“They should just give me their proposals because I am worried they may lack maturity and rationale in their views.”
HOME Minister and Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, on whether opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) would have a chance to contribute their views regarding potential amendments to the Internal Security Act. (Source: Only 12 ISA detainees left in Kamunting, theSun, 26 June 2009)
Hishammuddin’s comments seemed to imply that Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs are mature and rational compared with their Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and other opposition peers.
“And remember, who wanted to steal 31 MPs from us to take over the government on Sept 16 (last year)? The first attempt to grab power was by PR … we didn’t start it but when they fail[ed] (and we succeeded), they accused us of grabbing power.”
Prime Minister and BN chairperson Datuk Seri Najib Razak, justifying the BN’s controversial February 2009 takeover of the Perak government. Najib also told the PR to “dream on” regarding dissolution of the Perak state assembly to make way for snap elections in the state. (Source: “Dream on”, Najib tells Pakatan Rakyat, New Straits Times, 15 May 2009)
Najib wasn’t the only BN leader to respond to criticisms about the coup in Perak by saying, “They started it!” BN-installed Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir repeatedly used the same argument when he was asked to justify the BN’s actions in Perak that led to a constitutional crisis.
“I think this is more of a personal matter. We should not be dragged into this situation[,] so we want to just leave it as it is.”
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, on why the Malaysian government did not want to get involved in the allegations by Indonesian Manohara Odelia Pinot that her husband, Kelantan prince Tengku Temenggong Tengku Mohamad Fakhry Sultan Ismail Petra, abused her.
Domestic violence is a crime in Malaysia and punishable under the Domestic Violence Act. (Source: Kelantan prince’s wife Manohara in the news again, The Star, 2 June 2009)
“What [matters] most [is], the people understand that it is swine flu and not elephant flu … If H1N1 is used [by the Health Ministry], RTM will use swine flu … We have discussed this matter and internationally it is known as H1N1 but in Malaysia we will use the term ‘swine flu’. This is to ensure that the people understand the meaning.”
Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, on why public television and radio stations will continue to use “swine flu” to describe the global spread of Influenza A(H1N1) instead of adhering to an international standard. (Source: RTM will call it ‘swine flu’ — Rais, Bernama, 27 June 2009)
“We do not want the problem of these ‘little dragon ladies’ to escalate … These women are enticing local married men into having affairs with them and are causing family disharmony.”
Tourism Minister and then Wanita MCA chief Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, on why her party opposes recruitment of female domestic workers from China. (Source: Malaysian wives wary of Chinese maids, The China Post, 28 May 2007)
“Where is the leak? The Batu Gajah MP (Fong Po Kuan-DAP) also leaks every month.”
The BN’s Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin, in a heated exchange with opposition MPs over a roof leak in Parliament House. Bung and the BN’s Jasin MP Datuk Mohd Said Yusof later apologised to women “who might have been offended” by their words. (Source: MPs say sorry, The Star, 19 May 2007) 
Aston says
Is The Nut Graph pro-PR? Be neutral and rational please…
Eric says
@Aston,
If you are unhappy about the above quotes, perhaps you should take this up with their authors? Unless you are happy shooting messengers. Be neutral and rational please…
A simple survey of Found in Quotation will answer your question beyond any doubt:
http://www.thenutgraph.com/category/found-in-quotation
jo says
@Aston
I couldn’t agree more. I think The Nut Graph is pro-PR.
Main says
It’s the part of politics where it’s funny but being politicised (the words) so much, it will become something else.
Anonymous says
For those of you commenting, you should realise that the quotes are sourced — they are verbatim, and thus a legitimate angle for The Nut Graph to report on. Have PR MPs committed such verbal gaffes? Probably not to that extent or consistency.
Michael says
Just because the Members of Parliament who say [these] things happen to be [from] the BN coalition doesn’t make this article biased.
In fact, I think there should be more articles like these written.
Please do continue […]….it’s entertaining and informative. People should take personal interest in what their elected representatives say, especially when they say [these] things.
Only then can they be taken to task in the most appropriate manner.