Ong Tee Keat Gratefully Plays Dumb?

In a swift response to being dragged into the hole dug by fellow Barisan Nasional colleague, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has the following to say on his blog:

If we truly uphold the spirit of democracy, we should respect differing views, even if we cannot concur with . The Deputy Prime Minister can voice his views on the results of the Bukit Gantang by-election, and so can I.

I see nothing wrong for him to express his observations and views. Nonetheless, I insist that the fund allocations pledged or disbursed to the people during campaigning should be viewed as the Government's obligation to taxpayers. The issue of gratefulness does not arise at all. This was clearly stated by me when I publicly made my comments on the issue.

What a disappointing cop-out after a "brave" statement issued by a party youth leader just earlier in the day. Nobody questions the concept of "respecting differing views" but does it mean that if UMNO comes out with a racist statement, we should not openly condemn the statement?

Read more at:  http://tonypua.blogspot.com/2009/04/ong-tee-keat-gratefully-plays-dumb.html