BIKERS MP
Newly-elected Kulim-Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin from Parti Keadilan Rakyat loved biking so much that he rode his Kawasaki Vulcan 500 for his swearing-in.
“I’m a biker. My motorcycle is my main mode of transport although I have two cars,” he said, adding that he had been an avid motorcyclist since his schooldays.
Zulkifli bought the motorcycle for RM32,000 on March 23 in 1995, the day his first daughter was born. He also he owns a 1983 Mercedes 230E and a Naza Ria multi-purpose vehicle.
When he turned up in Parliament for the first time on his motorcycle, he was mistakenly told by the security guard to park behind the building as most MPs were either chauffeured or travelled in fine cars.
He was later given an MP’s badge to put on his vehicle.
Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong is also a big motorcycle fan but did not ride his Harley Davidson to Parliament yesterday. “I have been riding my bike every Sunday even before being an MP. It is something I enjoy doing. When I ride, I feel so free and all the worries fly away as the wind brushes against my face,” he said.
12th Parliament all set to be a fiery affair
It was to be just a swearing-in – a simple ceremony in the past – but if what happened yesterday was anything to go by, then the 12th Parliament is set to be a fiery affair. Veteran and new MPs from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat are eagerly awaiting their day in the Dewan Rakyat, saying that they were ready to take on each other. Is anybody there sleeping??
From Ministers to backbenchers.
They are familiar faces in Parliament. Some with decades of experience as the Government loudspeakers and even controversial figures. Today, names like Rafidah, Ong Ka Ting, Azmi Khalid, Jamaluddin ‘the cassanova’ Jarjis, Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Tengku Razaleigh ‘the gurkha’, is still around but only as backbenchers. The 12th General Election was no bed of roses for them. We can expect a different tune from them. It won’t be a surprise if they will simply wack Dolah Badawi during Q&A time.
ANWAR WAS THERE TOO
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who made his first appearance in Dewan Rakyat after 10 years said now that he had stepped in, he will never leave.
Anwar, who is also the husband of new Opposition leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, was at Dewan Rakyat to attend a special lunch for MPs and their spouses after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong opened the 12th Parliament.
Asked when he would be back in Dewan since he could now contest for a seat, he said:
“This is a new beginning; when I get in, I will not come out. I told my friends now that I am here, I will stay, and there will be no turning back.”
Asked if he was seated at the same table as the King, Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, and if he chatted with the Prime Minister, Anwar said:
“No, I just said hello to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, as I was seated at the table where the other spouses were sitting with the Queen. The Opposition leaders sat with the King,’’ he said.
Asked when he was planning to make a comeback, Anwar said he needed to discuss the matter with Dr Wan Azizah and other leaders first.
“It is still too early. Give her some time. Now is the time for the Opposition MPs to carry out their responsibilities accordingly,’’ he added.
Dr Wan Azizah said that when the time was right, her husband would contest, but for now, he had come to Parliament as a respectable leader.
On how he felt watching the ceremony from the spouses’ gallery, Anwar said: “It is okay, I have accustomed myself. The fact is I have been away for some time now. Ten years is a long time.
“But I feel good to be back to accompany the Opposition leader. I managed to talk to some of my old friends, including those in the Cabinet. They said very nice things and they were polite,’’ he added.
Anwar said he was very proud that both his wife and daughter were in Dewan. “My daughter, who is the youngest MP, has to perform to ensure that we are a strong opposition, as we need to ‘shake’ Parliament,’’ he added.
On Dr Wan Azizah’s claims that he had not received any invitation for today’s ceremony, he said apparently, the letter was not sent, adding that he was told that it was sent somewhere else.
“But on late Monday evening, we received the letter. I thank Azizah for reminding them. I also thanked the Speaker when I met him,’’ he said, adding that it was most probably a case of miscommunication.
