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'Minister should get the boot over bomb tweet'
Published:  Dec 7, 2015 6:48 PM
Updated: 11:08 AM

BN strategic communication director Abdul Rahman Dahlan deserves to be sacked for his tweet about a bomb explosion in Kuala Lumpur, said an opposition leader.

Describing the tweet as "shockingly insensitive", Lim Kit Siang said a "strict and no-nonsense" prime minister would have given the minister the marching orders for using such an example to justify the National Security Council (NSC) Bill.

The DAP leader also dismissed Abdul Rahman's defence of the proposed legislation, which he termed as "monstrous and pernicious".

Responding to critics of the bill, the BN leader tweeted: "If a bomb exploded in KL then perhaps you guys would have a different view. But sadly that would be too late."

However, Lim argued that Abdul Rahman's tweet was not only "frighteningly insensitive" but "outrageously illogical" as well.

"Firstly, the bill confers wide and untrammeled powers on the prime minister and National Security Council headed by him not only to deal with extraordinary situations arising from a bomb blast, but also more mundane circumstances having bearing on 'political stability, economic stability, national unity'.

"How does Abdul Rahman's 'bomb explosion' argument apply in these cases?" he asked.

Secondly, Lim said even in extraordinary situations such as those arising from a bomb blast, if ordinary police and security forces are incapable of dealing with the exigencies of the situation, Article 150 of the Federal Constitution on the proclamation of emergency by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong can be invoked.

"Why should there be a new law in the form of the National Security Council Bill which usurps the powers of the Agong and cabinet in such circumstances?" he asked.

Adding more ingredients into his cocktail of criticism such as "deplorable" and "reprehensible", Lim flayed Abdul Rahman for displaying a "cynical and sadistic" attitude.

"As if he would not mind seeing a bomb blast in Kuala Lumpur when all Malaysians must be united in ensuring that peace and harmony prevail throughout the country....

"Abdul Rahman should apologise for such an insensitive and outrageous tweet, which is most unbecoming of a minister," he said.

The NSC bill was passed in the Dewan Rakyat last week amid widespread concerns over the sweeping powers it bestows on the prime minister.

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