“As a chief minister, Adnan had to bear the burden, with all the restraints and and limitations. His hands are tied,” said Awang, the collective pseudonym for Utusan’s editors, in his weekly column in Mingguan Malaysia.
Instead, he blamed “interested parties” but did not name them. “Not everything can be revealed due to the high degree of sensitivity,” he said. “This is the challenge the state leader had to bear.”
Last week the Federal Government imposed a three-month ban on bauxite mining activities in Pahang, beginning on Jan. 15, after public uproar over environmental degradation and contamination of rivers and the sea around Kuantan.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said export permits for bauxite had been stopped since last week and no more would be issued until the moratorium is lifted.
Awang’s column today also expressed his excitement over the police force decision to make it compulsory for its officers to pass the body mass index and health tests as a condition for promotion.
“Some (officers) became breathless after climbing the stairs. From Awang’s observation, a lot of them have big belly when actually they should be fit. The police’s bosses should set a good example in managing their fat and weight.” Awang added.