Tee Kiat affair exposes two political scandals – no government seriousness in combating corruption and Barisan Nasional 

double-standards of one rule for Umno and another for other BN component parties

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Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang  
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(Penang, Saturday) :  The Ong Tee Kiat affair has exposed two political scandals – (1) no government seriousness in combating corruption after getting 91% parliamentary seats in the last general election where voters were asked to give full support to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as a Prime Minister who will become a “modern-day Justice Bao” to wipe out corruption; and (2) Barisan Nasional (BN) double-standards of one rule for Umno  and another for other BN component parties.

After all the high hopes generated in the past three years that the war against corruption will be the distinguishing character and most outstanding 

hallmark  of the Abdullah premiership as compared to the past 22 years of Mahathir administration, it is both tragic and pathetic to witness  the 

complete sidelining of the issue of corruption and “leakages” of development expenditures - whether school repair allocations of RM20,000 for

SJKC Aik Hwa, RM30,000 for SJKC Kung Yu or RM10 million allocation for 114 Chinese primary schools, 71 Tamil schools and 25 primary 

schools approved last October after the tragic and totally unnecessary death of SJKC Keat Hwa (near Alor Star) teacher, Chan Boon Heng,  42, 

who died of internal injuries after falling through rotting termite-infested floorboards last September or at the macro level, the RM220 billion Ninth 

Malaysia Plan  development allocations!

I had asked yesterday whether the MCA President, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting  was going to apologise  on behalf of Tee Kiat for “a high-ranking 

officer in MCA”  stepping on the toes of the UMNO Youth leader, now that the Higher Education Minister, Datuk Mustapha Mohamed had 

apologized for his deputy minister.

Ka Ting has said that there was no need for him as MCA President to apologise for Tee Kiat, seeking justification in the explanation given by the 

Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak who advanced the argument of a  “clear distinction between making statements on government affairs 

and political issues”.

When asked about the BN double-standards as UMNO Youth leaders were allowed to hurl criticisms at Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri 

Koh Tsu Koon alleging neglect, discrimination and marginalization of the Malays in Penang, Najib said: “One is politics; the other is the Government.”

Stressing  that  the Cabinet decision to reprimand Tee Kiat was made “in the presence of all Barisan Nasional component party heads”, Najib said:  

“When it comes to the Government, the principle is very clear that you can’t transcend another ministry’s responsibility.” 

Najib’s argument does not hold water.  This is because among those leading the charge in the attacks on Tsu Koon for neglect, discrimination and 

marginalization of the Malays in Penang is a full-time government employee, Datuk Ahmad ibni Hajar, who is the Penang Port Sdn. Bhd. managing 

director and chief executive officer as well as Chairman of Umno  Tanjung Division.

In fact it was at the official opening of the Umno Tanjung division premises by the Prime Minister early in the month that Tsu Koon was publicly 

humiliated – being completely ignored by Ahmad in his speech as well as by the seven-banner public protest by Balik Pulau Umno Youth accusing 

Koh of neglecting the Malays in Penang, for which there is no apology from anyone up to date.

Mustapha has said that he apologized on behalf of Tee Kiat to the Education Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein because “I am his boss”.

iH

As Ahmad is a federal government appointment, is his “boss” the Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy going to apologise to Tsu Koon 

for a federal government employee “overstepping the line” and attacking the affairs of a state government?

Or may be, Kong Choy is not the “real boss” of Ahmad, and if so, is the “real boss”, whether the Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister going to 

publicly apologise to Tsu Koon for such an attack?

Furthermore, when Umno Supreme Council member and Deputy Health Minister, Datuk Dr. Abdul Latiff Ahmad officiated at the Umno Bukit 

Mertajam divisional meeting late last month, he fanned the charges about the neglect, discrimination and marginalization of the Malays in Penang under 

the Chief Ministership of Tsu Koon.

Hasn’t Abdul Latiff ”overstepped the line” and is Abdullah or Najib going to apologise on his behalf to Tsu Koon?

The answers to  the questions on both situations are in the negative, which only highlight the BN double standards of one rule for Umno and another 

for the other BN component parties!

(16/09/2006)