Media statement by Lim Kit Siang in Kota Kinabalu on Monday, 23^rd July 2012: 

Hishammuddin deserves more than RM10 salary cut motions in forthcoming Parliament

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein deserves more than RM10 salary cut motions in the forthcoming budget Parliament for his “transformation” from a “know nothing Minister” to “all knowing Minister” all in a matter of 24 hours.

This is the transformation of Hishammuddin before the eyes of 28 million Malaysians in his response to the wild and reckless speech by Special Branch's assistant director of the E2 (M) national social extremist threat division head Mohd Sofian Md Makinuddin to the National Youth Leaders Convention in Parliament last Thursday alleging that Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terrorists are infiltrating PAS and former communists infiltrating the DAP for the coming general election.

When asked on Friday, Hishammuddin put up the front that he is a Minister who knows nothing, pleading that he was "not sure" about the alleged infiltration of communists and terrorists into Pakatan Rakyat: "I don’t have the relevant information (about the issue) at the present moment. Therefore, I cannot say whether it is true or not. I can only say this much, this topic is very sensitive."

When Hishammuddin was strongly criticized for his “most cowardly, craven and irresponsible response” to Sofian’s wild and reckless allegations and being “the lousiest Home Minister in the nation’s history”, as “how can a responsible Home Minister claim ignorance when a top Special Branch officer could go public to make the most damning allegations against Federal opposition parties?”, Hishammuddin performed a full somersault in 24 hours and claimed to be a “all knowing Minister”.

Hishammuddin said on Saturday that the “alleged infiltration” of JI terrorists and communists into Pakatan Rakyat is not at a level that would threaten the country’s security, saying:

“Right now, I am saying that the reports that have come to me, whatever penetration (in the opposition) as far as ideology is concerned, it does not affect the security, safety and stability of our nation. So don’t make it more than that.”

Asked whether the police had any evidence on the claim, Hishammuddin replied: “If it concerns national security, it is not just evidence, action must be taken and it has to be transparent and open. But if it is just an observation concerning involvement that does not threaten national security at this stage, then I am not worried.”

He added that what the Special Branch said were “merely facts”, adding “If it does not affect national security that we do not see it as a threat”.

Hishammuddin is not talking as a sane and sensible Home Minister but uttering gobbledegook because he was trying to defend the indefensible.

What are the “merely facts” that Hishammuddin is referring to with reference to Sofian’s allegations of JI terrorists infiltrating PAS and communists infiltrating DAP?

Hishammuddin and Sofian have been challenged to name names of JI terrorists who have infiltrated PAS and communists who have infiltrated DAP, and if they cannot name names, these allegations are not “merely facts” but downright lies and falsehoods arising from pure flights of Sofian’s imagination!

Instead of reprimanding and disciplining Sofian for abusing his Special Branch position to become the political pawns of Barisan Nasional, Hishammuddin tried to defend Sofian’s transgression by indulging in gobbledegook himself.

At the same time, he tried to appear as a “know all Minister” 24 hours after he told Malaysians that he was a “know nothing Minister” as far as the wild allegations were concerned.

Hishammuddin is proving to be quite a national disaster as a Home Minister.

Recently, he was afflicted with the serious denial complex denying that Malaysians have been gripped by escalating fear of crime as a result of rising crime incidents in the country – blaming it all on “perception” and the social media.

There can be no dispute that for the first time in the nation’s history, Malaysians feel unsafe in the country. This is in addition to the increasing fear of crime felt by Malaysians and foreign investors in the country.

This is another illustration where Hishammuddin wanted to project the image that he is a “know all Minister” when he appears to “know nothing” at all!

Hishammuddin does not appear to be on top of his Ministerial responsibility to ensure that the police must give top priority to their core functions of keeping crime low to allow Malaysians to feel safe in the country. Instead, he is condoning the waste of public funds and resources with the police trying to keep UMNO/Barisan Nasional in power, like Sofian’s wild and reckless allegations.

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