Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang came under fire in the Dewan Rakyat today for highlighting an article urging Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign.

During his debate on the Budget 2007, the opposition leader quoted an article written by US-based Malaysian surgeon M Bakri Musa ( right ) titled ' Undurlah Pak Lah ' (Withdraw Pak Lah).

Lim said he received the article, published in Bakri's blog , via email yesterday. Bakri is also a malaysiakini columnist.

Citing an excerpt from the article, Lim said Bakri described the resignation as "the one right decision", which is "something that has sorely eluded him since becoming the premier".

The writer added that it will be the most appropriate time for Abdullah to quit as Umno can elect a new leader at the party's annual meet this November.

According to Lim, Bakri's views can find acceptance among the people.

"I do not intend to comment on Bakri's call on Abdullah to step down but it must be recognised that Bakri's underlying theme that Abdullah is not providing leadership will find considerable resonance among the people.

"In fact, more and more Malaysians are asking who is the prime minister in Malaysia and whether there is a prime minister in Malaysia," he added, saying the same question also goes to whether there is a finance or internal security minister in view of the crime situation in this country.

Abdullah also hold the finance and internal security portfolios.

Is there anyone better?

Lim's remarks prompted an uproar in the House as Barisan Nasional backbenchers immediately came to the defence of the prime minister.

"The writer is someone living outside of Malaysia, why must you highlight what he said to undermine the premier's leadership?" Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) asked Lim.

Zaid Ibrahim (BN-Kota Baru) reprimanded the opposition leader for acting as a 'spokesperson' for Bakri.

"Is there anyone among the current cabinet members better than the prime minister to manage the country?" asked the MP, who said the issue of Abdullah stepping down has been widely discussed on the Internet and there is no need to raise it in the House.

Vocal backbencher Badruddin Amiruldin (BN-Jerai) also joined in the fray and attacked Bakri.

"The writer lives in the US and from there, he writes bad things about Malaysia, he is someone who is bacul (coward). He should come back to Malaysia," he said.

Defending himself, Lim said he is not acting as Bakri's representatives and the duo have never met. He also pointed out that he is not asking the prime minister to quit but is merely quoting an article.

The veteran opposition leader said there is a need to examine why such calls regarding the premier's resignation are being made.

Responding to this, Bung said while he does not deny Bakri's right to express his views he is however curious as to why Lim chose to highlight this article and not the thousands of others that praise Abdullah's leadership.

Anti-corruption drive

At this juncture, Lim embarked on a history lesson and told the House that 37 years ago, a young Dr Mahathir Mohamad wrote a letter to then prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman and the letter changed the country.

"The only reason why I raised this matter is to remind the prime minister of the promises he made previously during the general elections," pointed out the Ipoh Timor MP.

Interjecting, Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) said: "That's right, we practise the democratic system, everything will be decided by the rakyat during the general election. Don't waste time, just present your opposition budget."

Refusing to back down, Lim reiterated that he has no ulterior motives in raising the article but argued that the anti-corruption campaign launched by the premier has allowed the "sharks to escape into the South China Sea".

Bung Moktar defended Abdullah's efforts to combat corruption and argued that the premier had set up the Integrity Institute of Malaysia and implemented the national integrity plan.

This led Lim to remark: "If some of you cannot accept what former premier Mahathir said about corruption getting worse, Gua Musang MP (Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah) also made the same statement in the House that corruption is more serious now."

The opposition leader then called for the establishment of a special court to hear corruption cases.

The debate on the budget will continue tomorrow. MPs are allocated eights days to debate on the matter, after which four days are provided for ministerial winding-ups.