Parliament Unites In Condemnation!

Why is it when I decide to take a break, the 'interesting' news just never stops flowing? This is the first of a series of posts on issues I would like to bring to attention, and hopefully I don't run out of stamina before the posts are made!

Anyway, a few days back, this was on The Malaysian Insider:

Threat to Karpal unites parliament in condemnation

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat today temporarily buried their differences over Karpal Singh and jointly condemned the death threat against him. On Tuesday afternoon, a man wearing a full-faced helmet, dropped off an envelope at the veteran lawyer’s office in Kuala Lumpur.

The letter contained a live bullet and a note warning him not to question the special rights of the Malays and the constitutional powers of the sultans. It said that if he persisted, the bullet will be lodged in his forehead.

Karpal, the DAP MP for Bukit Gelugor and one of the most recognisable politicians here, has been at the centre of controversy after he questioned the powers of the Perak Sultan to override the Menteri Besar and reinstate the head of the state’s religious department.

He has been criticised heavily by BN politicians, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the Attorney-General’s Chambers is mulling bringing charges of sedition against him.

But all that baggage was left behind today as MPs condemned the death threat against DAP chairman Karpal Singh.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the act went against how Malaysians resolved disputes.

"If there is any unhappiness about his (Karpal's) statement, we have proper channels in the Malaysian system to deal with this," he said during a press conference attended by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Opposition leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and DAP MP Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong), Karpal's son.

Lim said the DAP opposed any form of violence. “We believe in the ballot, not the bullet," he said, hoping that the police would offer protection to Karpal.

Umno Youth chief Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein, who has crossed swords with Karpal on a number of occasions, said: “We want the police to investigate and take action. Although there were racial sentiments in statements made by Karpal, we do not condone death threats. We do not support anyone who sends bullets."

Wow. It's nice to see that our Members of Parliament are human beings after all, that despite their differences, they have it in themselves to actually condemn the threat that was made towards him (Karpal).

It's the right thing to do, and these people actually knew it! I'm flabbergasted! For once party politics were pushed aside! Did you ever thought it was possible in your lifetime? There might be hope still.

Well, kudos to you, both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat MPs! Let's just hope that this puts an end to the whole issue, and that those responsible (the man in the full-faced helmet and his accomplices) are caught. I don't think Malaysia is that bad, that we have to resolve to 'barbaric' ways to end conflicts. That is not the Malaysia that I would want to live in, and its definitely not the Malaysia that we are all fighting for.

So once again,
KUDOS TO OUR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT!