By FMT staff
KUALA LUMPUR: The new parliament session has gotten off to a fiery start with the focus being on Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and his troubled party PKR.
The former deputy prime minister and finance minister had come under intense fire in the August house from a former loyalist turned nemesis.
Anwar could also be slapped with a suspension for claiming that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had photocopied the 'One Israel' campaign for his '1Malaysia' brainchild.
Prior to his 'One Israel' revelation on Wednesday, the opposition leader had earlier crossed swords with Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who is the MP for Rembau.
Khairy had questioned Anwar on the perception that Pakatan Rakyat is anti-Malay and pro-Chinese, which led to an exchange riddled with personal attacks.
Excerpts from the Hansard were published in PROKHAIRY.COM, where the website praised the Umno Youth chief for standing his ground despite being attacked and criticised Anwar for requesting 'back up' from PKR MPs.
Below is the exchange between the two men.
Khairy: Congratulations for still being the opposition leader although the party has lost several seats.
N Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai): He (Khairy) talks big when he is not even a minister.
Khairy: Thank-you Padang Serai. I know you support me. Returning to what was raised by Permatang Pauh (Anwar), who explained that Pakatan does not discriminate. Many examples were given. Despite this, Permatang Pauh also blamed Umno, saying that Umno had drummed up all this. (allegations)
Gobalakrishnan: Correct!
Khairy: I just want Permatang Pauh's view. On paper, the (Pakatan) agreement looks good, signed by the Tok Guru Marang (PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang) and so forth. But the perception exists, and this is not a perception which appears in Utusan Malaysia or propogated by Umno members alone.
I quote (a statement) that there is an opposition leader who is said to be “chauvinist, dictatorial and communist minded”. This refers to YB Bagan and Penang chief minister (Lim Guan Eng). This did not come from Utusan or Umno, but Bayan Baru (Zahrain Mohamed Hashim), who at one time was a leading light of PKR.
Now, Permatang Pauh can give all sorts of excuses such as wrongly choosing (candidates), you are sorry because you chose a wrong candidate. But the problem is, he (Zahrain) is a close friend, a strong man of PKR. So Permatang Pauh can attempt to lie or confuse the Dewan, but the problem is that PKR people themselves have lost faith in you.
Anwar: This is a good attempt, but you cannot run away from the issue of facts. You can twist... but Genting Highlands as a gambling hub can but 'kampung tersusun' (planned village) for the Malays cannot. This (issue) has not been answered until today.
Khairy: Why has there been no answer?
Anwar: I will answer, I will answer.
Khairy: Answer that first (the earlier question concerning Pakatan).
Anwar: Don't worry, I am not Rembau, I am Permatang Pauh. I will answer, but I want to say this. Its good that the 'submarine minister' (a jibe at Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) is also here. (Laughs) I will tell you, 60,000 'geran' (land title) for Terengganu Malays, 102,000 'geran' for Malays in a kampung in Perak have been cancelled by Umno, Barisan Nasional. This has not been answered. If it is said that we (Pakatan) gave (land titles) for Chinese families, I admit that it was a correct decision. We helped poor Chinese. Why do you defend policies that protect rich gambling tycoons... This has not been answered...
Khairy: Was it not you who defended these gambling tycoons when you were finance minister. Was it not you who danced with one of these tycoon's daughters when you were deputy prime minister.
Anwar: Okay.
Khairy: Answer the question.
Anwar: I had 'joget' (danced) a little.
Khairy: You cannot say things, and then absolve yourself.
Anwar: I will answer, don't worry.
Khairy: So what happened in the past?
Anwar: I 'joget' a little
Khairy: We still have a video of you dancing with the daughter of...
Anwar: This Umno Youth chief... dancing a little... is a big sin, drinking alcohol is okay.
Khairy: Who said so?
Anwar: Same as politics
Khairy: You are trying to avoid the first question
Anwar: I am answering, just listen.
Khairy: Answer first, going on vacation to Genting Highlands, you danced with the daughter of a gambling tycoon...
Anwar: I repeat my answer. The issue raised by Pasir Salak (BN-Tajuddin Abdul Rahman), we discuss the issue of Pakatan Rakyat, (he said) we signed the document, but in implementation, we support the Chinese. I will answer based on facts and figures... which road in Penang has its name changed to Chinese?
Another MP: Dancing...
Anwar: Yes, I danced. I have already said that. If Umno leaders see me dancing, they will show it (the recording) everyday. Umno leaders drink alcohol and gamble, that is a none issue.
Khairy: That is not the question
Anwar: That is my answer
Khairy: The question is not whether you danced. If you 'joget' that is fine. But you danced with the daughter of a gambling tycoon.
Following this, Deputy Speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar tried his best to restore order in the house, after which the opposition leader continued speaking.
Anwar: This is like Umno Youth's governance, there is no regard for rules. He (Khairy), during the last prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi), the son-in-law got everything. Before that..
This prompted Khairy to protest to the deputy speaker.
Anwar: Now, wife and children.
Khairy: Deputy speaker, he has started again. He has not answered my question.
Anwar: I have answered.
Khairy: Deputy speaker, the earlier question has not been answered.
Deputy speaker: Rembau, we have to wait. If he (Anwar) says he wants to answer, wait and listen to his answer. But if we object to every single word, the answer may not be delivered.
The deputy speaker's words drew an applause from the opposition MPs, prompting Wan Junaidi to remark, “No need YBs, I don't need your cheers.”
Following this, Anwar proceeded to answer several issues such as the pig faming industry in the Pakatan-controlled state Kedah and the accusation that the opposition coalition is against the Malay rulers.
Later, he also raised the 'One Israel' allegation, leading Khairy to demand that he furnish proof.
The Umno Youth chief also grilled Anwar over the latter's remarks pertaining to Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff, whom the opposition leader described as lobbyist for the NeoCon (neo conservatives) with extreme views.
Khairy: What you said about the (government's) links with the NeoCon has to be raised again because I cannot allow you to speak with hypocrisy. What is your link with (former World Bank president and US deputy secretary of defense Paul Wolfowitz? If we speak about NeoCon, he is the godfather of the neoconservatives in the US. You had even accepted the position of chairman of the Future Foundation from the World Bank, when it was headed by Wolfowitz.
So let us not be hypocritical. If we are linked with the NeoCon which has an agenda to suppress the Islamic world, then you are 'complicit' as well.
Anwar: At least he admits, by saying complicit, means they (the government) is involved with the Jews. Thank you very much.
Khairy: But are you complicit? Are you complicit?
Anwar: Okay, let me reply. Don't be rude...
Khairy: From just now, you are not answering my questions. My question on Bayan Baru (Zahrain) was not answered and my question on the NeoCon was not answered.
Anwar: Your father-in-law is not the prime minister now.
Khairy: You cannot run away from answering.
Anwar: You are not the son-in-law of the prime minister now.
Khairy: You have to answer.
Anwar: Yes, I will answer
Khairy: You have to answer. Can't you answer me?
Anwar: You asked, I will answer. Let me reply
Khairy: You are not answering my questions. You are hopeless. You cannot answer
Anwar: You see, a display of Umno Youth arrogance
Khairy: This is not arrogance, I am asking you, please answer
At this juncture, a few other MPs join in the fray, leading the deputy speaker to call for calm.
After several more exchanges, PKR's secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution intervened and took a swipe at Khairy.
Saifuddin: It is not difficult to understand Rembau's courage to challenge the opposition leader... win in party (Umno Youth) elections, but does not become a minister. This debate is being observed by the prime minister, so this courage (on Khairy's part) will give him points and the opportunity to be appointed as minister.
This led to another outburst, and Khairy later questioned how many gambling licences were issued by Anwar in his capacity as finance minister.
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