Rare BN supreme council meet impotent, says MP
MalaysiaKini.com
Nov 1, 2014

DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has slammed BN component parties for not pressing for a clear stand on issues such as the government's inaction over Perkasa's bible-burning call, during one of its "rare" supreme council meetings.

"The BN supreme council held one of its rare meetings last night, but it was a great disappointment as the non-Umno parties, whether MCA, Gerakan, MIC or from Sabah and Sarawak, dared not demand that the BN government should take a clear stand on various controversial issues," said Lim in a statement today.

This, he said, included the attorney-general's (AG) "outrageous and preposterous decision" not to take action against Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali for the call to burn Malay Bibles last year.

Other pressing issues, he said, included the government's "puny anti-corruption efforts" and the public's calls to postpone the Goods and Services Tax implementation next April.

Lim said the BN supreme council is but a "platform for the exposition of Umno political hegemony in BN" with the other components merely hearing and obeying "the Umno Big Brother”.

"What is the use of lowly officials from MCA, Gerakan, MIC or Sabah and Sarawak BN component parties criticising the AG for his double standards and abuse of the prosecutorial discretions, if their ministers in cabinet and leaders in the BN supreme council dare not raise these matters at the proper forum to get them resolved?" he asked.

Najib's administration has been criticised for remaining silent over numerous religious and racial controversies, from the AG saying Perkasa's bible burning call was merely to "defend Islam" to authorities repeatedly seizing Malay-language Christian materials despite the cabinet's 10-point solution for Borneo Christians.

Notably, de facto law minister has evaded the issue by insisting that she had merely read out the AG's findings in Parliament and that it is not her personal view.

'Posts more important than action'

"As almost every day, there are media statements criticising and attacking the AG's decision by the other BN component parties and their leaders, Malaysians would have expected the matter to be taken to the highest level at the cabinet and the BN supreme council meeting last night – but this was not done.

"The trouble with politics in Malaysia is that we have ministers and leaders who are prepared to do anything just to keep their positions in government," he added.

Lim also asked if the BN supreme council addressed the matter of PM Najib Razak's sliding popularity reflected in a Merdeka Centre poll this week.

"Did anyone dare to raise the subject of the collapse of Najib's popularity rating as well as his unpopularity rating on the verge of breaking all records at the BN supreme council last night?

"Is it any wonder that the influential British weekly, the Economist, in its latest publication ended its article on Malaysia with the following unflattering judgment on Najib: 'As always, the prime minister (Najib) touts policies intended to get Malaysia’s economy motoring. He has never looked less capable of carrying them out.',” he said.

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