(Media Conference Statement at DAP PJ Hqrs on Thursday, 14th February 2008 at 12 noon)
Abdullah ends his first term as PM with his credibility, reputation and reform pledges in tatters with his 12-hour somersault of “no” and then “yes” to dissolution of Parliament yesterday
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has ended his first term as Prime Minister with his credibility, reputation and reform pledges in tatters with his 12-hour somersault of “no” and then “yes” to dissolution of Parliament yesterday.
It has given powerful illustration of Lingam-speak – “He looks like the Prime Minister, he sounds like the Prime Minister, but no one can say 100% that he is the Prime Minister”!
In his press conference yesterday announcing the dissolution of Parliament. Abdullah tried to explain why he had ended his first term as Prime Minister with a lie on Tuesday night categorically denying that Parliament would be dissolved yesterday and yet doing precisely the opposite 12 hours later in seeking an audience with the Yang di Pertuan Agong to dissolve Parliament.
Abdullah explained he could not give any clue to the date as he needed to get the consent of the Yang di Pertuan Agong first before he could make the announcement.
Agreed. But has Abdullah to tell a lie, declaring: “The Cabinet meeting will go on, go on and go on” after dismissing suggestion that yesterday’s Cabinet meeting will be the last for the llth parliamentary term?
Need Abdullah be reminded that what he had done is totally against the Islam Hadhari which he had propounded as Prime Minister and Chairman of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC)?
What is also shocking is the triple disrespect and insensitivity in dissolving Parliament on the 7th day of the Chinese New Year, because:
• It is the auspicious Day of Ren – a day when Chinese take time to reflect on their inter-personal relationships with others and be resolute to be a better & wiser person or “Ren”; • Insensitivity of the 9th Day of the Chinese New Year – Pai Tian Gong, the birthday of the Jade Emperor and a major event for the Hokkiens in Penang.and Malaysia; and • Insensitivity of Chap Goh Mei to mark the end of the 15-day Chinese New Year celebrations.
What is even more shocking is the defence of this triple disrespect and insensitivity of the Chinese New Year by the Chinese leaders in the Barisan Nasional like Ong Ka Ting and Koh Tsu Koon, illustrating their totally marginalized role in the Barisan Nasional decision-making process when they could not even convince the Prime Minister to wait for eight days before dissolving Parliament so as not to commit another cultural and religious insensitivity in a matter of three months after the holding of the Umno general assembly on Deepavali last November.