Politics 101 Malaysia

Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam), the party’s women chief, took a dig at the MP, Zulkifli Nordin (PKR-Kulim Bandar Baru), during the debate on the Education (amendment) Bill 2008.

Chong Eng said Islam sought equality.

“Based on this principle, I believe the same should apply to national-type schools, which should be accorded the same treatment as national schools.”

Zulkifli quickly sought to correct Chong Eng, saying that Islam respected all religions but on the question of equality, it had a different view especially in the matter of faith, reported NST.

Zulkifli, looking rather angry, said Chong Eng, by drawing on Islam to illustrate the case for Chinese education, had implied that the Chinese were being discriminated against.

“But that is also the case with religious schools,” he said. ”Continued”

Shouts of racism again marred proceedings in the House yesterday as parliamentarians crossed swords over the issue of government scholarships.

It began when Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz said non-bumiputeras are entitled to JPA (Public Service Department) scholarships, reports Malaysiakini.

This prompted Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) to ask about the racial quotas under the scholarships.

Sparks began to fly when Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Umno-Pasir Salak) stood up and shouted: “The constitution is clear on bumiputera rights and we can’t compromise that. No more compromises!” ”Continued”

Mahathir’s part time angel of doom, Matthias Chang, has come out with another confidence-shaker.

In his website he says Pak Choy should go by end of next month and not 2 years later.

Sun2surf, July 8.

Those who caught RTM1’s live telecast of the Dewan Rakyat question-and-answer session this morning were shocked over a lewd gesture made by Kinabatangan MP and Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) deputy chairman Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin during a shouting match.

The RTM1 camera was trained on Bung Mokhtar who was standing up to engage in a verbal tirade with the opposition camp, with each calling the other bodoh! (stupid).

As he was sitting down, the camera caught the MP, who is no stranger to controversy, making the lewd gesture of slapping one hand over a clenched fist.

Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng said she did not notice the gesture in the Dewan but said she received a few calls from her constituents asking her why an MP had behaved in such a manner. ”Continued”

Malaysiakini, 7 July.

Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) has made it clear that it has not changed its stand on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Secretary-general Richard Yong in a press statement stated that “the party’s stand on Sapp’s loss of confidence in the PM remains”.

He faxed a statement to Malaysiakini following newspaper reports today quoting the party’s Tawau MP and vice-president Dr Chua Soon Bui as indicating that the party has dropped its plan to submit the motion.

Yong said the party would file the motion when the time is right, but “not at the moment in order not to fall into the trap of some racist opportunists especially in view of the current volatile situation in the country”. ”Continued”

Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan asks how can standing orders be suspended during question time?

Our sassy MP for Seputeh is inviting you to submit questions for the next session of parliament.

Absolute deadline is June 1. 40 words max.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Umno)

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak (Umno)

Minister Wannabe Curry Jamaludin ”Continued”