(Updated 6:36pm, 2 April 2009)
PETALING JAYA, 2 April 2009: Eighty-one Opposition members of parliament (MPs) have signed a petition urging the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to delay the appointment of Datuk Seri Najib Razak as prime minister until his reputation has been cleared by an independent commission.
“The office of Prime Minister is the highest office in our country, and represents the nation’s self-respect. Such an important office should be given to a chosen individual who is clean and does not have his or her integrity in question,” said the letter addressed to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, yesterday.
The letter was signed by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, and DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, as well as 78 other MPs that represent the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.
Najib is implicated in certain national scandals
The letter cited national scandals that have implicated the incoming prime minister, including the commission of Scorpene submarines from France, and “the murder of a Mongolian woman“, a reference to the case of Altantuya Shaariibuu. The letter affirmed that these issues “have been spread all over the world, and covered by newspapers and magazines internationally”.
“It is very reasonable for Seri Paduka Baginda to delay the appointment of the new Prime Minister until all the allegations are investigated by an Independent Commission, and his name cleared, so that our country’s honour is maintained,” the letter said.
Yesterday, Chief Secretary to the government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan announced that Najib will be sworn in as prime minister at 10am tomorrow. According to Mohd Sidek, the monarch had already given his consent to the swearing-in ceremony.
At 10am today, outgoing prime minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had an audience with the Agong at Istana Negara, to hand over his resignation letter. “It is up to the King whether he accepts my resignation,” Abdullah told reporters after the meeting. Later that morning, Najib himself had an audience with the King. 
See Tshiung Han says
The animated graphic is legendary.
See Tshiung Han says
“The office of Prime Minister is the highest office in our country, and represents the nation’s self-respect.”
As in, the Prime Minister represents how a nation sees itself. Although it is the highest office, this statement about self-respect is simply not true. To paraphrase the film The Dark Knight, the PM is the hero that the country deserves, not the one that the country needs.
Han
The Lord says
I don’t understand what the problem is.
If not for him, we wouldn’t have submarines to protect us against Singapore, and possibly Brunei.
Remember what the Mongolians did? Genghis Khan? The yurts? The yaks? You want that to happen here?
I support Najib 100%.
Yesiree Bob. And you should, too.
Let’s welcome our new Prime Minister!
tengku mohd faizal says
“Eighty-one Opposition members of parliament” is not even the majority in the august house. Perhaps this writer, by focusing on these 81 people, wishes the minority to rule over majority decision.
Good luck to the minority in the house.
bee yong says
Hey, “The Lord”.
It is not about why we bought the submarines but how we bought them. It is not about the history of Mongolia but the death of a Mongolian in Malaysia.
Billy says
The Lord asked, “I don’t understand what the problem is.” Let me tell you this.
The Straits of Malacca is simply too shallow for submarine operations. During WWII when Hitler released its Wolf Pack in the Atlantic, whenever the submarines where attacked from the air or by the destroyers, they would take a deep dive. Our straits will not allow this, and if Singapore has destroyers with depth charges, they could easily pick our submarines off like flies on the wall.
So I am really amazed as to the rationale of the purchase unless we were conned and someone pocketed the commission? If Umno was concerned about defense, they should beef up our current navy with better firing power and not “sling shots”, or improve the latest fleet of fighter jets.
At the current state of military standing, I always remember what the late Tunku said, “If we were to be attacked by any foreign enemies. we might as well surrender.” Based on today’s military might (technology), we just don’t measure up. So what’s up with the submarines, may I ask?
jrongos says
Why are you jealous about his commission? That’s standrd in every kind of business. If you were in his shoes, I bet you’ll do the same….cos I would do the same. I have mouths to feed too.
Dill says
C-4 is written in Comic Sans. Why?
wargabebas says
In the eyes of world opinion, we have become an outcast nation.