Press Statement by Karpal Singh in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 20 ^thJune 2009:

OTK - Rumblings of a desperate man

The outburst by MCA President, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, clearly, exposes the rumblings of a desperate man. As Transport Minister, it was the paramount duty of Tee Keat to remain in Malaysia when the Dewan Rakyat commenced its meeting last Monday instead of taking refuge in France on his so-called working visit to that country.

In view of the RM12.5 billion PKFZ debacle, Tee Keat’s duty lay in being man enough to be in the Dewan Rakyat when Lim Kit Siang moved the motion of urgent public importance to set up a Royal Commission of inquiry into this scandal of collosal proportions. No doubt, Kit Siang’s motion was rejected albeit unfairly by, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat. It is not Kit Siang who is hiding lack of truthfulness. On the contrary, it is Tee Keat who is afraid of the truth emerging through his being held to account for the scandal in the Dewan Rakyat.

There is no point in Tee Keat making a Ministerial statement in the House when the Dewan Rakyat resumes its sitting on Monday. A Ministerial statement is not subject to clarification or discussion by Members of Parliament. Tee Keat should not seek protection under the cloak of a Ministerial statement. The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, should come to the forefront by moving a motion to enable a wide-ranging debate on the subject in the Dewan Rakyat. Nothing less will do.

On the principle of collective responsibility, the Prime Minister must be prepared to accept the fallout from this scandal. In the public interest, Parliament should at its current sitting, discuss this matter to ensure that the unvarnished truth emerges.

* Karpal Singh, DAP National Chairman & MP for Bukit Gelugor