my seloka dad 8

The News Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: Debates are more often than not a bore but Ismail Yaacob brought down Dewan Merdeka of Putra World Trade Centre yesterday with his pantun, laced with cynicism and criticism.



— Ismail Yaacob, Umno veteran taking a dig at the Works Ministry

The crowd in stitches at Ismail Yaacob’s witty remarks during the presidential debate yesterday.
When Ismail, or commonly known by his nickname of Cikgu Man, took to the rostrum, everyone listened.

The pint-sized Umno veteran member from Langkawi representing Kedah Umno at the debate on the presidential speech, took pot-shots at ministers and ministries.

"With the economy slowing down and instead of finding ways to improve the economy. our ministers always look for excuses.

"When the electricity tariff goes up, they ask us not to use air-conditioning and fans. When the price of rice goes up, they ask us to eat tapioca. When there was a shortage of sugar, the minister asks the people to eat less sugar to avoid diabetes."

The Works Ministry was also not spared.

"It constructs a road and then erects a signboard saying 'Dangerous Corner'. If they know it is a dangerous corner, why construct the road in the first place?" he asked.

The Tourism Ministry was his next target. Ismail invited the minister of tourism to visit Langkawi more often.

"Many small traders are out of business. We need more business activities. When the people don't have business activity they produce more children," he said, sending the crowd into laughter.

Umno permanent chairman Datuk Paduka Badruddin Amiruddin, a master himself in witty pantun, also teased Ismail relentlessly.

Ismail also proposed a bridge to be constructed from Pulau Langkawi to Pulau Tuba to increase the activity on the island. He assured the bridge would increase tourism in Langkawi.

The Umno exco members, too, were on the receiving end.

"These people on the stage are not listening to our lament. What we (debaters) say goes in their right ear and goes out the left ear," he said, adding that it was so difficult meeting the ministers.

"We come to meet them from Langkawi using AirAsia but go back in a lorry even without meeting them," he said, further sending the delegates into stitches.

On a serious note, he advised Umno members to play less politics and concentrate on serving the people to attract the support and get back the two-thirds majority. He called upon them to be united so that Umno would be as strong as steel.

He also touched on money politics where he said candidates were in a Catch-22 stituation.

"If they give (money) it is wrong. If they don't give, they will lose. If they give too little, people complain. If they give too much, they will go bankrupt."

Ismail also took a shot at critics of the teaching of Science and Maths in English.

"If we leave it to them, they would want even English to be taught in Malay," he said.

Some division leaders, too, were his target of attack.

"Even after their hair has turned grey and they cannot eat some of the delicious food (due to health reasons), they still refuse to let go of their division head positions."

Mid-way through his debate, he again got everyone in stitches when the organisers had to bring in a stool for him to stand on as he was not visible because he was blocked by the microphones lining the rostrum due to his height.

Umno Youth representative Nor Saidi Nayan kicked off the afternoon session of the debate by lobbying for newly appointed Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin to be appointed a minister in the upcoming cabinet reshuffle.

Saidi argued that there was not enough youth representation in the government, especially those under the age of 40, despite the fact that many young people in Umno were more than qualified for the roles.

However, his suggestion was not well received by other delegates in the hall. Most of them responded with jeers and shouts for him to be removed from the stage.

Also asking for more youth representation in the government was Puteri representative Mazlina Mohamad Lazim. She argued that the Puteri wing had delivered the votes, be it during general elections or by-elections.

"If not in positions of power in the government, then at least place us in power among government-listed companies like Permodalan Nasional Berhad, Petronas and others."

The only wing not asking for more power or rewards was Wanita Umno. Instead Wanita deputy chief Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim, who spoke for the wing, said that to unite the nation the government should consider creating a new national identity for all Malaysians.

"That way, we would no longer need to be divided by individual races. We can all unite in a common national identity.

"However, that new national identity must be centred on the Malay culture," she said.