Two days ago, I asked in very blunt language whether the Barisan Nasional founded by Tun Razak in 1973 will be finally buried with the consensus-based political coalition of 13 political parties replaced by a political coalition which does not operate on consensus principle but solely on the political hegemony of UMNO.
The Barisan Nasional Supreme Council meeting last night prevented the necessity to perform the final funeral rites for a consensus-based Barisan Nasional founded by Tun Razak 44 years ago, although there are adequate examples and developments that consensus-based Barisan Nasional coalition is quite sick and in quite a terminal stage.
Such examples and developments occurred in the last two Parliamentary meetings in May and October/November last year where UMNO Ministers unilaterally gave priority to PAS President Datuk Seri Hadi Awang’s private member’s bill motion without consultation, consent and consensus from the other 12 Barisan Nasional parties and the unilateral announcements by both the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi that the Barisan Nasional government will take over Hadi’s bill and will table Hadi’s bill in the present meeting of Parliament.
I note that my stark warning has had effect – that the funeral rites for the death and burial of Barisan Nasional formed by Tun Razak 44 years ago would have to be performed if the fig-leaf of a consensus-based Barisan Nasional are finally torn away if the Barisan Nasional government proceeds to take over and present Hadi’s private member’s bill in Parliament without consultation, consent and consensus of the other 12 Barisan Nasional parties.
The question is whether the UMNO Ministers and leaders will now resort to the parliamentary manoeuvre of quickly finishing official parliamentary business so that there is adequate time for Hadi’s private member’s bill to surface to be debated and voted upon – and whether the MPs from MCA, Gerakan, MIC and Sabah/Sarawak BN parties would play ball with the UMNO Ministers and MPs to achieve such a result.
We will know soon enough.
There are two important outcomes of the BN Supreme Council meeting yesterday – firstly, averting final funeral rites for a consensus-based BN and secondly, a clear affirmation that to criticize or even oppose Hadi’s private member’s bill is not being anti-Islam.
If criticism or even opposition to Hadi’s private member’s bill is being anti-Islam, then UMNO Ministers and leaders, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, would have committed acts which comes under the definition of “anti-Islam.”
This is not so, and the time has come for the Malaysian Parliament to set an example not only in the country but to the world of moderation where progressive, open-minded and inclusive Islamic thoughts and ideas are not regarded as anti-Islam.
The Malaysian Parliament should also set an example of moderation, justice and fair play where abusive and derogatory terms like “anti-Malay” or “anti-Islam”, or anti any race or religion, are not allowed to be used to undermine Malaysian nation-building and national unity.
#1 by Godfather on Thursday, 30 March 2017 - 2:31 pm
Don’t hope for a quick resolution to this matter, Kit. Bijan has sold his soul in ten different ways. He has committed to Hadi that UMNO will support 355. He has also committed to the minority BN parties that he (not UMNO, mind you) will not support 355. He has told Sabah and Sarawak not to worry, 355 will only be limited to Peninsular Malaysia.
He’s just buying time, to figure out which outcome will get him reelected. He will take this down to the wire.
#2 by Bigjoe on Thursday, 30 March 2017 - 3:49 pm
I do not believe ONE MOMENT its about “BN-Consensus”. BN component parties had been opposing all along and they kept ploughing even attempting to get Sarawak and Sabah parties not to fight it in exchange for exempting them from the law.
They are trying TOO HARD to say as little as possible and the words coming out are ALL PLATITUDES.
Something happened or is going on…
#3 by Bigjoe on Thursday, 30 March 2017 - 6:14 pm
The issue now is how do you convince PAS supporters that Hadi’s PAS “for Islam” excuse for poor performance is unacceptable, that they should be punished through vote for Pakatan? How do you take away Hadi’s PAS bottomless refuge of excuses and make them pay through Pakatan gain?
#4 by good coolie on Thursday, 30 March 2017 - 10:00 pm
There is some life in ye old Malaysia. Ahmad, Ah Chong and Ramasamy, together with new friends from East Malaysia, have given some hope to this nation.
BN leaders, in my opinion, have seen “The Light of Day” (Eric Ambler). So, today, the BN leaders should take a bow. Thank you, especially, to the Killer of Insecticides.
Lets get back to discussing Jong Nam and our people in N. Korea.
#5 by Bigjoe on Friday, 31 March 2017 - 8:05 am
When asked if the bill will be debated and MPs be told to vote their conscience, Najib actually SMILED, creepily, and past the buck to the Speaker.
It is ridiculous, evil actually, that an issue that goes to the heart of our nation character, it’s very foundation and a Chief Executive is allowed to use it, use it volatilely, for his political reason. That the Chief Executive need not stake himself out and take responsibility. He uses it when it’s convenient, past the buck when it’s hot. Is it that a wonder we have 1MDB, broken institutions, GST and rising cost, crashing ringgit and a debt mountain that will haunt our children?