A rare parliamentary sight in Parliament for decades – eight Umno Ministers queuing up in Parliament till 11.30 pm yesterday to take their turn to reply in the 2009 Budget debate yesterday.
Clearly, my Sunday speech to the DAP Kuala Lumpur Convention castigating Umno Ministers for neglecting their parliamentary, Cabinet and national responsibilities because of the protracted Umno party elections and suggesting that they take five-month leave so as to ensure that the people and country do not suffer because of their party politicking when Malaysia faces the worst global economic crisis in 80 years has hit home and taken instantaneous effect.
On Thursday, two Umno Ministers, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and Education Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein played truant from their Ministerial duties when they were absent in the winding-up of their Ministries, passing the buck to their deputy ministers.
If Hamid and Hishammuddin think that their deputy ministers were equal to them and could reply of behalf of their Ministries as effectively as they themselves could, then it is time they resign and give way to their two deputies to become full ministers!
I hope that this unprecedented show of discipline and responsibility is not a “one-shot” affair but will become a directing principle for all responsible Ministers for the rest of the parliamentary term – and we will see Ministers taking full charge of the debate for each Ministry during the 16-day Committee stage debate of the 2009 Budget beginning tomorrow till 4th December 2008.
Yesterday, the Umno Ministers put up a responsible show, but the MCA Ministers fell short, with two MCA Ministers absent from their parliamentary posts during the reply, viz the newly-elected MCA President and Transport Minister, Datuk Ong Tee Kiat and the newly-elected MCA Vice President and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen, who had to depend on their deputy ministers to save the day.
There can be no excuse for the absence of Cabinet Ministers from their parliamentary duties for the parliamentary calendar for the Ministerial winding-up in the 2009 budget debate had been fixed many months ahead of schedule and there can be no excuse for Ministers to be away from Parliament, whether overseas or somewhere else in the country.
I hope today, the fourth and last day of the Ministerial winding-up of the 2009 Budget debate, will see other Umno Ministers continue to set a good parliamentary example to their other BN Cabinet colleagues.
#1 by voice on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 12:36 pm
Rakyat apa? duit first! lu orang pembangkang bising betulah!
#2 by Thinking Two on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 1:34 pm
After Mama Tail era, you can see there is no more capable person going to take over the leadership. With the curse accumulated over these 30 years, a lot of bad things are going to surface one after another. All left to be seen as it has reached the peak.
THE THEORY OF YIN YANG.
They are going against the NATURE FORCES.
#3 by shortie kiasu on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 2:07 pm
Hope these ministers’ performance are not a flash in the pan just for this occasion because of their fate hung in their party post elections.
After they secure their position of power in their party, they will revert to the old selves and the old culture of their politics.
We do not want to be hookwinked.
#4 by a-malaysian on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 2:24 pm
My employer gives me verbal warning when I turn up late for work, a written first warning when I did not turn up for work and finally a termination letter when I did not turn up for work the second time.
The MPs are paid to do their job and attending the parliament sitting are part of their job which we the rakyat employ them. We the rakyat needs to know what the hack is our employees doing when they are suppose to attend the parliament sitting.
Can we give them a warning and failing to attend can we terminate them now and not wait until the next GE?
There will be “Light A Candle To Say No To ISA” vigil at the Esplanade Penang. Please lend your support and attend this vigil to let RPK and all the ISA detainees that we have not forgotten them.
Blood-Suckers
GE 13 – No matter what, we must ensure that racist umno bn do not regain the power like they had for the past fifty one years.
#5 by the tremendous line on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 2:34 pm
Remember Segregation of duty?
Remember Superior delegates his authority to subordinates?
This was what Selangor’s MB think on wasting his time visiting the flood’s victims in Selangor.
Politicians only know how and what to criticize others but ignore their own weaknesses.
The priority is to rakyat and not individual’s fight
stop playing political game and start to finish your job
#6 by Thinking Two on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 4:09 pm
Any regret for voting BN?
#7 by CSKUEH on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 4:10 pm
As representatives elected by the people
Cabinet ministers should show a good example
To be present to do their duties in person
To be away from office only with valid reason
#8 by Thinking Two on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 4:16 pm
The way they talk is already confirm that they are a fool.
They think they can always fool all the people all the time.
The Mama Tail era has gone and will be gone for ever.
Only the fool can agree to BN!!!!
They are getting six figures salary but a lot of rakyat can’t ever come up with six thousand to buy a motorcycle. And worst still, some have to borrow or advance from their employer for petrol expenses.
All these thanks to mamak tail.
#9 by Thinking Two on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 4:56 pm
All of them dare not say anything just because they are having the same problem!!!
They may cover the fire but not the smoke.
All is coming up one by one.
#10 by zheng on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 5:04 pm
When talk about Malaysia Ministers…..I have a lot of questions to ask. 1st question is why they are so intelligent and capable??? Today may be he is finance minister but tomorrow he is holding defense Minister. And May be few months later he may be holding Health Minister post. Are they so capable or the just take the name as minister and the real person in charge is their assistant and professional employed??? I think this is the main reason Ministers are so scared to attend parliament meeting….BCOS THEY CANNOT TAHAN SCREWING from YB LKS mah.
#11 by baoqingtian on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 5:37 pm
When we expect these jokers to be in parliament, they play truant but when when don’t expect them to be there, they pretend to work overtime.
#12 by yhsiew on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 6:46 pm
Did not Abdullah promise to scrutinize performance of BN MPs and wanted them to submit a progress report after a period of 2 or 3 months? I wonder if he is still doing it!
#13 by monsterball on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 8:01 pm
You all can talk of Budget!!
Najib has started to give more goodies to Malaysians….RM7 billion worth of it.
I am laughing at those Malaysians feeling happy with money stolen from us….and throw back to us….to win our votes.
Najib.. did not say..where the RM7 billion coming from.
I guess….sometimes…they take our money….go and gamble and make….so here is the good news….but you can bet…they will pocket their ‘commissions;..before giving back.
Is that the EPF money?
And when they loose…just watch less dividends..paid out.
Win or loose…the self appointed gambler..will make money.
Do we need a government take our money to gamble..for us?
Bush love gambling…and Americans are so quick to spot a crook.
#14 by rubini on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 9:23 pm
Saya harap mereka yang mengundi BN dapat lihat sejauh mana politik mereka sekarang.
#15 by Damocles on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 9:25 pm
Uncle Lim, don’t hold your breath.
Their show won’t last!
#16 by yhsiew on Wednesday, 5 November 2008 - 7:21 am
Ooop, “submit a progress report after a period of 2 or 3 months” should be corrected to:
“submit a progress report after a period of EVERY 2 or 3 months”
#17 by ktteokt on Wednesday, 5 November 2008 - 8:28 pm
The Chinese calls this, “Holding onto the Buddha’s leg at the last moments”!