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Media Conference Statement by Lim Kit Siang at the DAP/PR Sibu by-election media centre on Thursday, 13th May 2010: 

 

Najib’s 3-minute lightning visit to Tua Pek Kong Temple leaving before start of procession a disappointment as advance publicity said the Prime Minister would speak at temple and lead the procession

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s three-minute lightning visit to Sibu Tua Pek Kong Temple last night, leaving even before the start of the historic procession is a disappointment all-round as advance publicity said the Prime Minister would speak at the temple and would lead the procession.

The Tua Pek Kong Temple procession was to start at 6 p.m but was held back till 7.30 p.m for the arrival of the Prime Minister.

Because of the SUPP build-up in the advance publicity for the Prime Minister’s visit to Tua Pek Kong temple to lead the procession, there was excitement and expectancy among the thousands who gathered at the Temple for the start of the procession and the tens of thousands of people lining the roads of the procession.

Together with DAP/PR Candidate for Sibu, Wong Ho Leng and a battery of DAP MPs and State Assemblymen from throughout the country, including parliamentarians Chong Jien Ren (Kuching Bandar) Anthony Loke (Rasah), Liew Chin Tong (Bukit Bendera), we had waited for an hour at the head of the queue in front of the Tua Bek Kong Temple entrance to welcome the Prime Minister’s visit.

However, we never get to greet the Prime Minister, as his entourage came like a storm, with his escorts pushing and shoving away the crowd of pressmen as well as the public (reckless of safety of children and womenfolk in the crowd).

Before the public could recover from the storm of pushing and shoving by the Prime Minister’s entourage entering the temple, there was immediately another storm of pushing and shoving by the Prime Minister’s entourage leaving the temple – as Najib came and went in less than three minutes!

During the patient hour-long wait by thousands for the arrival of the Prime Minister, the waiting public were repeatedly reminded to show that Sibu is a cultured and civilized place which appreciate the visit of the Prime Minister and to clap vigorously when the Prime Minister deliver his speech.

But the Prime Minister did not give any speech. Neither did he lead the Tua Pek Kong Temple procession. In fact, Najib’s visit was so “lightning-short” and all over in three minutes – that the organizers did not even have the time to present the Prime Minister with the souvenir they had prepared!

The SUPP leadership owes the people of Sibu, Sarawak and Malaysia an explanation they created the publicity build-up in the last few days saying that the Prime Minister would speak at the Temple and would lead the procession.

Public disappointment that the Prime Minister had neither given a speech nor lead the procession as publicized earlier was palpable all round, as reflected by my tweets at the Tua Pek Kong Temple procession last night, viz:

  • At #Sibu TuaPekKong Procession gathering w candidate HoLeng MPs JianRen Loke CTong n several SAs from Sarawak Penang Perak Selangor
    Wednesday, May 12, 2010 6:46 PM

  • Air of excitement 4great #Sibu religious event 2begin Estimated 7k all over country n overseas taking part in procession 50k ppl waiting
    Wednesday, May 12, 2010 7:04 PM

  • Historic n unprecedented #Sibu TuaPekKong Procession formed by 119 groups w 7k participants waiting 4arrival of PM @730pm 2begin
    Wednesday, May 12, 2010 7:13 PM

  • #Sibu RM1.5 million 120yr 7-storey TuaPekKong Pagoda major historic/tourist attraction of New Fuchou Whole area brightly lit-up Memorable
    Wednesday, May 12, 2010 7:25 PM

  • Najib arrives Surrounded by escorts Although DAP MPs SAs nationwide stands on front row Najib did not c us PM has left! Not even 3 mins!
    Wednesday, May 12, 2010 7:32 PM

  • After 3 mins he left RT @Reading_Monk: @limkitsiang YAB not taking part in procession??
    Wednesday, May 12, 2010 7:51 PM

  • Walking streets of #Sibu in procession Frankly all Ppl disappointed Najib could only spare 3 mins News rpts say PM wld lead procession #P212
    Wednesday, May 12, 2010 8:08 PM

  • #P212 Najib comes like Emperor of yore rather an elected PM of a democratic Msia This is why #Sibu 4Change needed 2launch new politics/ Msia
    Wednesday, May 12, 2010 8:45 PM

  • #P212 If in vital #Sibu byelection Najib can only spare 3mins 4 120yr TuaPekKong Temple after so much publicity what does it imply?
    Wednesday, May 12, 2010 9:04 PM

  • #P212 #Sibu TPKTemple procession ended Unforgettable nite Entered into lore/history Sibu Will b talk 4next century incl PM’s 3min scandal
    Wednesday, May 12, 2010 9:15 PM

  • Star rprted Najib “witnessed start of #Sibu TPK festival street procession”. Untrue. He came n went even b4 start of procession. All 3 mins!
    Wednesday, May 12, 2010 9:34 PM

  • #P212 Advance publicity Najib would lead TPKTemple prcsn, wld give speech n all told 2clap 2make Najib happy but he never stepped in2 temple
    Wednesday, May 12, 2010 9:45 PM


*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary Leader & MP for Ipoh Timor

 

 

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