A LIFE IS LOST AND THANKS TO AZEEZ RAHIM

Azeez Rahim is known for being publicity crazy. Day in day out, his picture made into the pages of most mainstream newspapers and screens of TV stations.

One way of stealing the limelights, as Azeez believes, is to organise trips overseas on the pretext of rendering humanitarian assistance.

Dropping the names of the PM and his wife Rosmah Mansor, Azeez is an untouchable Umno Supreme Council member among the editors and senior ministry officials.

Whatever he wishes, it will be granted. No Editor and no senior Government official in the right frame of mind would want to cross path with this great Umno leader.

During Dr Mahathir Mohamad's tenure, only the PM, Deputy Prime Minister and Tun Daim would get such favourable treatment from the editors.

Only these three leaders would have journalists following them around the world providing coverage. The rest including Ministers like Rafidah Aziz could only dream of having reporters jumping on the plane with them on overseas missions.

But it is a different story with Azeez. Wherever Azeez goes, the Press will have to be next to him. He went to Gaza, the Press were with him. He went to Brisbane, the whole Corps were with him. He went Auckland, the whole team was with him. Fukushima, just name it, the Press will be there for him.

Everyday and night, we were treated to pictures of him on TV and the papers. If he is in one place for 7 days, for 7 days we will have to watch him with his antics overseas.

He is larger than the PM. He is larger than Tan Sri Muhyddin Yassin. He is larger than any component party presidents of the BN, he is larger than the Vice Presidents of Umno and he is larger than any Minister in Najib's Cabinet.

And he is just an Umno Supreme Council member, not a even a Minister and a former car salesman.

That is what Azeez is all about. He was expecting a bigger coverage of him in Somalia and that's why he chose the Hariraya eve to be there.

But Azeez is unlucky this time around. A Bernama TV reporter was shot dead and now Azeez is trying to wriggle out his way from this mess.

Don't blame the Somalis for this mess. Don't blame the African Union for the death. We know who must take the fall this time around.

Today we lost Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, the Bernama TV cameraman. His parents lost their lovely son. His wife lost her husband. His two tender young children lost their father.

All of them lost their beloved Noramfaizul to a half-past-six Umno politician who wanted a shot at fame.

Al-Fatihah to Allahyarham Noramfaizul.