(New Straits Times Fri, 18/5/08) - The second dialogue between the 10 opposition MPs in Kuala Lumpur and the Barisan Nasional after the general election left much to be desired.
It was marked by the raising of petty issues culminating in Putrajaya MP Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor storming off shortly after lunch.
While the early hours of the meeting, which began at 9am, saw tension in the air, the testy exchanges eventually saw Tengku Adnan losing his cool.
He had arrived at 2.30pm to hear Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng complaining about the venue for the forum and what he claimed was preferential parking for representatives of the Federal Territories Ministry which had organised the event. Lim had asked why the two-day forum was held in a five-star hotel and not at City Hall headquarters here.
He had also asked why Pakatan Rakyat MPs had to pay for their parking while FT Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique and other senior ministry officials had parked in front of the hotel.
"Why should there also be double standards between the BN and the Pakatan MPs," he asked.
As soon as Tengku Adnan left after describing the dialogue as "rubbish", Zulhasnan's deputy, Datuk M. Saravanan, called for a press conference where he accused the opposition of being arrogant and not using the forum to raise constructive issues.
"The MPs have been given an opportunity to voice their opinions to improve the lifestyle of city folk. But I regret their behaviour. The meeting was a waste of time," he said, adding that such forums should not be organised in the future.
Former Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman agreed with Saravanan, calling the forum a "waste of time".
He said the ministry should not organise such forums in future.
"This forum was not used as it should have been. Opposition MPs should use the opportunity to interact and voice their opinions positively.
"But what I saw was arrogance. They just launched their attacks. How are we going to solve problems?," he asked.
Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong repeatedly attacked the mayor Datuk Ab Hakim Borhan, calling for the post to be filled by election and the FT Ministry scrapped.
Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai was also vocal, calling City Hall the "sleeping beauty" as he claimed many long-standing issues had not been settled.
Saravanan and Suhaili suggested that only "professional opposition MPs" be invited for meetings in future.
Batu MP Tian Chua is believed to fit this bill, as he mingled freely with Zulhasnan and other top officials from the ministry and City Hall.
His speech called for more open dialogues with the ministry besides being focused on issues affecting his constituency. Other MPs who left a positive mark on BN officials and City Hall were Bandar Tun Razak MP and Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim who called on Zulhasnan to work with the opposition.
"Let's work together. We can be partners. This is a good forum to solve the various issues affecting city folk."
He suggested that illegal trading, housing and cleanliness be topmost on the ministry's agenda.
Credit, however, goes to Zulhasnan, who sat throughout the nine-hour meeting, leaving only for an hour-long lunch. He first met the opposition MPs two weeks ago where he stressed that he wanted more dialogues to open communication between the BN and the opposition.
He had also proposed dialogues between the MPs and him between parliamentary sessions.
Article taken from MT
It was marked by the raising of petty issues culminating in Putrajaya MP Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor storming off shortly after lunch.
While the early hours of the meeting, which began at 9am, saw tension in the air, the testy exchanges eventually saw Tengku Adnan losing his cool.
He had arrived at 2.30pm to hear Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng complaining about the venue for the forum and what he claimed was preferential parking for representatives of the Federal Territories Ministry which had organised the event. Lim had asked why the two-day forum was held in a five-star hotel and not at City Hall headquarters here.
He had also asked why Pakatan Rakyat MPs had to pay for their parking while FT Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique and other senior ministry officials had parked in front of the hotel.
"Why should there also be double standards between the BN and the Pakatan MPs," he asked.
As soon as Tengku Adnan left after describing the dialogue as "rubbish", Zulhasnan's deputy, Datuk M. Saravanan, called for a press conference where he accused the opposition of being arrogant and not using the forum to raise constructive issues.
"The MPs have been given an opportunity to voice their opinions to improve the lifestyle of city folk. But I regret their behaviour. The meeting was a waste of time," he said, adding that such forums should not be organised in the future.
Former Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman agreed with Saravanan, calling the forum a "waste of time".
He said the ministry should not organise such forums in future.
"This forum was not used as it should have been. Opposition MPs should use the opportunity to interact and voice their opinions positively.
"But what I saw was arrogance. They just launched their attacks. How are we going to solve problems?," he asked.
Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong repeatedly attacked the mayor Datuk Ab Hakim Borhan, calling for the post to be filled by election and the FT Ministry scrapped.
Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai was also vocal, calling City Hall the "sleeping beauty" as he claimed many long-standing issues had not been settled.
Saravanan and Suhaili suggested that only "professional opposition MPs" be invited for meetings in future.
Batu MP Tian Chua is believed to fit this bill, as he mingled freely with Zulhasnan and other top officials from the ministry and City Hall.
His speech called for more open dialogues with the ministry besides being focused on issues affecting his constituency. Other MPs who left a positive mark on BN officials and City Hall were Bandar Tun Razak MP and Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim who called on Zulhasnan to work with the opposition.
"Let's work together. We can be partners. This is a good forum to solve the various issues affecting city folk."
He suggested that illegal trading, housing and cleanliness be topmost on the ministry's agenda.
Credit, however, goes to Zulhasnan, who sat throughout the nine-hour meeting, leaving only for an hour-long lunch. He first met the opposition MPs two weeks ago where he stressed that he wanted more dialogues to open communication between the BN and the opposition.
He had also proposed dialogues between the MPs and him between parliamentary sessions.
Article taken from MT
