'Syed Husin should take Rosmah's place...'

After a heated curtain raiser yesterday, the second day of the annual PKR congress saw delegates loosening up somewhat as jokes and jibes made their way into the debates, mostly at the MB’s expense.

Srikandi delegate Farah Afzan Faridi in particular had the delegates whooping when she called for outgoing deputy president Syed Husin Ali to be the next Universiti Industri Selangor (Unisel) chancellor to replace the prime minister’s wife Rosmah Mansor.

“What’s the first lady’s name? (Audience replies, ‘Rosmah!’) It’s good now Rosmah has resigned,” she said sarcastically.

“We have a much better candidate than her. We want to suggest that Dr Syed Husin (left) take her place and fulfill the wishes of the Unisel students,” said Farah when debating the education resolution, prompting thunderous applause from the some 1,600 delegates.

She implored the Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim to consider her suggestions, the latter grinning broadly while cameras picked up Syed Husin on stage waving his hands and shaking his head, drawing more laughter from the delegates.

Rosmah, the Unisel chancellor since 2006, announced two weeks ago that she would relinquish the post to concentrate on her child development initiative Permata Negara.

As a state government-owned university, the Selangor Sultan can appoint its chancellor upon the advice of the menteri besar.

Delegates in stitches

Some debaters clearly came armed with tried and tested jokes to liven up the assembly as attention spans waned over the two long days of proceedings.

Johor delegate Gan Chee Chan, who had read from an iPad his speech to debate the economy resolution, had the delegates rolling with laughter over an old joke regarding a Malaysian works minister.

“A Malaysian works minister once invited his African counterpart to his house. The African was shocked that when he stepped into the Malaysian’s house, it was a castle. He asked him how he could afford such a house.

“The Malaysian pulled back the curtains and showed the view outside the window. He pointed to a bridge and said, ‘10 percent’.

“A few months later, the Malaysian went to the African’s house and it was even bigger. The African then showed him the window and made the Malaysian look outside. The latter found nothing.

“The African said ‘that’s right, there’s nothing. 100 percent’,” Gan concluded animatedly while the delegates roared with laughter.

Meanwhile Negeri Sembilan delegate Muhammad Kamal Yassin even brought props to his debate on the economy resolution.

When speaking on Prime Minister Najib Razak’s recent 2011 budget, Kamal produced a box of underwear to emphasise his point.

“The 2011 budget (brought) exempted tax for branded products such as underwear.... But it failed to increase the salary of the people.

“If Pakatan takes over Putrajaya, we will make sure that the minimum salary is RM4,000,” said Kamal.