BN Backbenchers Club Upset With Nazri For Branding Them 'Childish' & 'Gangster-Like'

The Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBCC) is upset with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz for branding them childish and gangster-like for removing a barricade at the Parliament lobby on Tuesday.

The barricade was initially put up to ban reporters from the lobby.

BNBCC chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the backbenchers felt insulted by the description as they were merely trying to rectify the situation.

He said BNBCC members felt that it was unfair to restrict the media's movement in Parliament it was there to do its job.

"When we felt this thing was not proper (not allowing the media to enter the lobby), we try to rectify it (situation). This was after we had checked with the Speaker who seemed to have no knowledge about it (barricade).

"Then, my colleague went to see Nazri who said he did not know. Later, we checked with the Parliament House Committee and they also said they did not have such ruling.

"Therefore, we felt we should open it. No point in having such (a) barricade as this will create unnecessary misunderstanding between the media and BN," he told Bernama here today.

Without naming the person who give the order to barricade the lobby, Tiong said: "Why did the person who made the decision (to have the barricade), does not dare to face the problem? (sic) Why run away?

"We must be brave enough. If we make a mistake, we must apologise. In this world, nobody can claim he did not make a wrong decision as we are human beings."

He said it was inappropriate to brand MPs in such a manner as they were elected by the people in their respective constituencies.

"If you think we (MPs) are not right, you must at least, respect our constituencies. Don't simply label us as gangsters and the BNBCC as a gangster club," he added.

Therefore, Tiong said, the BNBCC would hold a meeting this Monday to discuss the issue and decide on the next course of action to be taken, as they felt Nazri had gone overboard by branding them in such manner.

Meanwhile, BNBCC deputy chairman Datuk Bung Moktar Radin clarified that it was not just the Opposition MPs, but also the BNBCC members who had raised the issue in Parliament.

"However, there was no decision from the deputy speaker at that time. At lunch break, we went to see Tan Sri Speaker (Pandikar Amin Mulia). It was only after we removed the barricade as they did not make any decision on that," he said.

Bung said BNBCC was bold enough to take that action as they (members) believed the media was unfairly treated by such a ruling.

"We are not like Opposition MPs who only want to talk, but take no action. We talk, but we also take action," he added. (Bernama)

***** Typical of our Boleh-style of politics and governing - total absence of accountability. No one wants to take responsibility when the crap hits the fan. Not surprising really. As for Nazri, after lying low following BN's debacle in the last GE, he's slowly getting back into form. Expect more faux pas from the past master himself.