Showing posts with label Nik Abdul Aziz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nik Abdul Aziz. Show all posts
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Ibrahim Ali rebuffs PKR
NST (18/5/08): Pasir Mas Independent MP Datuk Paduka Ibrahim Ali, who hinted at joining a political party, has rejected an offer to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Ibrahim said PKR's multi-racial concept would hinder him from fighting for the rights of the Malays.
"I agree with the concept and I am close with PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. But I am very vocal and in fighting for my cause, I might hurt the sensitivity of the party's non-Malay leaders and I do not want this to happen," he told reporters here yesterday.
Ibrahim thanked Machang MP Saifuddin Nasution for making the offer.
"At the moment I have not thought about joining a party. I need time to decide.
"I've had enough bad experience in political parties including Berjasa, Umno and Parti Semangat 46," said Ibrahim who revealed that Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat also linked him to join Pas.
The Pasir Mas MP said he would use the time to ponder a suitable platform which could be accepted by his voters, supporters and friends.
"It would be hard for me to rejoin Umno as I was sacked. But there is a possibility that I might set up a new party with me as the president," he said jokingly.
He added Pas would be the most suitable party for him to join because of its struggle for Islamic rights.
Ibrahim said PKR's multi-racial concept would hinder him from fighting for the rights of the Malays.
"I agree with the concept and I am close with PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. But I am very vocal and in fighting for my cause, I might hurt the sensitivity of the party's non-Malay leaders and I do not want this to happen," he told reporters here yesterday.
Ibrahim thanked Machang MP Saifuddin Nasution for making the offer.
"At the moment I have not thought about joining a party. I need time to decide.
"I've had enough bad experience in political parties including Berjasa, Umno and Parti Semangat 46," said Ibrahim who revealed that Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat also linked him to join Pas.
The Pasir Mas MP said he would use the time to ponder a suitable platform which could be accepted by his voters, supporters and friends.
"It would be hard for me to rejoin Umno as I was sacked. But there is a possibility that I might set up a new party with me as the president," he said jokingly.
He added Pas would be the most suitable party for him to join because of its struggle for Islamic rights.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
I will remain independent, says Ibrahim Ali
The Star (15/5/08): Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali prefers to be an independent MP at the moment but extends his utmost gratitude to PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat for inviting him to join the party.
"At the moment, I prefer to be what I am and I need more time to think about it.
"Even though I am an independent MP, I still can serve and fight for the rakyat and Islam," said Ibrahim.
Recounting his past experiences in political parties, Ibrahim said he had bitter experiences.
"I became a victim of jealousy for two reasons - I work too hard and this resulted in me overshadowing others and my outspoken nature and style of tough talking offended people.
"Eventually, I will have to decide one day to join a party. I will think about it when the time comes,'' he said.
Ibrahim said this when asked to comment about whether he would be joining PAS after Nik Aziz said the party was willing to accept him, provided he join the party on his own accord and champions Islam.
Ibrahim contested under the PAS ticket to win the Pasir Mas Parliamentary seat in the March 8 general election.
From a Kelantan government coalition of Berjasa in the 1980s, Ibrahim joined Umno, before enrolling in the now-defunct Semangat 46 and then returning to Umno.
The former Umno supreme council member received a ban for life from Umno after contesting the Pasir Mas seat in the 2004 general election as an independent candidate.
Ibrahim lost in a three-cornered fight.
He is now linked with PAS after winning the Pasir Mas seat recently where he contested under the PAS ticket on March 8 but declared himself an independent after that.
"At the moment, I prefer to be what I am and I need more time to think about it.
"Even though I am an independent MP, I still can serve and fight for the rakyat and Islam," said Ibrahim.
Recounting his past experiences in political parties, Ibrahim said he had bitter experiences.
"I became a victim of jealousy for two reasons - I work too hard and this resulted in me overshadowing others and my outspoken nature and style of tough talking offended people.
"Eventually, I will have to decide one day to join a party. I will think about it when the time comes,'' he said.
Ibrahim said this when asked to comment about whether he would be joining PAS after Nik Aziz said the party was willing to accept him, provided he join the party on his own accord and champions Islam.
Ibrahim contested under the PAS ticket to win the Pasir Mas Parliamentary seat in the March 8 general election.
From a Kelantan government coalition of Berjasa in the 1980s, Ibrahim joined Umno, before enrolling in the now-defunct Semangat 46 and then returning to Umno.
The former Umno supreme council member received a ban for life from Umno after contesting the Pasir Mas seat in the 2004 general election as an independent candidate.
Ibrahim lost in a three-cornered fight.
He is now linked with PAS after winning the Pasir Mas seat recently where he contested under the PAS ticket on March 8 but declared himself an independent after that.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Is there an ‘-ism’ uniting the Pakatan Rakyat?
After 50 years of Merdeka the people deserve to have choices, and hopefully a two-party system divided by some kind of ideological difference will emerge.
The Star (29/4/08): Many people feel that the Pakatan Rakyat is nothing more than a cynical “marriage of convenience,” an alliance fuelled by a lust for power and money that will crumble within a couple of weeks.
While I have to agree that the Pakatan’s increasing proximity to the apex of power – namely Putrajaya – has made it more united, I’d also argue that there are some powerful ideological forces at work in the three component parties, and that these political philosophies do mesh.
If I am right (but let’s face it, I have been very wrong in the past!) the Barisan Nasional must respond to the Pakatan in an ideological and philosophical manner as well as politically.
Essentially, the Barisan has to figure out where it stands and what it stands for. Mere “politicking” – scare mongering, cancelling and or delaying federal development projects and threatening racial strife – is old school.
Such primordial, Mahathir-era strategies will not work going forward.
Indeed bullyboy tactics will only allow the Pakatan to stress its victimisation – thereby aligning its treatment at the hands of a mean-spirited, ungenerous Barisan with the rakyat’s sense of marginalisation.
This combination could prove fatal for the Barisan’s chances going forward.
Of course, the obstacles dividing the three Pakatan parties are formidable and we are right to be sceptical, but only up to a point. In the past, the Gagasan Rakyat and Barisan Alternatif withered under Mahathir’s scorn and the sheer brute force of the Barisan directed administration.
Certainly, the DAP, PKR and PAS’ difficulties over the formation of the Perak government and the ongoing Karpal Singh vs ‘Everyone Else’ spat over the Islamic State suggests that the Pakatan is by no means out of the woods.
There is no doubt that the “Islamic State issue” will remain the core ideological challenge facing the Pakatan.
Now, all of these concerns are perfectly valid, but a deeper analysis of the historical and ideological roots of the three parties reveals that they have much more in common than we give them credit for.
Let me begin with the DAP. We are all familiar with the DAP’s social democrat origins. As the “Malayan” half of the PAP after the 1965 Separation, the DAP inherited the socialist rhetoric without Lee Kuan Yew’s mean-spirited real politic.
Moreover the DAP has been a long-term member of the Socialist International, the worldwide grouping of socialist political parties that includes both the British and Australian Labour parties.
PKR’s socialist roots are even easier to identify.
The party came about after a merger between Keadilan and Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) in 2002.
The PRM itself was a successor of the old Malay leftist parties, such as the Kesatuan Melayu Muda (KMM) and Socialist Front of the Merdeka era – the late much-loved writer/academic Rustam Sani being an important link in the chain.
The presence of the old PRM leadership within the PKR (such as Deputy President Syed Husin Ali) shows that the latter has more capacity for “socialist” thought then we are willing to acknowledge.
Its worth mentioning at this point the obsessive focus on Umno in our mainstream media has side-lined a newly emerging force, namely, the Malay “left”.
If one wants to understand this world, it’s worth reading work by writers such as the late Rustam Sani, the historian Farish Noor and watching Fahmi Reza’s ground-breaking documentary.
At the same time we shouldn’t forget Anwar Ibrahim and his friends and allies from ABIM (including Kamaruddin Jaffar who’s since become a prominent PAS leader) have had a deep and abiding commitment to social justice and equity, albeit with an Islamist tinge; witness their protests back in 1974 over the poverty and hunger of Baling’s rice-farmers.
While the PKR’s socialist roots are relatively well documented, PAS’ connection with these political ideas is less well known.
The party is often mischaracterised – incorrectly – as a purely Islamicist political force.
However, a deeper examination of the party’s roots will reveal that pre-Hadi Awang, PAS had strong leftist inclinations.
Certainly, it’s often forgotten that prominent Malay “alternative” leaders such as Burhanuddin Helmy once played a major role in PAS.
Today’s PAS is dominated by the ulama and they are generally wary of all “-isms” with the exception of Islam-ism.
Figures such as Nik Abdul Aziz, Abdul Hadi Awang and the much feared Harun Din have done their utmost to eradicate Burhanuddin and his successor Asri Muda’s contributions to the party.
Nonetheless, the younger generation of PAS leaders – technocrats like Husam Musa, Nizar Jamaluddin and Nasaruddin Mat Isa – are clearly more attune with left of centre issues.
They’ve been careful to identify with the oppressed and the marginalised – the many Malays left behind by the Umno juggernaut – formulating their party’s manifesto around populist issues that resonate on the ground.
Of course over the past decades there has been an on-going vilification of socialism and other leftist ideas, often in the name of “defending” Muslims against the concept of atheism inherent in more extreme political ideologies such as communism.
Still, socialism, populism or social justice – call it what you will – is a vital unifying theme for the Pakatan.
Moreover this kind of rhetoric cuts across racial lines, since the dispossessed are themselves ethnically heterogeneous.
As this becomes the core ideology around which the Pakatan coalesces, I hope that we will in future be able to talk about a “Social Democratic” Pakatan which will in turn force the Barisan to respond by finding its own political “centre”.
Interestingly, the Barisan with its more moneyed, property-owning, aristocratic and traditionalist ethos will evolve hopefully into a Malaysian version of the British Conservative party or indeed the American Republican party – both of which are enormously successful political organisations.
I know this all sounds slightly far-fetched but the prospect of a genuine two-party system divided by some kind of ideological difference is a very exciting prospect and after 50 years of Merdeka the people deserve to have choices.
Ideologies aside though, the final lesson is that both coalitions will need to gradually make their way to the centre if either is to capture enough of the “middle ground” to rule effectively (Karim Raslan).
The Star (29/4/08): Many people feel that the Pakatan Rakyat is nothing more than a cynical “marriage of convenience,” an alliance fuelled by a lust for power and money that will crumble within a couple of weeks.
While I have to agree that the Pakatan’s increasing proximity to the apex of power – namely Putrajaya – has made it more united, I’d also argue that there are some powerful ideological forces at work in the three component parties, and that these political philosophies do mesh.
If I am right (but let’s face it, I have been very wrong in the past!) the Barisan Nasional must respond to the Pakatan in an ideological and philosophical manner as well as politically.
Essentially, the Barisan has to figure out where it stands and what it stands for. Mere “politicking” – scare mongering, cancelling and or delaying federal development projects and threatening racial strife – is old school.
Such primordial, Mahathir-era strategies will not work going forward.
Indeed bullyboy tactics will only allow the Pakatan to stress its victimisation – thereby aligning its treatment at the hands of a mean-spirited, ungenerous Barisan with the rakyat’s sense of marginalisation.
This combination could prove fatal for the Barisan’s chances going forward.
Of course, the obstacles dividing the three Pakatan parties are formidable and we are right to be sceptical, but only up to a point. In the past, the Gagasan Rakyat and Barisan Alternatif withered under Mahathir’s scorn and the sheer brute force of the Barisan directed administration.
Certainly, the DAP, PKR and PAS’ difficulties over the formation of the Perak government and the ongoing Karpal Singh vs ‘Everyone Else’ spat over the Islamic State suggests that the Pakatan is by no means out of the woods.
There is no doubt that the “Islamic State issue” will remain the core ideological challenge facing the Pakatan.
Now, all of these concerns are perfectly valid, but a deeper analysis of the historical and ideological roots of the three parties reveals that they have much more in common than we give them credit for.
Let me begin with the DAP. We are all familiar with the DAP’s social democrat origins. As the “Malayan” half of the PAP after the 1965 Separation, the DAP inherited the socialist rhetoric without Lee Kuan Yew’s mean-spirited real politic.
Moreover the DAP has been a long-term member of the Socialist International, the worldwide grouping of socialist political parties that includes both the British and Australian Labour parties.
PKR’s socialist roots are even easier to identify.
The party came about after a merger between Keadilan and Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) in 2002.
The PRM itself was a successor of the old Malay leftist parties, such as the Kesatuan Melayu Muda (KMM) and Socialist Front of the Merdeka era – the late much-loved writer/academic Rustam Sani being an important link in the chain.
The presence of the old PRM leadership within the PKR (such as Deputy President Syed Husin Ali) shows that the latter has more capacity for “socialist” thought then we are willing to acknowledge.
Its worth mentioning at this point the obsessive focus on Umno in our mainstream media has side-lined a newly emerging force, namely, the Malay “left”.
If one wants to understand this world, it’s worth reading work by writers such as the late Rustam Sani, the historian Farish Noor and watching Fahmi Reza’s ground-breaking documentary.
At the same time we shouldn’t forget Anwar Ibrahim and his friends and allies from ABIM (including Kamaruddin Jaffar who’s since become a prominent PAS leader) have had a deep and abiding commitment to social justice and equity, albeit with an Islamist tinge; witness their protests back in 1974 over the poverty and hunger of Baling’s rice-farmers.
While the PKR’s socialist roots are relatively well documented, PAS’ connection with these political ideas is less well known.
The party is often mischaracterised – incorrectly – as a purely Islamicist political force.
However, a deeper examination of the party’s roots will reveal that pre-Hadi Awang, PAS had strong leftist inclinations.
Certainly, it’s often forgotten that prominent Malay “alternative” leaders such as Burhanuddin Helmy once played a major role in PAS.
Today’s PAS is dominated by the ulama and they are generally wary of all “-isms” with the exception of Islam-ism.
Figures such as Nik Abdul Aziz, Abdul Hadi Awang and the much feared Harun Din have done their utmost to eradicate Burhanuddin and his successor Asri Muda’s contributions to the party.
Nonetheless, the younger generation of PAS leaders – technocrats like Husam Musa, Nizar Jamaluddin and Nasaruddin Mat Isa – are clearly more attune with left of centre issues.
They’ve been careful to identify with the oppressed and the marginalised – the many Malays left behind by the Umno juggernaut – formulating their party’s manifesto around populist issues that resonate on the ground.
Of course over the past decades there has been an on-going vilification of socialism and other leftist ideas, often in the name of “defending” Muslims against the concept of atheism inherent in more extreme political ideologies such as communism.
Still, socialism, populism or social justice – call it what you will – is a vital unifying theme for the Pakatan.
Moreover this kind of rhetoric cuts across racial lines, since the dispossessed are themselves ethnically heterogeneous.
As this becomes the core ideology around which the Pakatan coalesces, I hope that we will in future be able to talk about a “Social Democratic” Pakatan which will in turn force the Barisan to respond by finding its own political “centre”.
Interestingly, the Barisan with its more moneyed, property-owning, aristocratic and traditionalist ethos will evolve hopefully into a Malaysian version of the British Conservative party or indeed the American Republican party – both of which are enormously successful political organisations.
I know this all sounds slightly far-fetched but the prospect of a genuine two-party system divided by some kind of ideological difference is a very exciting prospect and after 50 years of Merdeka the people deserve to have choices.
Ideologies aside though, the final lesson is that both coalitions will need to gradually make their way to the centre if either is to capture enough of the “middle ground” to rule effectively (Karim Raslan).
Gobind wants Khairy to apologise
Malaysiakini (30/4/08): Asked to comment on Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat’s use earlier this year of the term orang utan for Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders, Gobind said he was not aware of the incident.
“If that statement was made against persons in Barisan Nasional, then perhaps an apology is proper,” said Gobind.
Also at the press conference was his father Karpal Singh, the DAP parliamentarian for Bukit Gelugor.
“I’m surprised that BN people have not asked for an apology. Maybe what the MB said is right,” he said (Full story).
“If that statement was made against persons in Barisan Nasional, then perhaps an apology is proper,” said Gobind.
Also at the press conference was his father Karpal Singh, the DAP parliamentarian for Bukit Gelugor.“I’m surprised that BN people have not asked for an apology. Maybe what the MB said is right,” he said (Full story).
MPs don’t want end to broadcasts
The Star (2/5/08): The telecasts must continue – that is the consensus of many MPs, be they from the Barisan Nasional or the Opposition, or minister or backbencher.
They said Wednesday’s “circus” in the august House should not result in live telecasts of proceedings being scrapped.
Even Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the Government must be flexible on the issue as it was too early to make a judgement on the telecast.
“I feel the Government should determine if this is a first day phenomenon or if it will continue,” he said at a news conference in Kuching yesterday.
Wan Junaidi, who does not agree that the live telecast be reviewed, said the parliament session had just began and there was a possibility that the attitudes of the members would change in the coming sittings.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said live telecasts should continue as currently it is only a trial period. He said he was, however, disappointed with the Opposition for playing to the gallery.
“I don’t think the electorate voted in clowns and comedians to turn Parliament into a circus,” said Nazri, who is in charge of parliamentary affairs.
On Wednesday, the Dewan Rakyat’s Question Time which was being broadcast live for the first time in history was delayed by more than 30 minutes because of bickering over procedural matters and arguments over trivial issues.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister and Johor Baru MP Datuk Shahrir Samad said the experiment of using live telecasts should continue to “see what happens”.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said the move to broadcast parliament proceedings live was not only to show who was asking questions but also for answers to be made known to the people.
“If the live telecast continues to show the MP’s rowdy behaviour, it defeats the purpose of doing so,” said the Pasir Gudang MP.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen was all for the live telecast to continue to show the public how the MPs behaved in the House.
The Raub MP said it was important for people to know how their MPs were working for their benefit.
Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong said any decision to scrap live telecasts should not be based on just one sitting while Deputy Higher Education Minister and Kluang MP Dr Hou Kok Chung said the first day of Parliament would be messy.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department K. Devamany said the live telecasts should continue as the public would like to know where issues were discussed in Parliament.
He said Wednesday was not exactly what Parliament was all about and the Opposition had gone too far to prove that they were noisemakers.
Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chairman and Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the live telecast should go on for at least one more day. “Let’s try again. Monday should be the last chance. If the mindset of MPs from both sides do not change, then we should not continue with it,” he said.
Marang MP Nasharuddin Mat Isa said live telecasts should not only continue but be extended from 30 minutes to “at least an hour, if not throughout the day”.
“Personally, I don’t agree with what happened. I think it won’t happen again in the next proceeding. It was sparked off by the Speaker not allowing supplementary questions, which was unprecedented in Malaysia’s history.”
Machang MP Saifuddin Nasution, who is from PKR, said MPs “misbehaving” should not be the sole reason for the Information Ministry reconsidering live telecasts.
PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat called for a comprehensive live telecast of Parliament so the people could judge for themselves the performance of their elected representatives.
They said Wednesday’s “circus” in the august House should not result in live telecasts of proceedings being scrapped.
Even Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the Government must be flexible on the issue as it was too early to make a judgement on the telecast.
“I feel the Government should determine if this is a first day phenomenon or if it will continue,” he said at a news conference in Kuching yesterday.
Wan Junaidi, who does not agree that the live telecast be reviewed, said the parliament session had just began and there was a possibility that the attitudes of the members would change in the coming sittings.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said live telecasts should continue as currently it is only a trial period. He said he was, however, disappointed with the Opposition for playing to the gallery.
“I don’t think the electorate voted in clowns and comedians to turn Parliament into a circus,” said Nazri, who is in charge of parliamentary affairs.
On Wednesday, the Dewan Rakyat’s Question Time which was being broadcast live for the first time in history was delayed by more than 30 minutes because of bickering over procedural matters and arguments over trivial issues.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister and Johor Baru MP Datuk Shahrir Samad said the experiment of using live telecasts should continue to “see what happens”.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said the move to broadcast parliament proceedings live was not only to show who was asking questions but also for answers to be made known to the people.
“If the live telecast continues to show the MP’s rowdy behaviour, it defeats the purpose of doing so,” said the Pasir Gudang MP.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen was all for the live telecast to continue to show the public how the MPs behaved in the House.
The Raub MP said it was important for people to know how their MPs were working for their benefit.
Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong said any decision to scrap live telecasts should not be based on just one sitting while Deputy Higher Education Minister and Kluang MP Dr Hou Kok Chung said the first day of Parliament would be messy.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department K. Devamany said the live telecasts should continue as the public would like to know where issues were discussed in Parliament.
He said Wednesday was not exactly what Parliament was all about and the Opposition had gone too far to prove that they were noisemakers.
Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chairman and Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the live telecast should go on for at least one more day. “Let’s try again. Monday should be the last chance. If the mindset of MPs from both sides do not change, then we should not continue with it,” he said.
Marang MP Nasharuddin Mat Isa said live telecasts should not only continue but be extended from 30 minutes to “at least an hour, if not throughout the day”.
“Personally, I don’t agree with what happened. I think it won’t happen again in the next proceeding. It was sparked off by the Speaker not allowing supplementary questions, which was unprecedented in Malaysia’s history.”
Machang MP Saifuddin Nasution, who is from PKR, said MPs “misbehaving” should not be the sole reason for the Information Ministry reconsidering live telecasts.
PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat called for a comprehensive live telecast of Parliament so the people could judge for themselves the performance of their elected representatives.
Gobind tells Kairy to apologise for 'beruk' remarks
The Sun (28/4/08): Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) has challenged Umno Youth vice-chief Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) to apologise for calling Coalition for Free and Fair Election (Bersih) rally participants "beruk" (monkeys) last November.
"He should follow the example of his chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein who apologised for the keris act.," he told a press conference after the opening of the First Session of the 12th Parliament today.
"He has not disputed that he used the word against the rally participants and in fact, he threatened to sue me when I used this during my campaign before the March 8 general election.
"What Hishamuddin has done is perhaps the beginning of what the Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders should do. It is very degrading and unacceptable to address Malaysians as that. Khairy should take responsibility for it, own up and apologise," he said, adding that he is prepared to face Khairy in court.
Asked if the PAS spiritual leader Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat should also apologise to Barisan Nasional (BN) members for calling them "orang utan" in early February, Gobind said: "If the statement made had offended the people of BN, then the right thing to do is apologise."
At this point, his father Karpal Singh who was also present drew laughter when he quipped: "Well, the BN did not make a big fuss for an apology. Maybe what he said was right."
"He should follow the example of his chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein who apologised for the keris act.," he told a press conference after the opening of the First Session of the 12th Parliament today.
"He has not disputed that he used the word against the rally participants and in fact, he threatened to sue me when I used this during my campaign before the March 8 general election.
"What Hishamuddin has done is perhaps the beginning of what the Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders should do. It is very degrading and unacceptable to address Malaysians as that. Khairy should take responsibility for it, own up and apologise," he said, adding that he is prepared to face Khairy in court.
Asked if the PAS spiritual leader Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat should also apologise to Barisan Nasional (BN) members for calling them "orang utan" in early February, Gobind said: "If the statement made had offended the people of BN, then the right thing to do is apologise."
At this point, his father Karpal Singh who was also present drew laughter when he quipped: "Well, the BN did not make a big fuss for an apology. Maybe what he said was right."
Behavior Of Some MPs Appalling, Says Nik Aziz
Bernama (1/5/08):Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said today that the behaviour of some members of parliament (MPs) at the Dewan Rakyat's sitting yesterday was appalling.
He said the main duty of MPs was to solve to the people's problems and not engage in unbecoming conduct.
"I am ashamed at what happened. Apparently, some of the MPs do not seem to know why they are in Parliament in the first place," he told reporters after launching a motoring expedition here today.
Nik Aziz, who is also PAS' spiritual leader, said live telecasts of parliamentary debates should continue despite the poor start yesterday so that the people can evaluate for themselves the performance of their elected representatives.
Radio Television Malaysia broadcast the proceedings yesterday live. It was the Dewan Rakyat's first sitting after the March 8 election but descended into chaos because of unruly behavior by some MPs.
He said the main duty of MPs was to solve to the people's problems and not engage in unbecoming conduct.
"I am ashamed at what happened. Apparently, some of the MPs do not seem to know why they are in Parliament in the first place," he told reporters after launching a motoring expedition here today.
Nik Aziz, who is also PAS' spiritual leader, said live telecasts of parliamentary debates should continue despite the poor start yesterday so that the people can evaluate for themselves the performance of their elected representatives.
Radio Television Malaysia broadcast the proceedings yesterday live. It was the Dewan Rakyat's first sitting after the March 8 election but descended into chaos because of unruly behavior by some MPs.
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