WHAT do former prime minister (PM) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong have in common? Both politicians seem to cross their paths for the wrong reasons.
Recall that on Nov 26 in the aftermath of the 15th General Election (GE15), Wee had to formally dismiss speculation that he was involved in a clandestine meeting purportedly to discuss the Sheraton Move 2.0 conspiracy with Ismail Sabri Yaakob and other Barisan Nasional (BN)/PAS leaders in the wake of a second successive BN defeat in the national polls.
Fast forward six months later, the duo are been chastised by netizens for their ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ role which threatens to tear apart the stability of Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government even though both are members of the BN component parties.
Far from issuing any gag order on them, social media users rue the manner they express their views of late has been so unconstructive to the extent that they sound more vocal than the Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition camp.
“Ismail Sabri and Wee do not intend to help the unity government internally but they are often seen been provocative as if they are the opposition …,” tweeted businesswoman @lady_bugg11 who started a thread on the unbecoming behaviour of the Bera and Ayer Hitam’s MPs.
The tweet elicited a response from @VC27931 who reckoned that the SD10 (10 BN MPs who had earlier signed statutory declaration to support Tan Sri Muhyddin Yassin as PM) group could not accept that they were sidelined from government posts or being denied chairmanship of some GLCs (government-linked companies).
“Actually, I have been wanting to ask for some time why did DSAI (Anwar) allowed Wee to join the China trip? What can he contribute? Negotiate to reduce ECRL (East Coast Rail Link) costs?”
Elsewhere @zulkiflimohdra2 observed that “Wee has been the opposition from the beginning while Ismail Sabri is still very much undecided in helping the (BN) leadership” while @BluCroozer wondered if both are “PN agents of which (BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad) Zahid (Hamidi) should take action”.
For context, Ismail Sabri has come under fire for going against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s wishes by continuing to condemn and talk ill of the unity government which is spearheaded by the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-BN coalitions.
In retaliation to the former UMNO vice-president’s description of “forced marriage” that would soon break up when referring to the PH-BN alliance, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook commented that he is baffled by Ismail Sabri’s real intention in uttering such views.
“As a former PM, he seems to want to see us break up,” Loke who is also the Transport Minister told a media conference at the Transport Ministry in Putrajaya yesterday (April 17). “However, we as a government do not discuss issues such as friction or breaking up as a coalition. Our meetings are filled with discussions on how to ease the people’s problems.”
As for Wee who is having a ‘stand-off’ with his predecessor and successor Loke over what he claimed to be exorbitant airfare to East Malaysia during the upcoming Aidilfitri festivity, the MCA president is adamant that the lack of affordable flights between East and West Malaysia remains unresolved.
This is despite Loke having invited Wee to send off a fixed-fare flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau (Sabah) tomorrow night (April 19) where each of its 185 passengers only paid RM249 for their tickets.
Below are some of the darndest feedback courtesy of Malaysiakni subscribers about Wee’s latest antic with Loke:
KSD: I have two questions. Is Wee a government or opposition MP? And if he’s in the unity government, why can’t someone get him to act like ruling party MP?
Olein: Most useless former transport minister and unprincipled politician. Now making impossible demands on present Transport Minister.
GreenDeer9593: Wee. Enough is enough. Be more professional and don’t be so childish. I understand that you must make some noise to get attention or else you and your party will be forgotten. It is good to bring up issues for the benefit of the rakyat but doing it in such manner to gain attention is childish and wasting of time. I think everyone should just ignore him if he continues to behave in such unprofessional and childish manner.
Max Fury: The minister cannot just wave his magic wand and reduce air fares. I am sure WKS understands that.There are costs involved by the airlines that has to be considered. The minister is doing his best to get the lowest prices for east Malaysia flights. It’s easy for you to sit in your arm chair and criticise the minister. Do you think you can do better if you are the current transport minister? I doubt it. – April 18, 2023
