Pahang Menteri Besar Talks Some Sense

In an apparent snipe at the remarks made by the Johor Menteri Besar (MB) which was also derided in my post yesterday, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob thankfully spoke some sense!

Meritocracy should be a catalyst to spur bumiputra students to do better and not take things for granted, said Pahang Umno chief Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.

“The system is good because bumiputra students would have to work hard to enter public universities,” Adnan said in his speech at the party convention here yesterday.

“I would prefer to go to a doctor who entered a public university based on merit rather than someone who gained entry because of his bumiputra status.”

Hear! Hear! There is hope yet! (Is the Pahang MB a spokesperson for Pak Lah, our dear Prime Minister?)

Pak Lah clearly disagreed with our Johor MB, but was more diplomatic in his direct response, as reported by Bernama here, Berita Harian here and Utusan Malaysia here.

"Tidak ada tujuan untuk menindas mereka, tidak ada langsung. Dan kalau ada masalah yang dilihat berlaku apabila sistem (meritokrasi) itu dilaksanakan, maka pada saya pandangan-pandangan berkaitan masalah itu perlulah disampaikan kepada mereka yang berkenaan.''

Let's hope Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman will now sit down quietly with his tail between the legs, and learn the error of his ways...