'Kok jealous, resentful of Khairul's senator appointment'

DAP's Seputeh MP Teresa Kok is questioning the appointment of Umno Youth vice-chief Khairul Azwan Harun as senator because she is jealous and resentful.

"Teresa Kok is committing this for absolutely no reason other than jealousy or resentment that an Umno leader was given the nod.

"Given her history of brazen disrespect for institutions in our country, I would not be surprised if she was either unaware of, or unconcerned about, the implications of her statement," said Umno Youth executive committee member Shahril Hamdan in a statement today.

Kok had yesterday questioned why the government had named Khairul Azwan as a senator in the latest round of appointments for the Dewan Negara, citing purported racist remarks he had made.

Shahril pointed out that the Federal Constitution stated that other than two elected senators for every state, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall appoint 44 members of the senate who he has deemed to have reached distinction in various fields.

Khairul Azwan has distinguished himself as a champion for youth issues for many years both within Umno and outside of it, he said.

"More importantly, although the Agong acts in accordance with the advice of the prime minister, questioning anyone's appointment as a senator is akin to questioning the Agong's judgment," he said.

Shahril also said that Kok, who he described as a hypocritical politician, was in no position to accuse others of being unworthy of a seat in parliament.

"Recall her tasteless 2014 Chinese New Year video where she made fun of the Malaysian education system and made light of the 2013 Lahad Datu intrusion on the way to mocking the nation's top leaders," he said.

Kok has also remained silent, he said, on purportedly anti-Malay remarks by her fellow DAP members.

He cited the examples of former DAP member Hew Kuan Yau's "screw the Malays" comment and DAP's Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi's tweets on the passing of PAS spiritual leader Haron Din which have been perceived to be insensitive.

"Teresa Kok, a tip: look at yourself in the mirror before speaking out against us, and take some constitutional lessons," Shahril said.- Mkini