By Seputeh MP, Teresa Kok

If the Prime Minister was serious about getting rid of unfit or unsuitable or underperformed Ministers in the recent Cabinet reshuffle (which turned out to be Cabinet expansion), he could easily find a few names.

But due to his lack of political will to reform, Datuk Seri Najib missed the opportunity.
Top on the list of those who should at least have their portfolios changed is definitely the Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

In October last year, Zahid came under heavy public criticisms when he reportedly advocated a “shoot first” policy for the police in dealing with suspected gang members.

Then in February this year, he showed his irresponsibility again by dismissing the slap threat made against me by the self styled Council of Islamic NGOs.

As the Home Minister, he must be committed to uphold the rule of law, peace and harmony in the country, yet he chose to ignore the criminal intimidation and incitement of violence against me.

In other democratic nations like Japan, Australia or United Kingdom, if a minister has uttered the shoot first remarks, he will definitely lose his Minister’s post. Yet Zahid continued to be the Home Minister even after he has made his second outrageous remark; that the cash for slap offer against me was not a threat.

Yesterday , he again proved how unfit he is as the Home Minister when he had not only failed to condemn the cow head incident involving DAP Assemblyman Rayer, but had said that the incident was the result of Rayer’s “big mouth”.

No matter how upset he was against Rayer’s “celaka Umno” remark made during last month’s Penang legislative assembly sitting, as Home Minister, Zahid should condemn the barbaric act and assure Rayer’ safety, yet he chose to make the irresponsible remarks.

It is obvious that Zahid can’t tell what is right or wrong, and the question again arises if he is committed to uphold the rule of law , peace and harmony in the nation.

In just slightly over a year, Zahid has proven himself to be the most unsuitable Home Minister in the nation’s history.

It is laughable that he has described Rayer as “mulut celupar (loose cannon/ big mouth ) when he himself is certainly a “mulut celupar “(loose cannon/big mouth ) Minister.

The Prime Minister‘s recent failure to get rid of under-performers in the supposed Cabinet reshuffle was a setback to his transformation agenda which he has often talked about.

He must not disappoint the public again. He should drop Zahid altogether from the Cabinet, or at the very least, change his portfolio.