'Burning issues ignored in Parliament'
Published: Jun 19, 2009 10:24 AM | Updated: Jun 19, 2009 11:04 AM
Veteran parliamentarian Lim Kit Siang is hot under the collar as several 'burning issues' have not been addressed during the first week of Parliament which began on Monday.
Veteran parliamentarian Lim Kit Siang is hot under the collar as several 'burning issues' have not been addressed during the first week of Parliament which began on Monday.
According to Lim, the Barisan Nasional government was on the defensive and unable to give proper and satisfactory explanations on numerous issues.
These issues, he said, include the Perak political crisis, the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal, the Public Service Department scholarship awards, the "failure" of the two economic stimulus packages and tackling the escalating crime rate instead of arresting opposition leaders going about their work.
Instead of debating these issues, Lim (right) alleged that the federal government was trying to bury them by harping on the 'unity talks' between BN and Pakatan Rakyat.
"Many are baffled and puzzled why the prime minister is suddenly raising the subject of 'Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Rakyat unity government' talks when earlier it was all about 'Umno-PAS unity government' talks," he said at a press conference at the party headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.
According to Lim, who is Ipoh Timur MP, such talks are premature and that discussions should be centred on more pressing issues.
'No talk without representation'
Should both coalitions fail to be able to talk about such issues and find solutions first, Lim said that any talk of a 'unity government' was "utterly unrealistic" and "premature".
"Let the BN and Pakatan parties sit down to talk about the burning issues ... the undemocratic coup d'etat in Perak and a royal commission of inquiry into the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal."
Other issues include how to unite Malaysians to successfully face the worst global crisis and transform Malaysia into a high-income developed nation; make the country safe for its citizens, tourists and investors and eradicate corruption.
Meanwhile, MCA president Ong Tee Keat (left) has taken a swipe at Lim for constantly hounding him over the PKFZ scandal.
"To me, this is the true colours of a man who has either run out of issues and his political survival to a large extent hinges upon these, or when he knows his rhetoric con no longer convince the crowd.
"Perhaps he truly believes that his decibels could somewhat camouflage the lack of truthfulness and depth of his rumblings," said Ong, in his latest blog posting today.
'Lim going hysterical'
Ong has taken offence that Lim had insisted on calling the PKFZ issue a "RM12.5 billion rip off scandal" and explained that the sum was misleading as "any layman" would be able to conclude that the figure was a hypothetical projection by auditors Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) in its report.
"But Lim has conveniently drawn the inference of RM12.5 billion being ripped off during Ong's tenure. What innuendoes could ever be better than this being an attempt to go for the blood of the MCA president?"
Ong left with a parting shot by suggesting that such "political misdeeds" should not be "left off the hook" and suggested that legal action may be underway.
The transport minister is currently overseas and has been repeatedly condemned by Lim for "absconding" the entire Parliament session last week to avoid being grilled about the PKFZ fiasco.
Ong will however be making a rare ministerial statement on the issue on Monday.
According to Lim, the Barisan Nasional government was on the defensive and unable to give proper and satisfactory explanations on numerous issues.
These issues, he said, include the Perak political crisis, the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal, the Public Service Department scholarship awards, the "failure" of the two economic stimulus packages and tackling the escalating crime rate instead of arresting opposition leaders going about their work.Instead of debating these issues, Lim (right) alleged that the federal government was trying to bury them by harping on the 'unity talks' between BN and Pakatan Rakyat.
"Many are baffled and puzzled why the prime minister is suddenly raising the subject of 'Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Rakyat unity government' talks when earlier it was all about 'Umno-PAS unity government' talks," he said at a press conference at the party headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.
According to Lim, who is Ipoh Timur MP, such talks are premature and that discussions should be centred on more pressing issues.
'No talk without representation'
Should both coalitions fail to be able to talk about such issues and find solutions first, Lim said that any talk of a 'unity government' was "utterly unrealistic" and "premature".
"Let the BN and Pakatan parties sit down to talk about the burning issues ... the undemocratic coup d'etat in Perak and a royal commission of inquiry into the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal."
Other issues include how to unite Malaysians to successfully face the worst global crisis and transform Malaysia into a high-income developed nation; make the country safe for its citizens, tourists and investors and eradicate corruption.
Meanwhile, MCA president Ong Tee Keat (left) has taken a swipe at Lim for constantly hounding him over the PKFZ scandal."To me, this is the true colours of a man who has either run out of issues and his political survival to a large extent hinges upon these, or when he knows his rhetoric con no longer convince the crowd.
"Perhaps he truly believes that his decibels could somewhat camouflage the lack of truthfulness and depth of his rumblings," said Ong, in his latest blog posting today.
'Lim going hysterical'
Ong has taken offence that Lim had insisted on calling the PKFZ issue a "RM12.5 billion rip off scandal" and explained that the sum was misleading as "any layman" would be able to conclude that the figure was a hypothetical projection by auditors Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) in its report.
"But Lim has conveniently drawn the inference of RM12.5 billion being ripped off during Ong's tenure. What innuendoes could ever be better than this being an attempt to go for the blood of the MCA president?"
Ong left with a parting shot by suggesting that such "political misdeeds" should not be "left off the hook" and suggested that legal action may be underway.
The transport minister is currently overseas and has been repeatedly condemned by Lim for "absconding" the entire Parliament session last week to avoid being grilled about the PKFZ fiasco.
Ong will however be making a rare ministerial statement on the issue on Monday.
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