Pak Lah felt threatened by Memo, says Nazri

Is the Prime Minister threatened by the memo from the 9 ministers?

Does a memo to a PM a form of contempt or a departure from the political convention of collective responsibility?

Is the duty of ministers just to highlight their concerns to cabinet only, and they should not voice out the rakyats views?

Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz was angry because the nine ministers had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister on the rights of non-Muslims. Nazri demanded that the ministers withdraw the memorandum, saying that it amounted to a "threat" to Abdullah.

He said the ministers would lose the support of moderates like him if they did not retract the memo. "I am angry that the nine ministers did that, because they cannot threaten the PM like that, and I will not stand for it. We are colleagues in the Cabinet. Why the need to send a memo when we have decided to look at all the laws?"

"If we can sit down and negotiate, then what need is there to send a memorandum?" he said.

The nine who submitted the memorandum were Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting; Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy; Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn; Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek; Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik; Plantation Enterprises and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin and Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and Datuk Maximus Ongkili (Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department). They called for a review of laws affecting non-Muslims and urged the Government to review Article 12(1)(A) of the Constitution. The section states that civil courts have no jurisdiction over matters relating to Islam. The ministers also wanted the conflicts between syariah and civil laws to be rectified.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, who is also Housing and Local Government Minister, submitted the memorandum on behalf of his non-Muslim colleagues to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at a Cabinet meeting. The memorandum, among other things, called for:

• The Government to review Article 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution, which stipulates that civil courts have no jurisdiction over matters relating to Islam, which fall under the purview of the Syariah Court;
• The Government to amend laws that allow only one parent to convert children below 18 years of age; and,
• Rectifying conflicts between Syariah and civil laws.

The call for a "review" of Article 121(1A) is said to have been precipitated by instances of judges allowing the Syariah Court to handle several high-profile cases involving disputes between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Umno Youth Exco member Datuk Pirdaus Ismail said as ministers, they had direct access to the PM and should have discussed such sensitive matters during the Cabinet meeting. "They are acting like the Opposition. They have the channel to voice whatever grievances or dissatisfactions yet they choose to adopt this immature and embarrassing way." Pirdaus said the ministers had failed to uphold the principle of collective responsibility. "Their actions reflect disregard and disrespect for the PM and their Cabinet colleagues. In so doing, they have tarnished their image as ministers. "It is as if they are questioning the sanctity of Islam in the Federal Constitution. We feel their actions have touched on the sensitivity of the Muslims in the country."

What is Pak Lah's response?

I have no time to read them. I am busy with the 9MP.

I said: 'OK, lah'. I did not say 'Saya tak mau ini.'

Good response? From a PM?

Is he being threatened?

Or, is this an opportunity for ball-carriers to win some points?