Trained in the Land of The Spycatcher.

It’s a black day for our parliament. Yesterday, our colleague the MP for Padang Serai( corrected- I always state Bagan) was suspended for 6 months. Presently there is a growing agitation for parliament to censure Nurulizzah, MP for Lembah Pantai.

Our public’s attention is diverted by side issues strategically timed to be aired by UMNO warlords. The nation ought to be engrossed over the 2014 Budget as it explains how the government wants to use the RM264-billion outlay. How it’s going to handle almost RM700 billion public debt (including contingent liabilities and guarantees to GLCs). We must not lose sight of the BN salivating over the prospects of having more money through GST. A second our attention is diverted, their thieving hands are on the dough.

Instead, UMNO warlords are calling for Nurulizzah’s censure because she exposed that our PDRM stationed 30 special branch officers in London. The business of government lies within the purview of parliament. As a Member of Parliament, Nurulizzah has the right to question the business of government- in this case, the placement of 30 SB officers in London. In response, the government ought to explain the reason and purpose for stationing the intelligence officers there; is it for the purpose of learning new skills in counter intelligence, are they there for reason of compassionate leave for a much deserved R&R after spying diligently over opposition MPs or what?

Nurulizzah speaks in her capacity as MP and her freedom to speak should be left unfettered unless parliament says otherwise. Other busybodies such as the UMNO warlords have no business to interfere in any MP discharging his or her duties. Parliament, after all is the legislative body in the country.

Maybe Shadihan Kassim, the affable but bungling fool of an MP has not read the written answers given to MPs. And other public documents. He thinks parliamentary sessions are political ceramahs where you can bullshit your way out. Well, he has found out that it’s not easy to fool 89 inquisitive opposition minds.

The story about the placement of 30 intelligence officers is contained in these documents which are public in nature. MP Nurulizzah is asking the purpose of stationing the officers there and may we add, the cost of putting them up there. It is borne by taxpayer’s money and any money spent ought to be questioned by parliament. Maybe it’s all right to BN parliamentarians because as Shahidan said, once the money is approved, the government can use it as it pleases. This is the quality of a BN minister.

Our special branch officers presently number more than 8000 personnel and are mainly used to spy on opposition politicians. When I hold meet- the-people sessions in Raub (not campaigning at all) a method I use to hear people out and offering solutions to their myriad of problems, a number of SB officers will be on hand. I welcome them because I am there to help the people and I want them to report to UMNO what their reps are not doing what they should be doing. It would be a waste of our resources if any of these field officers were trained in UK but find themselves assigned to cover a nondescript politician such as I. No need to be trained in UK to cover Raub.