Nazri defends ‘tactical move’ to only send independents on US trip
Written by Chua Sue-Ann, The Edge
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz on Thursday, April 8 defended his decision to only send two independent members of parliament (MP) on a trip to the United States with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak next week.
Nazri was responding to a news report that two independent MPs — Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim (Bayan Baru) and Zulkifli Noordin (Kulim-Bandar Baharu) — would follow Najib to Washington on April 14 for the relaunch of the Malaysia – United States Congressional Caucus.
Approached by reporters in parliament lobby, Nazri explained he had decided not to send any Barisan Nasional (BN) representatives to ensure the ruling coalition had sufficient numbers whenever the opposition called for bloc voting on government bills and supplementary supply bills.
BN lawmakers are not allowed to leave the country whenever parliament is in session and they have accepted that decision, Nazri (Padang Rengas-BN) said.
BN has been strict in ordering its elected representatives to be present during voting in the Dewan Rakyat after the government’s 2010 budget proposals were almost defeated in December 2009. The current sitting is scheduled to end April 22.
Nazri also said he chose not to send any Pakatan Rakyat (PR) representatives for the trip because he did not want to be “accused of trying to reduce their numbers”.
Of the 222 Dewan Rakyat members, BN has 137 representatives while PR has 78.
“I sent the independents because they do not necessarily vote for either BN or the opposition. Even if I sent 10 independents, it would not be a problem.
“This is self inflicted and it is (DAP veteran) Lim Kit Siang’s fault because every time there is a vote, they want bloc voting. I don’t mind sending independent because they won’t side with any side,” Nazri added.
The only two BN MPs who are scheduled for the Washington trip are Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim (Jelebu-BN) and Malaysia’s ambassador to the US Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis (Rompin-BN).
Earlier, during debates on the Supplementary Supply Bill 2010, Lim (Ipoh Timur-DAP) taunted BN representatives, saying that they had “lower status” than the independent MPs who were chosen to go on the trip.
“I congratulate Kulim-Bandar Baharu (Zulkifli) and Bayan Baru (Zahrain) for being chosen to go to US… It looks like they (independents) are first class and BN second class,” Lim said.
Zahrain and Zulkifli recently had quit Parti Keadilan Rakyat after openly breaking ranks with the party.
Datuk Mohamad Aziz (Sri Gading-BN) then stood up and said, “Don’t say that. We don’t think like that”.
Lim continued his tirade and said the trip showed that BN remained “second class” while component parties MIC and MCA were “third class”.
The DAP veteran then questioned the purpose of the trip and dubbed it the “US – BN Congressional Caucus”, claiming that PR representatives were not consulted on the matter.
