Veteran opposition politician Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) challenged Umno and Muslim ministers to declare that they have never drank alcohol in their youth.

He targeted, in particular, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau), de facto Law Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

parliament dap pc on ronnie 171108 kit siang Saying this in the House today during the debate on the Whistleblower Act, Lim added that if drinking was the criterion to disqualify BN leaders from office, BN's ministerial ranks would be sorely depleted.

"If having had drinks in the past incapacitates one from holding office, then we will lose half the cabinet, as well as the Malaysian ambassador to the United States, and we will need to have a by-election in Rompin," said Lim in reference to Jamaluddin Jarjis.

He questioned what he described as BN's desperation and lack of class that they have to resort to such "gutter politics".

"Let us have a higher standard in politics and elections, as it is the avenue to serve the people and the nation and not to indulge in personal attacks and character assassination.

"As an example, (we in) DAP have instructed our campaigners not to touch on the Chua Soi Lek (sex) video," added Lim

This, he says, is in contrast to to the ungentlemanly ‘kaki botol’ allegations leveled against PKR Hulu Selangor candidate Zaid Ibrahim, which has become a major weapon wielded by BN in the by-election campaign.

Lim cited Zaid's response to the allegations, praising the PKR leader for not resorting to similar retaliatory attacks on Umno.

'Government not serious'

Lim also questioned the seriousness of the government in protecting whistleblowers.

NONE According to him, they had previously done nothing but hound those exposed corruption and abuse of power, in particular, those he called "whistleblowers par excellence ", blogger Raja Petra (right) and private investigator P Balasubramaniam.

"We are debating the Whistleblowers Protection Bill but the two Malaysian whistleblowers are on the run outside the country.

"Raja Petra Kamaruddin has tons of materials and information on his Malaysia Today blog while private investigator Balasubramaniam has information on the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Sharriibuu."

Lim contended that If the government is serious in wanting to fight corruption and to encourage whistleblowing, it should welcome and cooperate with these two instead of allowing an inclement environment which has driven them into exile overseas.

He also wondered if the government had and will take any action over information provided by whistleblowers.

"Has MACC taken the materials exposed in RPK’s Malaysia Today blog seriously by conducting full and proper investigations?"

Meanwhile Yusmadi Yusoff (PKR-Balik Pulau) also questioned the wide ranging power granted by the bill to the minister to remove protection from whistleblowers as the minister sees fit.

"What if the person being reported by the whistleblower is the minister or the minister is in collusion with the the guilty party?"

RPK, Bala not considered whistleblowers