Witty repartee doesn’t always translate to good debate

The Edge Daily (2/6/08): Some people expected the quality of debates in parliament to improve with more opposition members of parliament (MPs) to watch over the government. Undeniably, the Dewan Rakyat has become more interesting - but it is difficult to tell if the quality of debates has improved.

The first day of parliament was already marred by boyish antics from both the government and opposition camps. In a heated exchange over some technicalities, Karpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor-DAP) labelled Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (Kinabatangan-BN) as “bigfoot”, and the latter responded in kind by calling Karpal “big monkey”.

Although such incidents are not unusual in the Dewan Rakyat, the matter was compounded by the fact that the first half hour of the parliament session was telecast live for the first time nationwide.

Some consider this as entertainment which one can expect from parliament, while others feel embarrassed, so much so that the Information Ministry threatened to stop the live telecast. In the end, the government decided to proceed with the broadcast.

However, the opposition has continuously engaged the government in name-calling and mud-slinging throughout the sessions.

Be that as it may, there was a lot of creativity flowing from the ranks of Pakatan Rakyat, especially Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Azmin Ali (Gombak-PKR), who made a memorable remark in one of his speeches.

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin (Rembau-BN), he said: “Since when does Umno care about “ketuanan Melayu” (Malay supremacy), when all this while it only practised “ketuanan menantu” (son-in-law’s supremacy)?”

When it came to Khairy’s turn to speak, the Umno Youth deputy chief tried to get his revenge by sowing the seed of disunity in the opposition camp, targeted at staunchly Islamic PAS MPs, by playing up the pig farm issue in Selangor.

He also said Pakatan Rakyat was just a “public relations” stunt among parties with different ideologies to pull wool over people’s eyes.

Calling PAS a “junior partner” in Pakatan Rakyat, he claimed that the PKR-led Selangor state government was giving more priority to “Projek Khinzir Raksasa” (mammoth pig project), which is a play on the acronym “PKR”.

Khairy’s remarks managed to rile up several PAS MPs, who pointed out that the project was actually approved by the previous state government led by Umno.

Not to be outdone by Khairy, Mahfuz Omar (Pokok Sena-PAS) said it was actually “Projek Babi Negara” (National Pig Project), which is a twist on the Barisan Nasional’s acronym.

Khairy appeared to be a favourite target of the opposition’s stinging attacks, as DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang (Ipoh Timur-DAP) had earlier called him the “richest unemployed in the world” for being able to acquire and sell a lot of shares in ECM Libra.

Lim also challenged Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun-BN), who is the youngest son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to answer on his father’s behalf.

“Isn’t Dr Mahathir’s administration known for KKN? Does the honourable Jerlun MP know what KKN is? The first K stands for kronisme (cronyism), the second K for korupsi (corruption) and the N for nepotisme (nepotism),” he said.

Even the demure Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Permatang Pauh-PKR) displayed her mettle as an Opposition Leader in the debate on the motion of thanks on the royal address, by hurling various accusations against the government.

She tried to implicate Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also the defence minister, by alleging corruption in the procurement of military equipment, such as Scorpene submarines and Sukhoi fighter jets.

Najib also hogged the limelight as popular blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin was charged with sedition for his article, which contained allegations linking the deputy prime minister and his wife to the murder of Altantuya Shaaribuu.

Despite the prevalence of playground antics, the Dewan Rakyat still managed to hear an array of issues of public interest, ranging from food security to highway concessions.

While it is heartening to note that many MPs took the opportunity to raise many issues while debating the motion of thanks on the royal address, their skills on real policy matters are not really tested this round.

The real occasion for law-making only came in the fourth week when they debated the Supplementary Supply Bill and the Pensions (Amendments) Bill. Alas, the two bills had to be rushed through the Dewan Rakyat.

In a nutshell, it is still too early to tell whether parliamentary debates are better now, as mud-slinging and name-calling seem to have moved to a new level.

On a more positive note, the government is trying to become more responsive to certain issues judging from certain pronouncements made in parliament. Some BN MPs are also becoming more vocal on issues such as minority rights, corruption and independence of the judiciary.

For example, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has even been accused by some backbenchers from his own camp of being “an opposition minister” and “realising the opposition’s manifesto” for his plans to reform the judiciary.

The government also announced that it would consider taking over highway concessions or review the toll charges to reduce the financial burden on the people.

In fact, Abdullah himself was seen sitting in the Dewan Rakyat to observe parliamentary proceedings until as late as 11pm on one occasion.

At the end of the day, regardless of the quality of debates in parliament, the more important objective of parliamentary democracy is to ensure that the government is honest and responsive.

Govt denies paying 114 million Euros commission in purchase of submarines

Bernama (14/5/08): The Defence Ministry Wednesday reiterated that the government had never paid 114.96 million euros in commission to Perimekar Sdn Bhd in connection with the purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines.

On the contrary, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said, the purchase was done through direct negotiations in line with the government's procurement method with the submarine makers, France and Spain.

"The Defence Ministry would like to stress that the claim by Permatang Pauh MP (Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) is baseless," he said when winding up the debate for his ministry on the motion of thanks for the royal address at the Dewan Rakyat Wednesday.

Debating the motion recently, Wan Azizah claimed that there were elements of corruption in the purchase of the two submarines as well as the 18 Sukhoi fighter jets.

Explaining further, Najib said, the 114.96 million euros paid to Perimekar Sdn Bhd was not a commission but rather, a payment to provide coordination and support services to the Malaysian navy's submarine project team in Cherbourg, France, and in Cartegana, Spain, as well as the submarine trainees in Brest, France.

Perimekar Sdn Bhd is owned by the Armed Forces Fund, Boustead Holdings Sdn Bhd and K.S. Ombak Laut Sdn Bhd.

Najib said: "The government did not make any purchase negotiations with Perimekar Sdn Bhd. Instead, the company was given a contract to provide the coordination and support services for a period of six years."

Among others, the services include providing accommodation and equipment for the project's team in France and Spain for a period of six years; providing insurance coverage for the personnel and their families as well as the submarine crew in France and Spain; to pay daily allowance and submarine crew allowance of 50 euros a day for each personnel for the first three years, and 60 euros a day for each personnal for the second three-year period.

Najib said the 114.96 million euros contract value would be paid in stages in line with the progress of the submarine project.

As of now, a total of 95.54 million euros or 83.11 per cent of the amount had already been paid to the company, he said.

Najib also said the government had never made commission payment to IMT (M) Defence Sdn Bhd in the purchase of the Sukhoi jetfighters.

"The accusation by members of the House that the government paid commissions in the purchase of the submarines and the Sukhois was not true and is a concerted attempt at confusing the people for their own political gain," he said.

On the price difference between the purchase of the Sukhois by Malaysia and India, Najib said, it was due to the way the jetfighters were configured as well as the number of aircraft purchased.

Malaysia bought 18 Sukhois compared to India's 180, said Najib, adding that the government had carried out a thorough study including making price comparison with the acquisition made by the Indian air force.

At the end of the speech, Najib made reference to the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu by saying that he had never known, let alone met, the Mongolian woman.

"God willing, I'm still able to withstand all the lies aimed at tarnishing my name. Let the court carry out its duty and uphold justice. At the same time, I pray that the truth will prevail," he said.

I never met or knew Altantuya, Najib tells Parliament

The Star (14/5/08): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak reiterated in Parliament Wednesday that he had never met nor knew murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu.

He said he did not want to make any further comments on the matter as the hearing of the case was still going on.

"I know that some of the Dewan Rakyat members are concerned about the court case of the murder of the Mongolian woman, and I also know that there are some members who deliberately tried to link my name to the case,"

"Let the court play its role and carry out its responsibility to uphold justice in this country without any party interfering," he said

The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Defence Minister said the Government had never paid anyone commission for the procurement of two Scorpene submarines and 18 Sukhoi fighter jets.

He said both projects involved only direct negotiations between Malaysian firms and the countries that sold the submarines and the fighter planes.

"On the allegation made by Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh (Opposition Leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) that Syarikat Perimekar Sdn Bhd had received a commission of 114.96mil Euros in the procurement of Scorpene submarines, the ministry wants to stress that the Government has not and had never paid any commission directly or indirectly to the company.

"On the procurement of Sukhoi, I also want to stress that the Government had never paid any commission to Syarikat IMT (M) Defence Sdn Bhd as alleged," Najib said in his winding up speech on the motion of thanks on the Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat .

On the issue of National Service, Najib said the Government would continue with the programme as it promoted unity although there were accidents and death cases

He said since the programme started in 2004, there had been 16 death cases, of which 11 trainees died in their camps.

"The people are very happy with the programme despite the death cases. Their response is proven in the increased number of voluntary trainees from 929 last year to 1,137 this year," said Najib.

Malaysia's No. 2 leader rejects opposition claims of corruption

PR-Inside (14/5/08): Malaysia's deputy prime minister defended himself Wednesday against accusations of corruption that the opposition says make him unfit to become the country's leader.

Najib Razak, who is also defense minister, has been increasingly targeted by the opposition, which has sought to link him to scandals, including allegedly dubious defense
contracts and the slaying of a Mongolian woman.

In a speech to Parliament, Najib said the opposition has made "completely baseless" claims that major military procurements conducted by his ministry were tainted by graft.

Many politicians expect Najib to succeed Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. After their ruling coalition suffered stinging losses in March general elections, Abdullah pledged to hand over power to Najib in a leadership transition they would start planning after December.

Najib rejected accusations that his ministry misled the public about deals to buy French submarines in 2002 and Russian fighter aircraft in 2003. Opposition leaders have claimed massive commissions were paid to facilitators of the two deals.

"There's no need" for an independent inquiry into the purchases, Najib said.

Rivals have also claimed Najib was involved in the slaying of a Mongolian interpreter, Altantuya Shaariibuu, in late 2006. Two policemen are on trial for allegedly using explosives to destroy Shaariibuu's remains in a jungle clearing near Kuala Lumpur.

Abdul Razak Baginda, one of Najib's close associates, has been charged with abetting the murder of Shaariibuu, with whom Abdul Razak had an affair.

Najib reiterated Wednesday that he was not involved in the death and said he never met Shaariibuu.

Opposition activists have not produced solid evidence to substantiate their claims against Najib, but have widely spread their criticism through public speeches and Web sites. (AP)