid is the Umno president and Deputy Prime Minister.”
He said Syed Hussin’s antics could be seen as undermining parties in the unity government and lead to suspicions of him regardless of his intentions.
The New Straits Times is reaching out to Syed Abu Hussin for comment.
