Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang is wondering if Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is crafting a new form of governance - a “somnambulant” governance.

According to Lim, the Oxford Dictionary defines 'somnambulism' as 'sleepwalking'.

“Is Abdullah plunging the country to a new depth of shambolic government with his pioneering of 'somnambulant governance'?” asked the veteran politician in a press statement today.

Lim arrived at this ‘somnambulant’ possibility after reading newspaper reports on the prime minister’s reaction to the proposal to set up a Non-Muslim Affairs Department to handle sensitive issues pertaining to religion.

The proposal was made by a coalition of Indian non-governmental organisations.

Abdullah, when asked to comment on the proposal, has provided, what Lim described, as an “utterly befuddling and confusing response”.

“No one can make proper sense out of it, as illustrated by the contradictory media headlines,” he added.

Nobody knows what he's talking about

The opposition leader also cited the various news reports:

1) Kerajaan tubuh Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Bukan Islam (Gov’t forms non-Muslim Affairs Dept) - Berita Harian

2) Government considers setting up panel for non-Muslims - New Straits Times

3) Non-Muslim affairs dept, if necessary - The Sun

4) Non-Muslims looked after – We already have panels to handle their

affairs, Abdullah - The Star

5) Not necessary for Non-Muslim Affairs Dept now, says PM – Bernama

“How can Abdullah's one response produce three different perceptions as to what he meant - from setting up the department, to studying the proposal and an outright dismissal?” asked Lim.

“I do not blame the journalists, whether reporters or sub-editors for getting three completely different versions from one response, as nobody really knows what Abdullah was talking about,” he added.

Ministers of faiths

Lim said Abdullah's statement that various ministers in the cabinet have been charged with the responsibility of looking after the interests of different religious groups also come as a surprise.

He accused the prime minister of making cabinet appointments on-the-run, with the public and ministers themselves completely unaware of the existence of such portfolios and responsibilities.

According to the premier, Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting is looking after the interests of the Buddhists, Works Minister S Samy Vellu covers the Hindus and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Bernard Dompok covers the Christians in the country.

Lim said no one in the past four years of Abdullah's premiership was aware that Ong is also Minister for Buddhist Affairs, Samy Vellu, Minister for Hindu Affairs and Dompok, Minister for Christian Affairs.

“This utter ignorance that there are ministers for Buddhist, Hindu and Christian Affairs is illustrated by the fact that the New Straits Times – an Umno-owned newspaper – reported that it is another minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Dr Maximus Ongkili, who is charged with looking after Christian Affairs,” he noted.

“I do not believe that Ong, Samy Vellu, Bernard or Maximus are aware that they are also ministers for these respective religions - or can they give a report as to how they had been discharging their ministerial responsibilities over these portfolios since their appointment?” he added.

Lim also asked if MPs could direct questions falling specifically under these respective subjects to the ministers in Parliament?

“When did the prime minister make these cabinet appointments and why were they never announced to the public. Were these appointments ever gazetted?” he added.

Lim said this “disturbing episode” of Abdullah making cabinet appointments on-the-run is an antithesis of a vibrant, dynamic, far-sighted and visionary leadership and government.