Transformation Friendly Tunku A.Aziz speaks his mind

September 23, 2012

by Susan Loone (09-22-12)@http://www.malaysiakini.com

The anti-DAP ceramah, ‘The days when we were in DAP’, by four former party members promised to be an exciting affair where dirt and filth was expected to spill forth.

However, after two hours listening to the quartet, journalists were disappointed to find no groundbreaking revelations as much of the grouses have already been widely reported in the press.

Hosting the bashing session was former DAP Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim, Selangor chief Teresa Kok former volunteer assistant Tan Chee Chong, sacked Sepang parliamentary liaison committee member Tan Tuan Tat and sacked former member Yap Kon Ming .

The latter three from Selangor spoke of their experiences in the state DAP, criticising Kok’s leadership with Tan drawing laughter from the crowd when he showed off his bright red T-shirt with the words ‘Jangan Fitnah’ (do not slander).

Tunku Aziz targeted the two Lims, the father and son combo of  Ipoh Timor MP Kit Siang and Penang Chief Minister Guan Eng – whom he called a “parachute politicians”.

In the end, the ceramah attended by about 500 people at the Leong See Kah Miew Hall in Penang last night, served more as a reminder of why the four had left DAP rather unceremoniously.

Even Tunku Aziz, the former Transparency International-Malaysia chief who had made a grand entry into DAP only to exit dramatically this May, failed to impress although he was welcomed like a celebrity at the talk.

He was in his element, highly energetic and  motivated by the crowd, but his content was merely regurgitation of his sad story that drove him out of the DAP.

Thumbs up for Najib

The ‘highlight’ of the evening is likely towards the end when Tunku Aziz cried out “1Malaysia”, a slogan synonymous with Prime Minister Najib Razak and BN’s battle cry.

He was cheered on by the participants, who clapped repeatedly to create an almost festive-like atmosphere that was only short of music and balloons.

As he was ending his speech, Tunku Aziz paid compliment to Najib’s transformation plan, saying it was good for the country, and should be given due support. He urged Penangites to vote not with their hearts but with their heads, and choose good candidates regardless of their party affiliation.

“Penangites are usually smart people, but I am surprised that you have someone from Malacca as chief minister. There must be among you one person who can be that,” he quipped.

Tunku Aziz claimed that Guan Eng had done nothing much in his four year rule except to condemn the previous BN administration, adding that the BN has ruled for 55 years and “they must have done something right, I am sure”.

Instead, he parroted Penang BN’s claims that the CM had become the “biggest developer” by selling state land. He added that Guan Eng has surrounded himself with many developers who had allegedly given him funds, although he did not provide the details of his allegations.

Tunku Aziz obviously still sore

From his speech, it is clear that Tunku Aziz has not forgiven Guan Eng for publicly chastising him for publicly breaking ranks with the party over Bersih 3.0.

The former DAP vice-chief – a post he secured after only being in the party a year – reiterated that he was all for free and fair elections but would withdraw his support should the organisers break the law.

However none of this stirred the participants last night as much as when Tunku Aziz and the three others fired salvo after salvo at their common enemy – the DAP secretary-general – for his “arrogance and dictatorial” leadership style.

Tunku Aziz criticised the two Lims for turning the party into a “family business” when on Mac 8, 2008, Guan Eng insisted on being the chief minister when Pakatan Rakyat swept over Penang, tsunami-style in Mac 2008, he claimed.

“State DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow should have been CM because he is not arrogant or snobbish and not a street fighter,” said the Tunku.

“Yes, father and son took me in to give me a chance to get rid of corruption inside DAP and the government but after only two months, I found the corruption in DAP was very serious (cukup teruk),” he said.

This outburst was followed by loud applause from the multi-racial crowd, among whom were members of Gerakan, MCA, MIC, UMNO and Parti Cinta Malaysia.

Bashfest to go nationwide

At a press conference later, Tunku Aziz was asked if he could provide examples of the allegations of corruption within DAP that he had mentioned earlier, but he could not provide any.

Instead, Tan Chee Chong  chipped in to say that he has lodged reports to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) about funds for single mothers in Sabah that have allegedly been siphoned off by Kok.

When asked if he could be described as BN-friendly, the 76-year-old Tunku Aziz, who is a  member of the Kedah royalty, replied, “I am transformation-friendly”.

Meanwhile, half way through the speeches, a group of youths caused a minor distraction when they arrived to fill up the empty chairs, with many spilling out of the medium sized room, but this group left before the talk ended at 10pm.

Others who earlier made an appearance at the bashing session was Guan Eng’s most vocal critic, Komtar Traders Association vice-chief Mohammed Ghani Abdul Jiman.

The quartet ended the show by saying they were prepared to go round the country including Sabah and Sarawak to share their stories. They called on former DAP members who also left bitterly from the party earlier such as former state reps Gooi Hock Seng, Teoh Teik Huat, Ong Hock Aun and Goh Kheng Huat to join them in their journey.

About these ads