According to Malaysiakini:
Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin has resigned as Penang Deputy Chief Minister (1), revealed Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today.Baradan Kuppusamy gave a very good critique of the situation in The Star:
According to Lim, Mohammad Fairus’ resignation would take effect from April 8, but but would remain as Penanti state assemblyperson.
Lim said he accepted Mohammad Fairus’ resignation but declined to state the latter’s reasons for the resignation.
Mohammad Fairus’ resignation comes as no surprise as there had been intense speculations that he would quit due to under performance and purported graft involvement.
The Penang Government has to rein in the controversy surrounding its Deputy Chief Minister or let it fester and erode public confidence.
SOMETHING is not right with the continuing controversy surrounding Penang Deputy Chief Minister Fairus Khairuddin.
He has been caught in one unending controversy after another - from being incompetent to mismanagement and of late the more serious allegations of misuse of power - soon after becoming Deputy Chief Minister.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng takes pride in running a controversy-free ship built on his now famous CAT – competency, accountability and transparency – principles.
The problem is that Fairus, who is PKR’s Penanti assemblyman, sticks out like a sore thumb with the unending controversies dogging him.
He is said to be either sleeping on the job or simply not cut out for the huge responsibilities laid on his shoulders.
The latest round has it that Pakatan Rakyat supremo Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who last October publicly blasted Fairus to pull up his socks, has given him the marching orders.
He is to vacate his job as Deputy Chief Minister but it is not clear whether he will also resign as assemblyman like what PKR’s V. Arumugam did in Bukit Selambau.
Lim denies that Fairus has resigned but speculates that “You never know what’s going to happen next.”
He refers queries on Fairus to Anwar who in turn is coy and unable to confirm or deny whether Fairus will be booted out soon.
Both say that Fairus is on leave which might be extended.
Such indecisiveness and ambiguous statements from the two leaders is a far cry from their stated vision to curb mismanagement, corruption and give the people the highest quality of leadership.
If Fairus does not measure up, it seems clear that one or both of the leaders have to give him the marching orders.
Lim should feel free to act because as chief minister he takes overall responsibility for the performance of his entire government. And Fairus, as his deputy, is an important and integral part of his government.
Anwar should also act decisive-ly because he is the undisputed head of the Pakatan coalition and Fairus is a member of his PKR party.
They dither probably out of fear that if pushed, Fairus might defect to the Barisan Nasional.
The problem with Fairus is that he is only 34 and probably too young for the job.
It is not easy to be an effective assemblyman – you have to manage your time, resources and discipline yourself to visit, hear, assuage and serve the voters.
You have to make your regular rounds come rain or shine and fly the party flag and be constantly visible to the constituents.
When Anwar blasted Fairus, the complaint was that he never visited the constituency. People complained that they hardly saw him. Being a Deputy Chief Minister is an even tougher job.
But the issue now is more serious after PKR Youth executive council member Amizudin Ahmat alleged that two senior state PKR leaders were involved with quarry operators in illegal activities.
The allegations ranged from failure to pay royalty to breach of state rules and regulations.
These allegations are now the subject of investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and by the state PKR amidst swirling rumours that Fairus has gone on leave.
This “neither here nor there” state of affairs is a serious a breach of the good governance that Lim in particular and the Pakatan in general had promised the people.
Their failure to act decisively is opening them to accusations that they fail to practise what they preach.
Not only was Fairus publicly pulled up by Anwar but was also progressively removed from several posts in the state PKR, as head of the Penang Football Association and on Feb 27 as head of the Islamic portfolio in the state, all indications that Fairus is on his way out.
Here then is a clear case for the Pakatan to stop dithering and act decisively and not let the controversy fester and affect public confidence.
According to The Malaysian Insider:
Fairus’s position as deputy chief minister had become untenable because he faces a mountain of allegations over suspected abuse of power.
Speculation about Fairus’s resignation had surfaced this week after an anonymous text message was circulated saying that he was instructed to quit by Anwar over allegations of abuse of power.
Fairus’s appointment as deputy chief minister has been a source of controversy and he has been told off by Anwar for not even visiting his constituency. He was also forced to quit as Penang Football Association president due to his lack of enthusiasm.
Speculation is also rife that he is one of two PKR leaders in Penang accused of corrupt dealings involving a quarry.
Lim said today Fairus’s effective resignation date will be April 8. The DCM will be on leave until then
Doc Paula,
this Fairus guy has been pain in Anwar's you know where for along time now. But Anwar has yet to come clean on the Fairus issue. I'm just waiting for Anwar's comment. What's your take on the 'Tiger Park' idea? I think it's a rather unwise move. What's your take on that matter from an environmentalist's view point. Feasible?
cheers