Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin conveniently passed the buck back to Parliment by saying that already got approval.
S.K.Devamany also took the easy way out by saying it was too late when he found out about it.
After 50 years of living together, these people still don’t understand about their fellow Malaysians’ sensitivities. Does this show arrogance or lack of education?
This is the problem with these people. When they do it, it is “normal”. When others practise their culture and norms, it become “insensitive” to them. Definitely moronic and lame.
Was this function not announced earlier to the opposition as well? Perhaps they were not invited. Of course they will seize this chance to blame the BN and speaker for allowing animals to be slaughtered in a parliment.
Another record for Guiness perhaps? “First Parliment in the world to slaughter animals in it premises to celebrate Prime Minister’s wedding” category.
NST Version: Dewan Rakyat: Slaughter decision slammed
By : V. Vasudevan, Anis Ibrahim and Ranjeeta Pakiam
A DECISION by the speaker of the Dewan Rakyat to allow the slaughter of cattle and goats in the compound of parliament house got several MPs hot under the collar.
In the face of the protest, Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib said he would be careful in considering such a request in future.
The six cattle and 10 goats were slaughtered yesterday for a kenduri to celebrate the marriage of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah.
The function was organised by the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club.
Ramli found himself facing the opposition’s ire after the 90-minute Question Hour ended yesterday. M. Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat- DAP) raised the issue.
Ramli said he saw no reason for the objection.
“This is the norm (slaughter animals) with certain quarters.
“Therefore, it is not an unusual practice,” he said.
Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) disagreed.
“This is an august place. We use this place for meetings. If next time the opposition wants to slaughter other animals, then what happens?” she asked.
“Even though it is a norm with the Backbenchers Club, it does not mean it is correct. And it should not be continued,” she said.
Fong said many members sensitive to the religious beliefs of others were “even careful with the type of food they bring into the House”.
Ramli brought Kulasegaran and Fong’s complaints to an end with an assurance that he would be careful in future.
The Backbenchers Club’s acting chairman Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar side-stepped the question of religious sensitivities and said the club only did it after the house gave permission.
S.K. Devamany (BN-Cameron Highlands), a Hindu, told reporters outside the House that he did not know of the planned slaughter of the animals.
“I was not at the meeting when this was decided. By the time I came to know about it, all the arrangements had been made.”
The Sun version: Slaughter of animals in august place riles MPs
KUALA LUMPUR (July 10, 2007): A decision by backbenchers to slaughter six head of cattle and 10 goats in the compound of Parliament House to celebrate Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad’s marriage annoyed other MPs.
“I am objecting to this on two grounds. This is Parliament. How can we allow the slaughter of animals in the compound? Should this not be done in an abattoir?” M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) asked Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib just after question time.
“Morever, this slaugher of cattle is sensitive to Hindus. Surely you should have thought about this aspect before allowing it.”
Ramli’s response was that the animals were slaughtered for the kenduri hosted by the Backbenchers Club (BBC) to celebrate the marriage of Abdullah to Jeanne.
When Kulasegaran said he was aware of the reason but that the slaughter should not be allowed, Ramli said any similar request in the future would be looked at carefully.
“I don’t see why there should be any objection to this. This is norm (slaughter animals) whenever there is a kenduri. Therefore, it is not an unusual practice,” Ramli said.
Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) begged to differ. “This is an august place. We use this place for meetings. If next time, the Opposition wants to slaughter other animals then what happens?” she asked.
“Even though it is a norm by BBC, it does not mean it is correct. And it should not be continued.”
Fong said non-Muslim MPs are sensitive to the religious beliefs of others that they were “even careful with the type of food they brought into the parliament building”.
She said this should be reciprocated.
Ramli brought the discussion to a close by promising that the House would be careful in similar requests in the future.
Acting BNBBC chairman Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) told reporters in the lobby of the Dewan Rakyat that the backbenchers decided on the kenduri after he was given the go-ahead by the parliament administration.
“We only did it after the House gave us permission. The place was decided by the parliament,” he said.
“Where else are we supposed to do it anyway? We are members of Parliament, we are entitled to do it here,” he declared.
A Hindu BNBBC committee member S.K.Devamany (BN-Cameron Highlands), met in the lobby said he did not know of the planned slaughter.
“I was not at the meeting when it was decided. By the time I came to know of it. All the arrangements were put in place.”
Devamany vowed to ensure that in future it will not happen again.
