The newly established parliamentary caucus on the integrity and independence of the judiciary did not get off to a good start today when only one Barisan MP attended its meeting and the BN Backbenchers Club (BBC) members refusing to join in.

According to Karpal Singh, the newly-appointed caucus chairperson, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz was the only Barisan MP in attendance.

Met by reporters after the meeting, Nazri said he came to the meeting in his capacity as a parliamentarian and a minister who supports the caucus’ mission .

“This is something we should support as it is related to our government policy which wants to see integrity in the judiciary,” said the Padang Rengas MP, adding that he would not hold any post in the committee as he is already a minister.

hindraf 5 habeas corpus penang court 080908 karpal singh Asked why BN backbenchers did not join the meeting, he replied: “I do not know. Everybody was given a letter personally to attend the meeting.

“As for me, (Opposition Leader) Anwar Ibrahim’s office personally informed me to attend the meeting,” said Nazri.

However, Karpal said it was a good start for the caucus even though there was only one Barisan representative at the meeting.

“I hope that our next meeting will be attended by more Barisan MPs,” he added.

They can think for themselves

Nazri however was non-committal in ‘promoting’ th e caucus to his Barisan colleagues.

“Why would I do that? They are mature enough to think... Besides, if they think they would face any risks by joining, I think I have more risks than them because I’m a minister,” he pointed out.

nazri lincoln inn emblem 111007 In its first meeting chaired by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim this afternoon in Parliament House, the caucus appointed seven Pakatan MPs out of nine select committee members. Karpal is the chair.

The others are Wee Choo Keong (PKR-Wangsa Maju), Yusmadi Yusoff (PKR-Balik Pulau), R Sivarasa (PKR-Subang) M Kulasegaran (DA P-Ipoh Barat), Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah), Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman (PAS-Pengkalan Chepa) Mujahid Yusof Rawa (PAS-Parit Buntar).

Yesterday, Anwar said the bi-partisan caucus was established "notwithstanding the initiatives forwarded by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to set up a judicial commission".

Thank you, but no thanks

In a press statement issued later in the afternoon, BBC president Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) said he was not informed about the meeting and only received the invitation letter after the meeting was held.

tiong king sing He said Pakatan was being unfair to them as out of the total of nine committee members, only one seat was allocated to them, which is the deputy chairperson’s post. This was despite that none of the backbenchers had attended the meeting.

“Pakatan has been claiming all this while that they are fair, just and transparent. Does this sound like what they have been claiming so far?

“I hope the people can read this message carefully as it has shown to us the standard of Pakatan, talking and acting differently. How would it be like if they are in power?” blasted Tiong.

He added that BN is “fairer” in such matters as the coalition normally allows more different voices to be heard.

Tiong thanked Anwar for the invitation but stressed that "none of BBC members will participate in it”.