http://dapmalaysia.org 
  Media Statement (2) by Lim Kit Siang in Petaling Jaya on Wednesday, 10th September 2008: 

Abdullah should direct the 54 BN MPs to cut short their “blur blur” agriculture study tour of Taiwan and return immediately to demonstrate that the BN has nothing to fear about “916”

Malaysia’s image and international standing are trampled upon and “rubbished” by the 54 Barisan Nasional MPs currently on a “blur blur” agriculture study tour of Taiwan as they are been tracked by the Taiwan print and electronic media as if they are bizarre or exotic creatures from a strange land if not from another planet.

Instead of conducting themselves as proud elected representatives of a nation held in high esteem in international circles, the 54 BN MPs are caught in a hide-and-seek with journalists as if they are fugitives from justice or agents of rogue nations as they are unable to give a honest and honourable explanation of the real purpose and reason for their sudden trip to Taiwan.

A Guang Ming Daily columnist has rightly coined the phrase “mong cha-cha” or “blur blur” tour to describe BN MPs junket to Taiwan, for the BN MPs were in a “blur” when summoned by SMS to submit their passports for the “trip to nowhere” as the country destination was not known and undecided, “blur” when they boarded the flight and continue to be “blur” when they landed in Taiwan.

The 54 BN MPs know that they have become a laughing stock in Taiwan and a standing joke wherever they go in the island republic. As a result, they cannot hold their heads high when appearing in public in Taiwan.

As MPs who should be Malaysian nationalists and patriots first and last, shouldn’t they do what is right – cut short their “blur blur” Taiwan trip so as not to prolong Malaysia’s shame and disgrace in Taiwan every day they are in Taiwan?

They should abandon the “blur, blur” agricultural study tour of Taiwan if they are not to be known as “blur blur” MPs not only for the rest of their elected term but the remainder of their lives.

In fact, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should issue an immediate directive to recall the 54 BN MPs to cut short their “blur blur” agriculture study tour of Taiwan and return immediately to demonstrate that the BN has nothing to fear about “916” since BN leaders have repeatedly claimed that the BN MPs’ junket to Taiwan was not meant to derail Anwar Ibrahim’s “916” plan.

Apart from sparing the nation from continuing infamy in Taiwan and international shame as well as BN’s “fatal obsession”: with 916, there are many other reasons why the BN MPs’ “blur blur” agricultural tour of Taiwan should be truncated, such as the fasting month for Muslims, the Moon-cake festival for Malaysian Chinese and most important of all, September 16 as Malaysia Day not only for Sabahans and Sarawakians but for all Malaysians as well!


* Lim Kit Siang,  DAP Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor