House erupts over motion on pay cut
Malaysiakini.com
Nov 27, 2006
Beh Lih Yi

Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) could not persuade parliamentarians to cut RM10 from the salary of four frontbenchers in the Education Ministry, for alleged failings over vernacular education. 

Lim tabled the unprecedented motion against Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, deputies Noh Omar and Hon Choon Kim, and parliamentary secretary P Komala Devi.

He called for the four to be censured for “collective neglect and irresponsibility” because they had allegedly failed to provide for Chinese and Tamil primary schools to be built under the 2007 Budget and the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Noh had said in the House on Sept 20 that the government would not build any new vernacular schools for the next five years. The statement caused strong reactions from vernacular educationists who said the government has broken its promise. 

Lim, in a lengthy argument today, said the government has no reason not to build any new vernacular schools based on enrolment needs, as there is no dearth of funds. He argued that the decision was a political one.

As he moved on to talk about Hishammuddin wielding a keris (traditional Malay dagger) at the Umno Youth annual meeting, shouting erupted and Lim was interrupted repeatedly by the backbenchers.

The opposition leader branded Hishammuddin as “the most divisive and polarised education minister in the nation’s history” in relation to the latter’s wielding of the keris and “the worst example for a model of Bangsa Malaysia” for allegedly heightening racial polarisation.

“Hishammuddin should choose one or the other - resign as education minister or Umno Youth leader as it is clear that he cannot do a good job of both, particularly if he is set on annual keris-wielding at the Umno Youth and Umno general assemblies,” Lim concluded.

The backbenchers shouted loudly: “No way, no way!”

Heated debate

Backbenchers who stood up to debate were mainly carried away with defending Hishammuddin’s move to wield the keris and arguing that the opposition was wasting time in moving the salary-cut motion.

However, Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong) said: “We have been independent for nearly 50 years but we have an education minister who is not well behaved. If he wants to be an education minister, don’t always wave a keris.”

Umno backbencher Ahmad Zainuddin Omar (BN-Larut) unexpectedly cited the Standing Orders in asking Lim to withdraw a ‘Malaysia bodoh’ (Malaysia is stupid) remark, that the latter had quoted from an article by a foreign journalist.

“The opposition leader is not patriotic, he only knows how to try to cut the minister’s salary,” said Ahmad Zainuddin to another round of pandemonium in the House from demands to withdraw the accusation that Lim is ‘unpatriotic’.

Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) also argued that Hishammuddin was not fit to be the education minister because he had brandished of the keris and had allegedly committed contempt of court over remarks at the Umno Youth meeting.

Back on the core issue, Lau Yen Peng (BN-Puchong) expressed gratitude to the minister for building a new Chinese school in his constituency, while Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera) said the opposition should judge Hishammuddin’s overall performance.

“As far I can see since I became a MP, every time the DAP has raised issues of education, it is related to Chinese schools. They want to be a champion for the Chinese community and compete with MCA and Gerakan,” said Ismail Sabri.

Defensive tone

Hishammuddin began his reply to the opposition motion in a defensive tone by describing Lim’s motion as “trying to gain political mileage, narrow and not realistic”.

Stressing he has not ignored the needs of Chinese schools, the minister said his task is to oversee all aspects of education. He said many issues, such as basic infrastructures in schools and shortage of teachers, do not appear to be the concern of the opposition parliamentarians.

At this point, Hishammuddin caused another uproar when he said the opposition was wrong in arguing that there were insufficient Chinese schools, as 531 Chinese schools have fewer than 150 students nationwide.

“There are Chinese schools with fewer than 10 students that have not been closed,” Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) interjected.

Lim, though, questioned why the minister had linked the issue of under-enrolment with the absence of new schools.

The minister said the building of any new vernacular school is dependent on discussion by BN leaders and the consensus reached. He emphasised that this matter should be continue to be dealt with by BN leaders through internal channels.

He also reiterated that the government aims to strengthen national schools.

“If I am racist, I would not have won in the general election with 50 percent of the votes coming from non-Malays. I would not do something that will make me lose in the election at the end of the day,” the minister said.

“What I am doing is to ensure a consistent BN agenda meant for everyone... I definitely would not allow this pay-cut motion against my deputies and parliamentary secretary as we are sincere and honest.”

Throughout his reply, Hishammuddin did not touch on the keris controversy.

The salary cut motion was voted out with the majority voice at 4.45pm.
    
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