Cycling to make a statement
June 24th 2008 02:14
KUALA LUMPUR: Four opposition members of the parliament yesterday travelled in their chauffeur-driven cars to Bank Negara, and then mounted bicycles for a 3km ride to Parliament.
Wearing their crisp and well-ironed shirts, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat quartet - N. Gobalakrishan (Padang Serai), Tian Chua (Batu), Zulkifli Nordin (Kulim Bandar Baru) and Hee Loy Sian (PJ Selatan) - rode the hardly-used and rusty bicycles, some with balding tyres, to make a political statement against the recent fuel price hikes.
The MPs cycled the short distance while being escorted by their aides who drove their cars.
Some 20 policemen stationed to observe their antics at their starting point at SRK Sultan Hishamuddin Alam Shah next to Padang Merbuk were not amused.
The policemen stationed there hardly batted their eyelids when the quartet started their short journey at about 9.30am.
Speaking to a mob of reporters upon arrival at Parliament 10 minutes later, Tian Chua said their aim was to understand the difficulties faced by the people due to the spike in fuel prices.
"Here we challenge the Barisan Nasional MPs to try and see for themselves. We hope this will spark more debates on more issues that directly affect the people."
Later, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abd Aziz said the quartet were merely pulling off a stunt.
Personally, I just hope that they'd just cycle all the way and let their drivers wait at the National bank. They can always cycle back to the bank and get into their cars after the meeting, unless of thunderstorm rain.
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