A bloody waste of time, DAP says of Zahid's reply

The DAP condemned the three-minute response of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to the RM2.5 billion fiasco as a waste of time and an act of cowardice for not facing up to the controversy.

Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong said given that the RM 2.6 billion issue has tarnished the name of country, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should be referred to the Privileges and Rights Committee.

“I think it’s bloody waste of time; the prime minister (himself) should have explained (the matter) to Parliament.

“If anyone should be referred to the privileges committee, it should be the prime minister,”Liew, the DAP national political education director, told reporters at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Citing the hauling up of PKR Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar to the Rights and Privileges Committee, he said Najib should also face a similar fate.

“He (Najib) takes foreign donation, he should be probed by Parliament.”

Instead of the prime minister, Zahid was tasked to explain the RM2.6 billion issue which he did in just three minutes, shedding hardly any new information.

Later, Parliament voted to refer Nurul Izzah to the rights committee, with 105 in favour and 77 against.

Nurul Izzah has been embroiled in a controversy following her meeting with the self-styled Sulu princess Jacel Kiram.

Liew said that Parliament has got its priorities wrong when it dealt with two major issues – the RM2.6 billion donation and referring Nurul Izzah to the rights panel.

He said while the nation waited to hear the explanation on the RM2.6 billion scandal, it took only three minutes for Zahid to answer.

On the other hand, it took Parliament one hour to debate on the motion to refer Nurul Izzah to the rights committee.

“This will result in the public losing confidence in Parliament.”

Also present at the press conference were DAP acting chairman Tan Kok Wai, Rasah MP Teo Kok Seong and Selangor DAP committee member Edry Faisal.

'Embarrassing to Umno'

Joining in the attack, Tan said Najib is “a coward” for not showing up to given an explanation on the RM2.6 billion fiasco.

“The reply by Zahid on behalf of the prime minister shows Najib is a coward for not turning up himself.

“This has caused embarassment to Umno,” said the Cheras MP, adding that he foresees Umno grassroots members rebelling against Najib.

Meanwhile, Liew said Parliament will sit for only 53 days next year, which is insufficient for MPs to debate.

“MPs will have to stay late into the night (to debate on Bills),” he said, adding that this will undermine democracy.

The Dewan Rakyat is expected to adjourn its last day of sitting in the wee hours as the controversial National Security Council Bill will be hotly debated.

Asked why the opposition did not call for bloc voting on the third reading of Budget 2016, Liew said that since a bloc voting was called at the policy stage, it is not necessary to repeat.

“During the policy stage (we have called for bloc voting). I don’t see the need to do the thing twice.”

DAP whip Anthony Loke had called for bloc voting on the budget at the policy stage on Nov 16, but the opposition failed to vote it down, with 128 in favour (of the budget) and 74 against.

The opposition did not call for a bloc voting on the third reading of the Supply Bill two days ago. -Mkini