“I want to leave, but…”

Thirty years in power is a long time – an eternity in politics – whichever way you look at it. Parting is indeed is such sweet sorrow for those who do not know when their sell-by date has expired.

From Aljazeera:

Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, has said in an interview to America’s ABC News that he is “fed up” and wants “to go” after 62 years in public service.

However, he fears the consequences if he were to quit immediately, saying his resignation would bring chaos to Egypt.

Meanwhile, closer to home, in the Borneo Post:

BETONG: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud … reiterated that both his deputy Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and himself were both willing to call it a day if only they had found qualified people to take over from them.

“We are both getting old and if there are people who are truly qualified to lead the state, we are more than prepared to go but we cannot let go of our responsibility just like that,” he said….

There is nothing more important than to develop Sarawak into a fully developed state because that was the wish and hope of our leaders when they agreed to form Malaysia.

“I was one of the politicians then and I cannot forget the wish of the people who at that time had hoped to improve their living standard through independence and because of that, up to now, I am still looking for ways of how we can develop the state and the country,” he said.

Say no more.