Turmoil worsen in bn, “If the people no longer want you, then just leave…get out.”: bn backbencher tells ong & koh to quit
KUALA LUMPUR: A Barisan Nasional (BN) backbencher today told Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat to quit in keeping with the slogan “1Malaysia — People First, Performance Now” while accusing Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon as a non-performer.
Datuk Mohamad Aziz (Sri Gading-BN) said Ong, who is also the MCA president, had lost the confidence of his party members and ought to quit and not be a burden to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“What is he waiting for? He should just quit. I am reflecting the public sentiment. If your party members do not want you, you should just go.
“We have a dignified PM, the ministers too must have dignity. You should know where you stand. Why stay when your leadership is ineffective? You don’t have the people’s trust. Get out,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat while debating Budget 2010.
Mohamad did not name Ong at first but merely said a minister, but was prompted by BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) deputy chairman Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan-BN) who asked: “Are you talking about Ong Tee Keat the transport minister?” This drew laughter from the opposition bench.
Mohamad, who sits on the same row as Bung Moktar and BNBBC chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (Bintulu-BN), then replied that he was indeed referring to Ong. He added that Ong had lost credibility after his party’s EGM on Oct 10.
“He said he would quit if he lost the confidence of his party members. But now he is singing a different tune. He wants to stay and is creating problems for the prime minister,” he said, adding that ministers should not be a burden to the government and should instead serve the people and MPs well.
“Some seem to have forgotten us (members of parliament). They (ministers) are here when the PM is here. When the PM is not here, they are not here. These are ministers whom I call mengampu (“apple polishers”),” said Mohamad, whose remark elicited loud cheers from both sides of the floor.
He went on to say that some ministers were defeated in the general election and were now seated in the House as senators. He added that the prime minister had placed his trust in these ministers but instead they had failed to carry out their duties.
“Some are tasked to look after key performance indicators (KPIs) but didn’t do it. Instead they are busy taking care of their interest,” he said.
At this juncture, Lim Kit Siang (Ipoh Timur-DAP) stood up and asked Mohamad to be direct and state his views clearly. “Don’t you mean the Gerakan chief Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon? Both Ong and Koh should leave?” asked Lim, drawing much laughter in the House.
Mohamad, who often crosses swords with Lim, agreed, saying that Koh had not just lost the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat but the entire Penang state.
When the opposition bench remarked that he was behaving like an opposition member in chastising the ministers, Mohamad snapped: “We are not here to warm the chairs. If the government is good, praise is in order. If bad, we have to criticise.”
BN MP urges Tee Keat, Tsu Koon to quit as ministers
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — A government backbencher today called on MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat to withdraw from his post since he has lost the confidence of his own party and that his image has been tarnished.
Sri Gading member of parliament Datuk Mohamad Aziz also urged Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Senator Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, to do the same as he is deemed to be not performing well as a minister.
Mohamad said as a Cabinet frontliner, a minister should not lose the confidence of his party members, more so not have his honour and image tarnished in the eyes of the public.
“If they have lost their own party members’ confidence, then they should no longer remain in the Cabinet.
“If one have any morals and self-respect, one should step down. Don’t create problems for the prime minister. Another person in the MCA can replace him. Why does he think he’s the only clever one?” Mohamad said when debating on the Supply Bill 2010 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said the minister involved should withdraw, in line with the government’s slogan of “People First, Performance Now”.
“I am just saying what most people feel. If the people no longer want you, then just leave…get out.” Mohamad also questioned the government’s action of appointing Koh as minister in the Prime Minister’s Department overseeing the Key Performance Index (KPI) as he regarded Koh as not having performed well himself.
“How can you take care of KPI when you yourself didn’t show good KPI? Your subordinates will have no confidence in you. So, how can you be effective as the minister in charge?
“I sympathise with my friend from Batu Kawan (former MP Huan Cheng Guan), who was a good MP but his seat was taken by the (Gerakan) president (Koh) who contested (in the last general election), but he lost the whole state. And still (he) wants to take care of KPI)?”
Mohamad also accused Koh of being an “apple polisher” for turning up in parliament only when the prime minister was around, besides being a senator through the “back door”.
His comments, however, went down well with some of the MPs including from the opposition. Then in a gentler voice, Mohamad, who has been an elected representative for three terms, advised ministers not to be arrogant even with other elected representatives.
“As our elders say, ‘when you look up at the sky, don’t forget the grass you step on’. Today you are a minister, tomorrow you may not be. Better be like me, yesterday I was MP, today, tomorrow and forever an MP,” he said, followed by laughter from the other MPs.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee interjected, asking whether Mohamad had meant that he was not interested in becoming a minister.
“I had the experience of being a state exco member. Had to attend 241 meetings in a year, hardly had time for my wife and children. Ask the ministers who really work hard, they know the situation. “Suffice being just a ‘wakil rakyat’, alhamdulillah,” he replied, followed by applause from those in the House. — Bernama/MI
