Part I - Heated Clash DAP Lim K S & ZAM

Part II - Heated Clash DAP Lim K S & ZAM

Zam sees red in being called “monkey” in this blog

On Monday, in the winding-up on the Information Ministry during the 2008 Budget policy debate, Information Minister, Datuk Zainuddin Maidin saw red at being called “monkey” in this blog.

At first he accused me for calling him a “monkey” – but when confronted, he backed down and admitted that it was a comment left on my blog. But he said I must bear responsibility as moderator of the blog.

I said I regretted that such a term was used but it was definitely not used by me. I did a search of the reference which he had objected to and found it was a post by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on 28th October 2007 in the thread “Zam - Info Minister under coconut shell or bidding to be Mat Rempit “Godfather”?”, viz:

“ZAM is behaving like a BN monkey that’s gone bananas over NUTs.”

ZAM has legitimate grievance at being called “monkey” but it is no justification for him to become the Cabinet’s premier anti-blogger, and this was why I told him in Parliament why he should not behave like a “frog under the coconut shell” in expressing satisfaction at Malaysia’s 32-spot plunge in the Freedom Without Borders (RSF) 2007 press freedom index, from No. 92 last year to 124, which is the nation-worst ranking in the RSF annual worldwide press freedom ranking since it was started in 2002.

From Monday’s parliamentary exchange, it is clear that although ZAM is the government’s chief anti-blogger, he reads this blog and I would urge all posters to use proper language to express their views hoping that they will have some influence on government thinking and direction.

I am surprised that RTM last night telecast the parliamentary exchange between ZAM and me. Those who have seen it may wish to offer their feedback.

Source from - blog.limkitsiang.com

Comment & Responses

raven77 Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 11: 58.50
But he is a MONKEY……the whole world knows of his antics….

HJ Angus Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 12: 11.33
Bloggers should understand the difference between “you are a monkey” or other animal and “your actions are similar to those of a monkey”.

Jimm Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 12: 11.50
Sad sad sad …..
Now what are they trying to prove again ???

HJ Angus Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 12: 13.40
Did not see the segment but usually the show is always about trading insults - no serious discussion is shown on MPs debating any proposed laws.

oedipus Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 12: 18.56
ai say man, YB Lim, you have been called worst by YB Nazri like ‘bodoh’ and ‘kurang cerdik’ in parliament and in your face, and even worst in other blogs that is pro government!

while in is indeed a deplorable act to call and be called names, i guess YB Zainuddin is correct that perhaps your blog (and you being the moderator) should control the words being used in order to set an example on how civil ppl debate and discuss issues.

i guess it is not easy to watch over this blog incessantly, perhaps just a simple reminder from you every now and then will do the trick already. mind you, most of your audiences here are civil and law respecting/abiding citizens and i am sure some of us will do the ticking off ourselves (self moderating) if a racist or flammer comes into the scene.

Libra2 Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 12: 39.49
If Zam feels he has the right to insult bloggers, he must be prepared to receive similar comments in return. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
He does like bloggers and they don’t like him. What the problem, Zam?
Didn’t he say women bloggers were employed?
Sometimes he does behave like monkey on a hot tin roof.

Libra2 Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 12: 40.27
Correction: He does not like bloggers and they don’t like him

smeagroo Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 12: 46.34
Zam shld be grateful that he is only known as a monkey and not primate.

sj Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 12: 52.28
So Zam reads the blog? Good, let him know how dissatisfied we are to him. He sucks at his job, and deserves to be fired. So if not monkey then may people call him Katak Di Bawah Tempurung? After all the performance he gave us does deserve this term.

mendela Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 12: 55.16
OK, Zam is not a monkey…

k1980 Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 12: 58.12
… but is a chimpanzee. Satisfied?

DarkJustice Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 13: 11.11
Hi Zam, why so sensitive? If dont like monkey then ‘orang utan’ sounds better as it’s our country mascot and you should be proud of it otherwise our country won’t be using ‘orang utan’ to promote as icon.

I must say that you are trying to declare wars with bloggers and the Sun newspaper judging from your comments in Star newspaper two days ago. You mentioned why still harping on Zakaria whereas he had invited orphans to his Raya open house. What is that to do with his raya open house as you are very naived, Zam Zam.

Shame of you as ex editor of Utusan Malaysia and your behaviour as Minister of Information, it’s better you be known as “Minister of Anti Information” but propaganda to BN.

I must asked you why playing the “ini bukan cara demokrasi kita’ song at RTM 1 & 2 when showing the space programme. It’s shows that we are war torn country to the eyes of the foreigners and our police behaving the same as I have foreigner friends asking me. why showing only Palestinians and not Myanmar? Anyway, our police force also behave like Israelis soldiers firing tear gas at crowds with Special Branch officers arresting the crowd.

St0rmFury Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 13: 21.07
“Saya tak cakap dia monyet, saya cakap dia macam monyet, macam sahajalah” - Kayveas

“ZAM is behaving like a BN monkey that’s gone bananas over NUTs.” - ENDANGERED HORNBILL

Nope, no double standards here. UMNO is always fair to all. NOT.

Nice try Zam, better luck next time.

oknyua Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 13: 23.05
YB Lim, wasn’t he the guy that says bloggers are “goblok”, a degradatory Javanese term? Wasn’t he the guy that said bloggers and readers are youngstrers and do not have any impact on the opinion of the public?

I am amused that he reads your blog, YB Lim. I think all of them read yours and MT blogs. Good that they are watching.

As for the comment that the Minister “behaving like a BN monkey..,” I just had a good laugh. The fact he responded made me laughed more.

sean Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 13: 23.46
And i thought the previous Information Minister was bad.Gosh this is even worst…unfortunately being too obvious doing things a fair and responsible minister wouldn’t do.So this shows he is just the opposite of fair and responsible in disseminating real and true views.By the way……………it will be good to start showing live telecast for all parliament debates etc..instead of just showing “excellent” cuts here and there.Grow up zam……….if you and your Bn buddies doesn’t want to move ahead then just leave and let the nation and the true Malaysians move forward for the country sake.Ohh……..do not use RTM for BN propaganda…………its paid for by tax payers and not BN and you.If you can’t understand a simple phrase like this then it is better you step down and stop wasting tax payers money..unless you are there for your “self interest” lah…Well if that is the case then good luck and keep hiding behind your ministries and RTM.

siudidi Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 13: 25.35
So what’s new? They (BN) can called other people names but no one else can called them back. Now ZAM is getting a taste of his own medicine.

pkrisnin Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 13: 32.24
Looks like the BN is monitoring all forums. A link to NST article about Angaksawan at the UMNO meeting and the PM’s speech was removed after it was placed in the lowyat forum

lucia Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 13: 34.34
zam should read other blogs too and will realise that lots of other bloggers had also call him monkey or other names. well, the famous son-in-law who refer to bloggers as monkeys had himself been labeled a monkey too.

actually come to think of it, all BN MPs in parliament are monkeys. parliament is nothing but a circus. oops. sorry. that is an accusation so i take it back. i will say indeed “they are LIKE monkeys”.

ENDANGERED HORNBILL Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 13: 36.52
Hello Zam,

Use of ‘monkey in ‘BN monkey’ and use of frog as in ‘katak dibawah tempurong’ are metaphoric usages, mere figures of speech in which the word or phrase is applied to people, objects or events and actions that it does not literally denote in order to imply a resemblance, for example, “BN monkeys prancing around in Parliament with their worn-out antics and political chicanery”; whilst the monkey label is not literal, the connotation here is obviously that BN parliamentarians behaving much like irrational monkeys whose antics draw nothing but contempt from the populace whose interests they are supposed to represent.

And I thought Zam used to be some kind of an editor and so should understand the fluidity and versatility of language unless…of course, he was a third-class (or to borrow a cliche made famous and given a new breath by Tun M, ‘half-past 6? editor?

Anyway, let’s not be carried away by such insubstantial name-calling and see what good Zam has done for the Information ministry? Nothing very prideful, sad to say, from a loud-mouthed, fawning and flattering sort of a politician.

Over to you Zam.

k1980 Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 13: 41.35
SING-ALONG WHEN YOU ARE CASTING YOUR VOTE IN THE GE
If I had a hammer
I’d hammer in the chimp’s head
I’d hammer in its teeth … all over its corpse,
I’d hammer it in the morn
I’d hammer it till night
I’d hammer out it out of shape
All over this land.

( Most profound apologies to L. Hays and P. Seeger to mutilating their original lyrics)

http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/hammer.htm

oknyua Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 13: 44.49
Isn’t there an old wisdom that says you only respond to what people calls you?

If you don’t respond, it’s not yours!

Godfather Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 13: 45.37
Zainuddeen Maideen can’t take a little heat ? Wow, his boss KJ can call bloggers monkeys but we can’t call others monkeys ? Once a monkey always a monkey…

Cinapek Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 14: 15.49
Hey guys, enough!! Please do not insult the monkeys anymore by comparing our dear Info Minister with the monkeys. The monkeys do not go round calling bloggers “gobloks” and certainly do not make silly comments in the press.

sotong Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 14: 33.17
May be Badak is a more appropriate description……shameless and thick skin!

raverus Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 15: 10.31
Don’t those monkeys have great immunity in the parliament huh?

Jong Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 15: 31.32
Well, this Zam is an idiot. He started calling bloggers, “GOBLOKS” so now he’s offended that he’s called “MONKEY” . I’m glad he’s reading our comments on this blog. YB Kit, isn’t it a compliment?

I agree with Smeagroo, he should be called “Primate”, yeah the mamal with the enlarged brain - hardly used and not victim of wear and tear. Primate it is for you Zam!!!!!

dejected Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 15: 41.09
Zam is not only a monkey but a stupid one.

Check out the latest video but namewee:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cahuWDu8mxM

Basically, he’s outraged but that the gov is picking on the online community. He’s calling for a cyber war against the monkeys.

boh-liao Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 16: 00.00
Actually, not bad to be called monkey or frog - at least they are vertebrates which have backbone.

Actually, some bloggers are insulting monkeys and frogs by identifying certain politicains with them.

There are worse and more appropriate terms for these politicians and many of them don’t have backbone. Some are smelly too.

Be happy with what people call you for the time being.

ADAM YONG IBNI ABDULLAH Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 16: 13.48
fair comment.

not restricting the terminology of monkey to whoever is concerned, i would like to express my disgust at some homo sapiens as behaving worst than ANIMALS.

1. incest and rape among the father and daughter and eventually the daughter gave birth to a baby. probably only animals commit incest- i dont know.

2. raped , sodomised and murdered. read too many news about young children being raped, sodomised and murdered. recent case of poor Nurin ( May God bless her and her soul ). i cannot fathom, how we human, supposedly to have a built in conscience could do that. i am quite sure animals do not sodomised young or old prey and killed them later. - i dont know.

3.neither can i ,having view discovery channel and animal planets that animals ( whether a pack of wolves or school of fishes) goes rempit in any form of vehicles that may cause and did cause death to innocent parties. we have here in Malaysia Mat rempit, that zooms fear among others. is this an evolution of some form ?

4.as for name callings, why so sensitive about it ,if HE is to be tolerant and perceived to be an elitist among the rest. yes, i agree that we bloggers are called “monyet ” and “goblok “, unemployed females, and nothing better to do , but we BLOGGERS, to most degree catch the bull by its horn. we call a spade a spade. i am definitely not a female, and please the minister, should not underestimate the intelligence of our female of this world. they are great species, our mothers, our sisters, our daugther, our wives, our friends.

now,back to the issue of monkey. zam. please hear me, “RESPECT IS EARNED AND NOT DEMANDED”

show respect to others as you want others to respect you. otherwise, YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

ngahc Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 16: 41.07
Education Minister advised people to desensitize on his action. So, Information Minister should also desensitize…

optimuz Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 16: 50.03
YB…its funny lar…are you trying to be politically correct, even though you know this post is going to result in more ‘monkey business’??

anyway, zam, you and all your cabinet ministers are monkeys! Hey! don’t blame me, I’m just referring to Darwinian theory…the only difference is, you guys haven’t evolved yet!!

ADAM YONG IBNI ABDULLAH Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 16: 52.04
about homo sapien mentality. we have so called members of Parliament, that commented that women” leak ” - “bocor”, every month too,when the issues of leaking ceilings were brought up in parliament.

lest, i am of the lesser mortals, i am certainly not as holy as those MPs, hei man, did you not insult your own mother, wife, sisters and daughters.?

without the ovalution and menstruation of the wowen in their cycle of discomfort and some cases pain, those so called eduacated mps, tidak di lahir di dunia ini.

there again, i apologise to all women, for the remarks of the two mps, whose uncouth language caused more irritation and disgust ,than the term ” monkey”. zam, where were you than to defend your mother and wife. ? as information minister. you should have provided them with proper information about the word menstruation.

if , zam, you feel so badly about such remarks, regardless of party, race, religion, you will defend your mother and wife and daughter from such simpleton remarks from your members.

there,i go again. sucikan batin first, than your zahir will be better.

mwt Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 17: 46.54
Zam holding the propaganda portfolio is all shaken up when news report circulate around the globe giving the country the poor image. He has the duty to counter such news and put the blame on bloggers for spreading the “rumors & lies” In particular when he accused the DAP of dragging minor issues to Parliament and they get blown up and highlighted & carried by the wire agencies. And like that Mat Taib (Muhamad son of Muhamad) he is confused about posting by blog owners and commenters. His anger has been building up and when he found Uncle Kit not moderating comments, he lashed at him for “abusive” words. More details at:
http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2007/11/more-pics-video-heated-clash-zam-monkey.html

And a chance to watch the Video Clip of the Heated Clash (in BM, almost 19 mins)

hkh Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 18: 17.37
Zam zam ala kazam, thou cannot be called monkey no more.
That title is already taken by lesser political liveforms with IQ100 score Kampong Jaguh who went to oxford and the 3 KJJ-Kinabinatang Jasin Jerai stooges. [deleted]

[Come, come, lets stop the invective, let alone escalating it, or I will be accused again of failing my duty as moderator. - Kit]

borrring Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 18: 18.39
At least we know now he reads Uncle Lim’s blog

straight talk Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 18: 19.31
Hi zam, you sure act like a monkey….You are an insult to human race…

grace Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 18: 40.20
Mr Lim,
Respect is earned and not by forced or threat.
As far as I can see, none of BN MPs have my respect. Most of them are really no better than monkeys. Look at how Bung Monktar debate in the parliament. Worst than Pasa Malam ubat sellers. Look like he is asking for a fight.

We respect your request to be more polite in our languages, But sadly most of us could not oblige to your request. Simply, we could not find a more civil words to describe their behaviour!!!

k1980 Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 18: 50.52
The government is dead set on stopping the rally, which could be the biggest since Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi came to power in 2003. The premier rode a wave of popular adulation that has since soured by his failure to fight corruption and promote the rule of law…Another BERSIH demand is for the government to reintroduce local council elections, which were abolished in 1970 on grounds of “national security”. BERSIH also wants the election commission to be restructured to ensure it is truly independent and finally permit international observers to monitor the election and suggest changes.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/IK08Ae01.html

dawsheng Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 18: 56.28
Strange, he claimed he was called a monkey but in the entire parliament session he never once deny he is not one. “Bukan! Saya bukan monyet” but instead he cried “Awak panggil saya monyet” to affirm that he is indeed one.

sec Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 18: 59.47
If he dislike to be call monkey; then we him donkey which is more appropriate

dawsheng Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 19: 03.58
“ZAM has legitimate grievance at being called “monkey” but it is no justification for him to become the Cabinet’s premier anti-blogger,…”

Legitimate grievance??? Uncle Kit, you are very good with words. Can he sue for damage?

bra888 Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 20: 18.26
Good job ENDANGERED HORNBILL.

Personally, I believe that there are some politicians that should be called anything but a politician. Their behavior and thinking does not match the characteristic of a politician and does not deserve any honorable title. Some really act based on their emotions. For example, shouting “Bodoh! Bodoh!”.

I believe that our politicians should act more carefully and think carefully of what they are going to say. In other words, they should reflect on their actions.

I imagine that, if there’s a politician does his/her job by shouting to get what he/she wants, it’s almost no different than a spoiled child crying to get the toys they want.

I am really really disappointed to see that there are such politicians that act without thinking. They act just like ENDANGERED HORNBILL mentioned. We must realize that they are politicians, not children. We expect better argument and more constructive one too. Their carrier is not about shouting madly.

You’ll never see George Bush, Sir Martin King Luther, Oprah, or anyone out of this country, that will shout like some politicians here.

To me, some of these politicians bring shame and insult the integrity our politics here. And honestly, if we were to send some of these politicians to other country, and they start shouting instead of arguing, it’ll shame this whole country and it’s people because we are the one who put them in charge. Politics in this country, to me, is no longer an honorable carrier if it’s all about acting based on emotions.

Another problem in which I believe is a problem with these politicians is that they hesitate or refuse to admit their mistake. They choose to put the blame on others. This blog is already an example. People like ENDANGERED HORNBILL and many more don’t like such politicians and choose to call them names, when it is the politician’s fault for ruining their own reputation in front of the people with their ’special’ behavior. These politicians then blame other people than themselves that the people should not be calling him/her names and should be censored. What just happened here? Politicians call each other “Bodoh”, no, they yell at each other. And yet the people cannot call them names?

Maybe we call them named because we learn from them. I mean, aren’t they the one who give such a bad example? Why blame ENDANGERED HORNBILL? If it’s anything but our fault, it should be their’s for being very unprofessional in their job. If people look up to these politicians, our people will be the people who wins an argument using volume.

bra888 Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 20: 33.38
After reading this entire blog, it can be proven that some of our politicians act too fast and without thinking.

“On Monday, in the winding-up on the Information Ministry during the 2008 Budget policy debate, Information Minister, Datuk Zainuddin Maidin saw red at being called “monkey” in this blog.

At first he accused me for calling him a “monkey” – but when confronted, he backed down and admitted that it was a comment left on my blog. But he said I must bear responsibility as moderator of the blog.”

The accusation made was made without careful investigation. Also, note that this particular politician is no ordinary politician. He is the Information Minister. For a politician who is suppose to monitor information exchange with care, he certainly failed to act like his carrier depends on it and start pointing fingers at LKS. It looks so unprofessional for a politician to look for a fight with people like ENDANGERED HORNBILL. Did being called names made him feel so emotional, that he just have to act quickly without investigating? What ENDANGERED HORNBILL said does not threat national security right or anything in a bigger magnitude? Believe it or not, it’s a matter of his own reputation and feelings that I believe he’s protecting. This is hard evidence my fellow friends that prove my statement.

I believe I’ll rest my case for now.

undergrad2 Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 20: 49.56
“ZAM is behaving like a BN monkey that’s gone bananas over NUTs.” ENDANGERED HORNBILL

I don’t find the above repulsive or whatever. In fact I can just imagine how a cartoonist would depict the Minister. If a monkey does not go nuts over bananas then it is not a monkey, and I’m not referring to the honorable Minister. Hornbill does not say anyone is a monkey. He says someone is behaving like a monkey when he gets hold of a bunch of bananas (underscore “like”). Hornbill does what he thinks is a good characterization of the Minister. He should then say why but he didn’t. He is exercising his constitutional free speech right - which is what this blog and all other blogs are all about.

Another commonplace expression, is “Monkey see, monkey do” - ungrammatical as it is, it describes succinctly some public officials whatever their political affiliations.

I’m not about to go into the use of un-Parliamentary language in the nation’s highest legislative body which is routine. If the honorable Minster wants to address the issue of racist name calling, for example, he should begin with Parliament and among his own ranks.

What is he going to object next? The use of caricatures to depict the elected representatives by the very people who put them in power and now regret doing so??

As they say if you cannot stand the heat, do not go into the kitchen.

undergrad2 Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 20: 59.04
To: ENDANGERED HORNBILL

I wonder if there is a difference between a monkey that goes bananas over nuts, and a monkey that goes nuts over bananas?

mendela Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 21: 12.17
Only after reading above Kit’s article “Zam saw red at being called monkey”, I realized that Kit indeed is rather humorous too!

Let’s make this blog less serious, fun to blog in order to attract more bloggers!

undergrad2 Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 21: 18.06
“I am reminded of the Boiling-Frog Syndrome. If you put a frog into boiling water, the frog will immediately jump out. But if you put the frog in cold war and increase the heat of the water slowly, it will get accustomed to the increasing heat.” KIT

What next?? Is another good Minister going to jump up from his seat next to object to the use of the “frog” in describing a situation. Enough that animals are being insulted by us humans. Indians are called “snakes” and Chinese “babi” or pigs for those who have stayed too long overseas and may confuse “babi” to the likes of Britney Spears without her underwear climbing into her car.

Have our MPs run out of issues to discuss that they must give their precious time away discussing monkeys and nuts?

Godfather Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 22: 07.07
We suspected all along that BN politicians are fervent readers of our postings. Even though they send their sentinels from time to time (like RealWorld) to provoke and distract, we know that the thieves take notice of what we say. I dare say that the UMNO information chief probably reads Kit’s blog every day to polish up on his command of English. Heck, all the ministers know their nicknames from reading this blog e.g. Semi Value, Kunchoy “Coffin” Chan, Mamak Maideen, SIL, etc.

achmedrauff Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 22: 16.09
Zam is a proven bully but at the same time a cry baby. Why is that so? Well he can go around and call anyone whatever he likes~ but when the same punch is thrown at him he starts crying foul when it is in fact just.

De facto Law minister? Owh please….I would rather best believe that he is a minister of the Ministry of Magic.

achmedrauff Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 22: 18.25
Owh sorry…I stand to correct my self. My last comment is for Nazri Aziz but heck….all seem the same to me since both cant differentiate between socio-political bloggers to every other type of blogger.

Filibuster Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 22: 38.44
Mr Lim,

It’s not about the outrage, it is about the publicity. Does it not look scandalous, that “you” called him a monkey? People don’t know the truth, and the problem therein lies with the fact that the newspapers are controlled by the Government. We may know the truth, but the picture says that the public does not. What many may see here as a ridiculous action by the Information Minister is in fact a clever ploy to play a card to discredit his political opponents, and in this case he picked on you.

Fellow readers,

In my opinion, the important thing to take from here is to spread the word, or rather, in this case, spread the truth. Only then will this man and his media controlled network fail to dislodge the opposition.

Jong Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 23: 01.16
Is there a good graphic artist among us here who can create a primate with that ‘familiar’ look? Then we’ll see the fun, watching all the monkeys and gobloks go nuts over bananas!

chai Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 00: 25.19
as my opinion ZAM is truely monkey!!! not need to controversy already.

undergrad2 Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 00: 38.06
“Is there a good graphic artist among us here who can create a primate …” Jong

Please don’t insult the primate.

malaysiatoday.com Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 00: 41.38
Please stop name calling to your enemies.

Three fingers are pointing back to you when you point your (two) fingers to your opponent.

undergrad2 Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 00: 42.29
“ZAM sees red in being called a “monkey”…KIT

That is why he should be color blind.

undergrad2 Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 00: 45.41
“Three fingers are pointing back to you when you point your (two) fingers to your opponent.” malaysiatoday.com

What of the person who has only one finger?? It is not fair to discriminate again those who are less fortunate.

thaksan Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 01: 53.47
hahahah… when the rakyat calls him Monkey, he should realize that the rakyat don’t think he’s doing a good job and LOOK AT HIMSELF!

Tulip Crescent Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 02: 33.44
Let us not insult the monkey by comparing the monkey with Zam. I keep a monkey as a pet and he is such a nice pet to have.

I cannot entertain the idea of keeping Zam as a pet. He is just not worth the trouble, not at all!

Tulip Crescent Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 02: 34.48
By the way, my monkey is an intelligent primate. Can we say the same thing about Zam, the half-past-six Information Minister?

bra888 Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 03: 08.57
Come to think of it, I find that what ENDANGERED HORNBILL’s comment, again, applies to this blog entry too. Don’t you think so?

I mean, with this:
“I am surprised that RTM last night telecast the parliamentary exchange between ZAM and me. Those who have seen it may wish to offer their feedback.”

I believe it actually proves what ENDANGERED HORNBILL’s commented true. Why go all the trouble to broadcast it in TV that someone has been calling names to him? Let us take a closer look at this situation. A ‘nobody’ (no offense ok ENDANGERED HORNBILL, I do support you :)) wrote a comment that has a word describing Zam behaves like a monkey. Zam responded to this by taking action to the magnitude that the whole country must know.

This is simply too much. We’re talking about precious broadcasting time. I believe it was wasted for this six letter (monkey) issue. On the other hand, the people deserve to know other information that he has censored. Is this ‘monkey business’ more important than the information we deserve to know?

bra888 Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 03: 16.34
“Freedom Without Borders (RSF) 2007 press freedom index, from No. 92 last year to 124?

I believe that maybe our country’s “Zam’s Only Border (ZOM) 2007 press freedom index” is number 1 in this country. What do you think?

ENDANGERED HORNBILL Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 06: 44.54
undergrad2 Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 20: 59.04
To: ENDANGERED HORNBILL

“I wonder if there is a difference between a monkey that goes bananas over nuts, and a monkey that goes nuts over bananas?”

I haven’t had the time to think about such fine distinctions in these pattern of words…almost like a clever palindrome, isn’t it?

All this hullabaloo about monkeys pushed these hot lava-like molecules of not-so-latent thoughts to rise to the surface of my cranium:

Scorpene submarine deal - a.k.a. “monkey business”

UMNO infighting - a.k.a. “monkey-eat-monkey”; also AIDS (or ‘Acute Income Deficiency Syndrome” ) among monkeys.

Zam on Rempitism - a.k.a “monkey going NUTS” or “monkey going BANANAS”

Zakaria of Klang-Gate fame: “monkey see, monkey do”

PM Abdullah : “If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys”

Nazri on Lingam-tape : A monkey on somebody’ back

Malaysian Corruption Index: There are more monkeys out there!

Witness Protection Bill : I’ll be a monkey’s uncle! I thought they were only monkey tricks.

MP for Kinabatangan: Eveybody’s making a monkey (’binatang’) out of me!

Angkasawan hype: It’s cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.

IDR/ECR/NCR: Monkeys climbing up a molehill.

Parallel to what ‘Boh liao’ & others said above on ‘insulting the monkeys’:

Davy Crockett (1786-1836; US Congressman, frontierman & folk hero) was at a menagerie exhibition in Washington and amused his friends by pointing out a similarity between the features of one of the monkeys on display and those of a certain member of Congress. Turning around, Crockett found the member in question standing right behind him. “I suppose I ought to apologise,” he said, “but I don’t know whether to apologise to you or the monkey”.

LKS’ blog: “Zam sees red in being called a monkey”. Cats and monkeys, monkeys and cats - all human life is there. (The Madonna of the Future). It’s reincarnation time, babe!

Penultimately, ENDANGERED HORNBILL SAYS: “I do not give a monkey’s to what Zam said. This guy is usually irrational. His brains are ornamental rather than functional, in a manner of speaking, of course. Listen, ENDANGERED HORNBILL is no idiot to make a physical comparison. Definition of a monkey by Charles Darwin: ” A hairy quadruped, furnished with a tail & pointed ears, probably arboreal in its habitat”. Hello Zam, any similarity would have to be in the realm of the unseen like the IQ, for instance?

Sigh, finally: THere are 193 living species of monkeys and apes. 192 of them are covered with hair. The exception is a naked ape self-named Homo sapiens. (Desmond Harris, The Naked Ape[1967], Introduction). Sorry, Zam, you are a monkey after all, according not to ENDANGERED HORNBILL, but according to someone much more distinguished than you, Desmond Harris.

Jeffrey Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 08: 03.42
“Why go all the trouble to broadcast it in TV that someone has been calling names to him?” – Bra888

In indirectly telling everyone that he read this blog - in accusing YB Kit or readers here in Parliament for calling him names like a “monkey” – in RTM’s telecasting the parliamentary exchange between Kit and him – isn’t our Information Minister unwittingly publicizing in mainstream media this blog to the Malaysian public to access and receive the messages of this blog?

I thought Zam should be thanked for doing the Common Cause here a favour since it has been the complaints of many a posters here that the revelations and opinions do not permeate out to the larger public or least the section of it that accesses the Net by virtue of them not knowing about Kit’s blog.

Take the case of Malaysiakini.

On the sidelines of the Umno general assembly, a Star reporter asked Zam a question. Because of the din around he couldn’t catch it. Malaysiakini’s reporter standing next to the minister tried to help out by repeating the question but was asked to identify himself first. Zam immediately turned on him and angrily said “You are nonsense!….Malaysiakini is nonsense. You people only know how to sensationalise news! You people are low!”

Malaysiakini immediately reported this. The Information minister was afterall helping to sensationalise Malaysiakini. It has been proven that everytime some ministers complain about any blog and about it not being moderated, it is news and the hits increase!

Bigjoe Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 08: 58.55
Zam has gotten so many facts wrong throughout his career and his tenure at Information Ministry, no one of critical mind is surprise by his wrong fact and spin on it. In most jobs, he would have been fired by now, but his jobs is not to get the facts right but to spin information the way his bosses and friends wants.

Think of UMNO GA speeches, they are full of incorrect facts, not just their views of things. Revisionism is part of UMNO agenda and their culture. The facts are unimportant, what is important is in the end how they look. In fact, making up fact is an artform, a very amateur one after decades of practise at that.

Jeffrey Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 09: 48.20
//…Again and again we have seen Malaysian politicians come to power by playing the race - and now increasingly religion - card above all else, pandering to their own communities at the expense of the rest…// - Farish.

But isn’t coming to power the main and consistent objective of politics and most politicians in general of whom Malaysian politicians are no exception? To them, if communitarian issues on race and religion were a sure fire proven way to be popular, garner support and rise up the political hierarchy, why not? They don’t particularly care a damn about nation’s wider interest unless it is symmetrical to the advancement of their own political careers.

Who do you really blame then for the deepening and widening of the racial divide then ? Yes politicians but that does not explain why the majority of people keep repeatedly vote them in – rather than out – when they play the racial and religious card on communitarian posturing and issues, does it?

If the problem of communitarian/racial politics were to be tackled, it should proceed at the ground level of the people (ours is a system of one man one vote with majority prevailing) but try convincing them not to vote on basis of race and religion – will one succeed?

What does our history show?

From day one of independence, we’re heading down this road of communitarian politics - and more communitarian politics. The seeds of politics of race were sown then and for 50 years thereafter it not only germinated but flowered and grown from strength to strength. Our Federal Constitution based on the so called “social contract” institutionalized, constitutuionalised and legalized distinctions based on race and religion; and political parties and ideologies were drawn on communal basis from Day One. Dato’ Onn wanted Malaya to be a “Malaysian Malaya” with equality for all races. Massive UMNO-orchestrated protests opposed it and was one of the points UMNO used to defeat the formation of Malayan Union and forced Dato’ Onn to form the Independence for Malaya Party that never secured broad based support. After independence, Singapore was kicked out of Malaysia by reason of the race factor and LKY’s campaign for “Malaysian Malaysia”. May 13 was used as an excuse and blamed on the Tunku Abdul Rahman who was edged out for being too fair and not doing enough for his disadvantaged community.

Today notwithstanding political talk otherwise, we’re increasingly a “Malay Malaysia”, and an “Islamic State” though other races are supposedly protected as to their rights and constantly reminded of their obligations not to question the “social contract” lest it would disrupt the delicate “sharing of power” and harmony of the country leading to the spectre of another May 13 repeat!

These are the existing realities.
Even the concept of “Bangsa Malaysia” was questioned by the MB hailing from the state that is the bastion of UMNO’s support – Johore.

lupus Says:

November 8th, 2007 at 10: 04.15
I am very disappointed with all the bloggers on this topic. How could you INSULT MONKEYS by associating such fine animals with the Information Minister ? The minister is right to be out-rage, after all, Zam is not good enough to be called a monkey after all the BODOH things he has done and said. A MONKEY WILL NOT EVEN BE THAT STUPID!!!!!

So, think again…..stop insulting the poor animals…….they have a higher intelligence than the information minister - infact, we should replace him with a monkey…….would do a better job and save the tax-payer money - we can pay in bananas!!!

Zam - Info Minister under coconut shell or bidding to be Mat Rempit “Godfather”?

Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin has provided proof that he runs the Information Ministry like a frog under the coconut shell blissfully unaware that in the era of globalization and international competitiveness Malaysia cannot turn a blind eye to complaints, whether by Malaysians or foreigners, about misgovernance.

I am astounded that the former veteran journalist could be so mischievous and irresponsible as to issue a formal statement yesterday accusing me of acts akin to being “anti-national” for bringing a foreigner to Parliament “to express his views on the democratic and security system in the country”.

He said such things would not have happened in any other country, especially when the case mentioned was still under police investigation .

Zainuddin cannot be more wrong. I have no doubt that in developed countries which Malaysia aspires to become in 2020, using the Parliament to ventilate the grievances of nationals and foreigners in the country would be common occurrence and would not be the subject of any official comment.

What would be eye-raising is having the Information Minister of the country disgracing himself, Parliament and the nation by making myopic and xenophobic statements as if foreigners have no rights in the country and Malaysia has no duty and responsibility to protect the safety and security of foreign tourists, visitors and professionals working as consultants in the country.

Let me clarify from the outset that the Canadian consultant, Manjit Sokhai did not come to Parliament on Wednesday “to express his views on the democratic and security system in the country” but to complain to the Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Good Governance about the menace of Mat Rempitism, of which he was the most recent victim.

Manjit , 43, from Montreal visits Malaysia three to four times a year in connection with his work. He was driving his four-wheel drive along Jalan Rasah, Seremban at about 11pm on Saturday Oct 20, with three friends from India when he was confronted by some 40 Mat Rempits on motorcycles, who assaulted him and went on to damage his vehicle, smashing the rear lights, wipers and number plate.

The purpose of Wednesday media conference in Parliament was for Manjit to recount to the media his traumatic experience with the Mat Rempits, a menace to the safety and security not only of Malaysians but also foreign visitors and tourists.

I cited the recent crimes of Mat Rempitism, including murder, where even police and road transport officials had become victims, and called on the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to give his personal attention to wipe out the Mat Rempit menace subverting law and order, creating fear among Malaysians and visitors about their personal safety, giving the country a bad name internationally and undermining Malaysia’s international competitiveness.

It is most shocking that instead of giving support, Zainuddin has chosen to take the side of the Mat Rempits.

Is Zainuddin as Information Minister a frog under the coconut shell blissfully unaware that we are in the era of globalization and international competitiveness or is he making a bid to be a Godfather of Mat Rempits in the run-up to the Umno annual general assembly next month?

In his statement yesterday, Zainuddin was again guilty of “misinformation” when he made baseless allegations against DAP MPs. He said:

“Previously, they had brought two Chinese nationals who claimed that they were victims of the police in one case, but it was later proven that they had cheated the people of this country. They were not linked to the case as claimed and they had used the opposition to exaggerate the case.”

I challenge Zainuddin to substantiate this allegation, and if he cannot do so, to retract his statement and tender a public apology.

Source from - blog.limkitsiang.com

azk Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 10: 31.19
asking for apologies from these ppl is waste of time.

should put more effort to remove the regime instead.

Godfather Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 10: 41.08
I have to protest that my name is now linked to the mat rempits !

Jimm Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 11: 04.52
We must know how the entire network of the ‘corrupted’ BN heads works here as a team. They are controlling all the relevant agencies from inside out. Do you think they are bother by this complaint ? Even C4 case now are being put up as the ‘Showcase of the Year’ award eventhough involved international countries. What say you on this minor incident ?
In Malaysia, no one died means case is just some misunderstanding or the provoking party are the complaint party.
Even there are death, it’s just another accident cases that happens the same world wide and ours happens to be a rare one.

sotong Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 11: 17.48
If he can’t be bother to get his facts right…..he is definitely a Minister of Misinformation to confuse the people at a great expense of the country - an anti-national and self-serving politician.

AntiRacialDiscrimination Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 12: 09.06
UMNO will degenerate itself to be the United Matrampits National Organisation very soon.

malaysia born Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 12: 13.15
All the antics and statements put forth by these UMNO ministers are proof that they are protecting their position and power (and hence the opportunity to rape the country). It is just our bad luck that the main ruling party in this lovely country of our is them.

May 10th November 2007 be the turning point in the history of Malaysia. If things have to get worst before it can be better, then so be it. It is high time that all of us who TRULY care about this country get up and get out onto the streets to reclaim back the past glory of Malaysia and propel it higher and further than where that space tourist went at our expense.

a-malaysian Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 12: 25.14
YB Kit,

What happen to the DAP website? It is being hacked?

50 years is ENOUGH
Vote For A Change
Vote For Any Opposition
Give Them A Chance To Change For A Better Malaysia
Remember bn Is A Useless Grouping Of Self Serving, Corrupt, Dictator, Power Crazy, Racist, Kris waving, etc, etc type of parties.

Justicewanted Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 12: 38.19
This Bozo Info Minister is only trying to gain some political mileages from this Mat Rempit thing.

Cannot even differentiate the evil of Mat Rempit and Nationalism… Sad case must be brain dead.

Jimm Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 12: 41.23
I personally tends to feel that November 07 marks a BIG history for Malaysia and talking about the 10th, it’s such a BIg day too.
However, BN will blocked that day with another major announcement that rocks this country and put Malaysians into fear.
Everyone are hinting about the coming GE and heats are brewing up from all angles lately.
This round the GE are such a difficult arrangement as compared to all previous done by BN because of BA intellegence to picking and releasing ‘nation interest’ cases of the past which ‘hurts’ the rakyat emotional feelings.
BN could not have suspected such ‘OSA’ doings can be leaked out as they have never underestimate DSAI and his followers all along. However, they overlooked his knowledge and accesses that he and his followers ‘have gathered’ during the tenure of the same camp.
DSAI’s character which a very much ’stern’ leadership individual eversince from Uni time have proven his stands in the world of politics. A great breed from UMNO camp during The Done Master era, DSAI just tried his ’stunts’ a little bit too early as The Done Master will do anything in power to save his ‘puppies’ during the financial crisis and DSAI have not know of ‘The Done Master’ entire network in the scandal can easily run him down. For this, we, the rakyat have learned so much about the cause of self destruction in government constitution by the scandal which now start to crack bigger and faster.
Come November 10th, no matter how many that will turn up in Dataran Merdeka, BN will make sure that non will turn up after all. They have learned from the Bar Council March to Putrajaya episode and they have to make sure no more nonsense from the rakyat.

Old.observer Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 13: 02.50
Zainudding is another nut-case!

Why shoot the messenger and totally ignore the Message?

Isn’t the Message more important than the manner in which it is conveyed, whether by a foreigner or by a local?

If Mat Rempits are a menace, does it matter if a foreigner or a local complains?

Reminds me a lot about Lingam-gate and many other similar cases - be totally blinded by the Message, and try to shoot the Messenger.

No Messenger, No Message.

So simple!

Old Observer.

ENDANGERED HORNBILL Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 13: 24.56
ZAM is behaving like a BN monkey that’s gone bananas over NUTs.

disapointed86 Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 14: 02.31
Can i ask you all something? Are the BN MP’s are all well educated? what i realise is that most of them seems to be not educated at all..even the “MALAY” cant speak their own language well..did he finished his form 5? i believe his recent statement about the Mat Rempit case is so childish and immature..instead of doing something to overcome this social issue..he has chosen to take the side of the Mat Rempits.One day he will support the rapist and robbers as well? …someday i will be happy to see Mat rempit knock the monkey(ZAM)

sheriff singh Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 14: 16.24
Zam “…..accusing me of acts akin to being “anti-national” for bringing a foreigner to Parliament “to express his views on the democratic and security system in the country”.

I am reminded that Malaysia, the country, through its UN envoy R. Ramani, brought an Indonesian army machine gun and ammunition and placed them on his table and complained to the UN Security Council during Konfrantasi in the 60s. This caused a stir and remains unprecedented in UN’s history.

uyatnej Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 15: 42.12
The mat rempits (anak kurang ajar) are getting daring now, all because of mat umno (anak fikiran separuh masak) who are phrasing and protecting them because the mat rempits are anak anak ketuanan melayu, bumiputera, enjoy NEP can’t go to U but no problem can go to MARA, can not find job no problem can go to gomen, jadi kaki tangan kerajaan, what a shit! Once I saw they are about 40 to 50 of them, and at the traffic light they dare to stop all the traffic so their gang can ride through the red light. A few cars nearly bum to each others because of sudden stop of the front car. How I wish to see Zam and KJ been kill by mat rempits and left to rot at the road side.

Cinapek Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 17: 38.10
Remember “Comical Ali” or “Badgdad Bob” the Iraqi Information minister of the 2003 Iraq war fame? See link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comical_ali

He must have been Zam’s role model as Information Minister. Just as Comical Ali was claiming of an Iraqi victory despite the US tanks being only a couple of hundred yards away, Zam wants the whole world to believe Malaysia has no security problems by denying the existence of Mat Rempits.

Or he is trying to endear himself to SIL who is championing the Mat Rempits for the coming UMNO GA? It is incredible the depths bankrupt politicians will be prepared to crawl to to gain that little political favour.

undergrad2 Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 21: 29.11
“Let me clarify from the outset that the Canadian consultant, Manjit Sokhai did not come to Parliament on Wednesday “to express his views on the democratic and security system in the country” but to complain to the Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Good Governance about the menace of Mat Rempitism, of which he was the most recent victim.” KIT

In the United States, it is inconceivable to think that a similar incident would make it to the U.S> Congress. The media would not be interested even to report it. It is a question of law and order - plain and simple, and for the police to act.

undergrad2 Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 21: 33.01
Foreigners be they tourists, students or undocumented aliens are entitled to the same rights as any other American citizen i.e. the same rights accorded a citizen under their Constitution.

AhPek Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 21: 44.57
Don’t you all commentors in Uncle Kit’s blog not know that Mat Rempits are law unto themselves with no other than SIL championing their cause, and now this ZAM telling off Kit for bringing a Sikh Canadian to Parliament to complain about Mat Rempits.In fact, Mat Rempits are part and parcel of this Ketuanan Melayu set-up if in case you don’t know!!

AhPek Says:

October 26th, 2007 at 22: 49.43
‘The media would not be interested even to report it. It is a question of law and order-plain and simple, and for the police to act on it.”.undergrad 2.
Yes my dear fellow it’s that easy in US for the police’s job is pretty clear cut — to upkeep the law.
But in Bolehland it is complicated by some other more important duty to do —maintaining law and order can be relegated to the back-burner!

undergrad2 Says:

October 27th, 2007 at 02: 28.03
Our police has a “clear cut” job but they are not doing it - which is what I meant. We have all the laws but we do not have the will to enforce it.

It is time we seek the return to the rule of law. Then there will not be any need to drag anybody into the nation’s highest legislative assembly just to prove a point. Hope I got that right.

“Let me clarify from the outset that the Canadian consultant, Manjit Sokhai did not come to Parliament on Wednesday “to express his views on the democratic and security system in the country” but to complain …” KIT

undergrad2 Says:

October 27th, 2007 at 02: 35.39
I believe Kit was referring to the media conference held in the lobby of Parliament House.

“The purpose of Wednesday media conference in Parliament was for Manjit to recount to the media his traumatic experience …” KIT

cancan Says:

October 28th, 2007 at 08: 50.53
The Umnoputras have all the while wanted to glorify these mat rempits.The aim is to unleashed them to create havocs when the time comes.
Remember the son-in-law wanted to hold a mass gathering at Stadium Bkt.Jalil sometime ago to glorify them?
What stupidity and what price are we going to pay?

bhuvan.govindasamy Says:

October 28th, 2007 at 22: 15.03
Hitler had his SS, Zam has his Mat Rempits.

ihavesomethingtosay Says:

November 1st, 2007 at 01: 32.53
“anti-national” for bringing a foreigner to Parliament

then why we have a mamak there? therefore amno must be anti national

Lim Kit Siang » Blog Archive » Zam sees red in being called “monkey” in this blog Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 11: 54.45
[…] had objected to and found it was a post by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on 28th October 2007 in the thread “Zam - Info Minister under coconut shell or bidding to be Mat Rempit “Godfather”?”, […]

Lim Kit Siang » Blog Archive » Challenge to Zam - Update regularly the RTM website on my blog postings Says:

November 10th, 2007 at 11: 37.11
[…] parliamentary exchange between Zainuddin and myself on press freedom and two of my blog postings, Zam - Info Minister under coconut shell or bidding to be Mat Rempit “Godfather”? (26th October 2007) and Zam sees red in being called “monkey” in this blog (November 7, […]

De5thElement Says:

November 10th, 2007 at 11: 59.43
Let’s vote them out in coming election…!! Enough for this monkey sees, monkey does business…!!!