Spotting talent and using it.

19.4.2008.

It is said that each of the past four PM's had their own special talent. I remember it being said that Razak had the innate ability of, spotting talent, using it.Thus lore has it, among others, that was how Raja Mohar, Tunku Shariman, Raja Alias and Ku Li were picked - Raja Mohar the economist, Tunku Shariman in Pernas, Raja Alias in Felda, and Ku Li in Bank Bumiputra. This is the sign of a good leader - he may not have the talent, but he's not shy to use the talent of others.

I'm afraid I cannot say the same for AAB. First, obviously he had made a mess of the list of candidates for the GE12. In these days, tertiary education would seem the normal minimum requirement for candidature, and bankrupts obviously cannot contest, but AAB amazingly ignored both. 

The Ketuas Bahagian all fought for their posts, and while some in the past have been left out, there have never been so many that were ignored. Then he appointed many who did not even contest the GE12, straight from nowhere ( eg. suspended party member - this being as close to "nowhere" as is possible ) to the Cabinet, while dropping Cabinet Ministers who won their elections. 

And having said that those who lost won't be considered, he promptly made one an advisor "with ministerial status"- in short, well, a minister. To-day he made a sworn State exco member a Deputy Minister. While an ordinary ADUN may now get promoted to exco, a senate seat is lost. One would have thought that, considering the lesser number of winners in GE12, the PM would have been very careful in using whatever stock he has sparingly.

Human Resources management is never in equilibrium, but there should be at least sound rationale. A manager worth his salt would know that personnel is his most important asset. If well chosen and well placed, it could mean being halfway to success right then and there. I suppose it takes talent to spot one.

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