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Be bold in cabinet on Tajuddin, DAP urges MCA, Gerakan
Published:  Oct 7, 2015 11:33 AM
Updated: 4:00 AM

MCA and Gerakan ministers are urged to be bold in the cabinet to demand that prime minister take stern action against deputy minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

DAP national vice-chairperson Teresa Kok ( photo ) said if a deputy minister in democratic nations like England, Australia or Japan had made similar offensive remarks, he would be immediately pressured by public opinion to withdraw his remarks and apologise, even forced to resign his government post or face expulsion by the prime minister.

"But till today, Tajuddin has not shown any remorse over his remarks. It is time that the only person who can and should discipline him must speak up and take action, and the person is Prime Minister Najib (Abdul Razak)," she said in a statement.

The Seputeh MP said it is the prerogative of the prime minister to appoint or dismiss any minister or deputy minister, and Najib does not need the instruction or decision of the BN supreme council to act against any minister or deputy minister.

"Recently, he acted so quickly and decisively against former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin," Kok added.

Apology or retraction not sufficient

It was reported that MCA president Liow Tiong Lai had said that the party central committee was upset with the Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister's "slap Chinese" remarks.

Liow ( photo ) said MCA will lodge an official complaint against Tajuddin with the BN chairperson Najib.

Kok questioned why MCA chose to lodge a complaint with the BN chairperson but not demand stern action against Tajuddin in the cabinet.

"Is it because Liow and his ministers dare not bring up the issue and make demand in the cabinet meeting?

"Is the complaint with the BN supreme council a delay tactic to allow the issue to die down over time?" she asked.

Kok said Tajuddin's remarks have hurt the sensitivity and feelings of the Chinese community, thus an apology or retraction will not be sufficient.

"I reiterate my stand that Najib must suspend or expel him as the deputy minister so to send a clear message to all Malaysians that he and the cabinet will not tolerate Tajuddin’s racial, obnoxious and offensive remarks which are also clearly against his 1Malaysia concept," she added.

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