No stranger to controversies, Energy, Water and Communications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik has come under fire once again for allegedly shooting his mouth off.
This time around, the veteran politician was taken to task over his 'uncalled for behaviour' towards a delegation from the Oppressed People's Network (Jerit) on Wednesday.

The delegation had met him to submit a memorandum calling on the government to stop water privatisation and not to burden the people.

According to a statement from Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) today, the delegation had merely heeded the minister's call on non-governmental organisations and the public to provide feedback on the matter.

"This very minister had shouted and used offensive language towards NGO members just because they gave their comments and recommendations on water services.

"On one instance, he asked the delegation if they thought the federal government had the power to nationalise water and when they replied 'yes', the minister replied, 'My foot'!

"He also called the delegation irrational and emotional," claimed PSM in the statement.

Stop the eyewash

The pro-tem party also questioned why Lim's ministry had set up a website for public feedback on the Water Services Industry Bill and National Water Services Commission to be tabled in Parliament next month if the government felt that public opinion was unnecessary.

"PSM demands that the minister immediately stop misleading the public on water and sewerage services.

"If the government has already decided to fully privatise both the services without public consultation, then admit to the masses that the whole public opinion exercise is just to fool the public," it said.

The party urged Lim, who is also Gerakan president, to apologise for abusing the Jerit members who were merely asking for an explanation.

However, Lim could not be reached for comment.