Kit Siang: PM always several steps behind events

 

Veteran opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang today accused Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob of constantly being "several steps behind events" following the latter's speech at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Lim said Ismail, who spoke on the government's flood response at the Parliament's special sitting today, should have made a ministerial statement to Parliament on Dec 20 when the Dewan Rakyat was still in session and when the annual flooding was at its peak.

He also criticised Ismail for failing to make any reference to "climate change" as an important factor in the flood disaster which began on Dec 18 last year and claimed at least 45 lives in just a week.

"The other factor was man-made conditions such as corruption, abuses of power and sheer incompetence pre-and-post the floods disasters.

"We have the ninth prime minister who is always several steps behind events when he should be more prescient, more proactive and on top of events than reactive to or trodden by events," said Lim.

Ismail addressed the Dewan Rakyat today in a special one-day sitting which he called specifically to discuss matters concerning the government's flood response. Nothing was voted on.

The prime minister described the flood response in Selangor last month as "kelam kabut" (disorganised) while praising an effective response in Pahang.

He claimed that six severe weather warnings were issued but ignored by the authorities in Selangor. This prompted him to order the military from other states to join in flood relief efforts.

Lim Kit Siang

However, Lim stressed that Ismail's speech was too late as these issues could have been addressed much sooner and that Parliament could have been used to address more pressing affairs such as allegations of impropriety against MACC chief Azam Baki,

"Ismail Sabri is the most slow-witted prime minister and surrounded by the worst advisers in the nation's history, but is he seriously suggesting that Azam is presently the best example of integrity and accountability in the public service?

"Ismail Sabri should ask Azam to resign or go on leave and appoint a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate MACC and the Securities Commission with regard to Azam's case.

"Alternatively, he should convene a special Parliament next week to decide on whether Azam is fit to continue as MACC chief commissioner," said Lim.

Azam was accused of flouting government regulations by owning 2 million warrants in a public-listed company as of March 2016 when he was the MACC investigations director.

Following this, Azam claimed that the transaction was conducted by his brother Nasir in his name.

This prompted an investigation by the Securities Commission on possible proxy trading, which is a crime. However, the SC's investigations could not prove the crime and that Azam was in full control of his trading accounts.

Last night, Ismail urged all Malaysians to respect the SC's decision. - Mkini