Ministers who cannot discharge their duties well should relinquish their posts before Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi asks them to do so, Parliament heard today.

Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) told the Dewan Rakyat this on a sarcastic tone in reference to the remark by International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz's recently that she would only relinquish her post over the AP (Approved Permits) scandal if the PM asked her to do so.

"Don't emulate Rafidah who said she will only resign on the instruction of the prime minister. When that time comes, not only she is ashamed, but all members of parliament will feel shameful too.

"If ministers are incapable, give others like Sri Gading (MP, Mohamed Aziz) or Kinabatangan (Bung Moktar Radin) a chance," Tiong said in his debate on the Budget 2006.

Mohamed and Bung Mokhtar were in the spotlight last week for supporting an opposition motion calling for disciplinary action against Rafidah over the AP issue.

Complete reply

The Bintulu MP also asked the ministers to give complete and concrete answers to questions raised by parliamentarians in the House because these reflect concerns of the 'rakyat'.

He suggested the government grant full authority to a minister to facilitate a decision-making process so parliamentary replies could be as complete as possible.

Rafidah has been under fire for the past four months following allegations by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that APs issued by her ministry had only enriched a few individuals besides eroding the position of the national cars.

APs are required for the import of foreign cars into the country. Originally conceived as a scheme to help bumiputera motor traders to establish a broad presence, the non-transparent distribution of the permits has resulted in Rafidah being tarred with allegations of cronyism and corruption.

Several quarters have asked her to resign over the scandal, the most vocal being Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor).

Can't give a damn

Rafidah lashed out at Lim in a media interview last week and said she would only resign if the prime minister asked her to do so.

The veteran minister was reported as responding to Lim by saying, "I couldn't care a damn what Lim Kit Siang asked me to do. He is not the prime minister.

"Lim Kit Siang can go jump into the lake and this goes for anybody else. I was appointed by the prime minister. I am in service at his pleasure and no one should try to usurp the prime minister's prerogative about any minister in the cabinet."