Many Key Issues To Be Thrashed Out At BN Supreme Council Meeting

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Key representatives of the 13-member Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition will meet here Tuesday and facing them are a myriad of issues which may sap their stamina and solidarity.
How the government is going to steer the country out of the current phase of uncertainty following the sabre-rattling and wild boasts of Opposition politicians will definitely be discussed.
The management of the economy will be another. For the fence-sitters and all their idle-talk in running down the economy and everything else that they do not see eye-to-eye with, due credit must be given to the crafting of the 2009 Budget by the government.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has put in place a business-friendly budget and now it is up to the business sector to take up the challenge amidst the tougher economic environment.
But chief among the pertinent and yet prickly issues to be discussed will be one related to Umno Bukit Bendera chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail, who was alleged to have made a racist and disparaging remark recently.
Several leaders of the BN component parties have made known their displeasure over such a remark during this trying period following the March 8 general election and Ahmads subsequent explanation, which some had described as bordering on insolence.
"I would definitely bring this matter up during the supreme council meeting. Weve got to discuss this as we can't tolerate it anymore," MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting told Bernama when met at MCAs Johor convention in Kulai on Sunday.
Gerakan acting president, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, is likely to join in the fray, judging from what he told the Selangor Gerakan delegates on Sunday.
"I'm holding back my own anger because a coalition with such a long history of governance should not be a victim of such remarks," he said.
Dr Koh had said that Ahmad's persistence in sticking to his stand showed that he had failed to toe his party line and show respect for Umno-BN ties.
Tan Sri Dr George Chan, president of the Sarawak-based Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), had said that the party did not want Chinese Malaysians to be labelled as immigrants, as it was bad for racial harmony.
"Such remarks are disrespectful and such labels would only make the Chinese feel that they are not citizens of this country," he said.
Chan had added that African-Americans were not considered aliens in the United States and now one of them may even become the president, in reference to the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, Barrack Obama.
Liberal Democratic Party president Datuk V.K Liew said Ahmads alleged remark and subsequent comments had dragged other members of the coalition into the issue and Ahmad must be courageous to handle the issue.
MCA vice-president and Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said that since Ahmad's remark went against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's stand, it was an internal issue to be dealt with by Umno.
"We do not like to force things," he said.
Reacting to demands from Chinese political parties and organisations, Najib had apologised on behalf of Ahmad.
And Abdullah had also said that Ahmads remarks did not represent the view of Umno.
Ahmad, who was alleged to have made the controversial remark on Aug 23 during a campaign rally in Kampung Pelet for the Permatang Pauh by-election, has refused to budge, saying that he was merely stating history.
Ahmad explained at a news conference that he was merely telling the largely Malay-Muslim audience about the nation's history during the rally which was also attended by Najib.
"When Malaya was under the British rule, they brought in Chinese and Indians to work in tin mines and rubber plantations. The Chinese were indeed squatters at that time," he said, adding that what he said referred to the pre-Merdeka days.
Ahmad also blamed the Chinese media for playing up the issue and claimed that a reporter from a Chinese daily had twisted his words.

tunku : well, this will be the best avenue for the bn leaders to sort things out before it get out of control.remove the virus away from the party.remove the sleepy head who fails to lead sufficiently.bn needs to rejuvenate and refresh again with new leaders.