AMIR MUHAMMAD has followed his “Malaysian Politicians say the Darndest Things” with another volume, this time with illustrations by Fahmi Reza, who moved into the limelight with his great film, “10 Years Before  Merdeka” which opened many pages of ignored history to the world.

I reviewed Amir’s first volume in 2007 at  http://thepenangfile.bravehost.com/nov-2007/index56.htm/books56.htm   and wrote, “ I hope the volume to follow will not miss such fatuous instructions as Mohd.   Rahmat's:  to sprinkle water from tall flats to dissolve the Indonesian haze and the one about pumping water from the KL river for the same purpose. And not to forget the one about banning super bikes from the highway.”

This collection however has yet another one of Mohd Rahmat’s priceless utterances, this time on the stealing of flags.  “I hope they did it not because they like stealing but because they want to show their patriotism and love for the country”.  This second volume  forces the conclusion  that this is clown country. Some are simply illiterate, like this one from Rafidah Aziz:  “Asean is a marriage. APEC is a friendshsip... I tell you APEC is not even boyfriend-girlfriend.” No wonder our university boys are jobless. Some show that politicians do not stop to think.  For one example, the landslide at the Gentings road that killed 20 people  prompted from Samy Vellu:  “An act of God”.  But  the clowns are sometimes viciously unfeeling,  like that notorious MP Badruddin who said of Karpal Singh, “Now that you are in a wheelchair, God has punished you” or devoif of any sense of humour like this one from the overhearing Dr Mahathir:  “The ISA can be reviewed but it must be understood that a review does not mean abolishing the ISA. The review could mean maintaining it in its present form or strengthening the Act “.  Some are simply abusive like Mohamed Aziz, a BN MP, “If Singapore keeps asking for lower rates in its negotiations with us on the water deal, give them sewage water. After all, they are prepared to drink recycled water”.  Some are simply menacing, like the youth leader Khairy's on Anwar Ibrahim: “He is a puppet of the United States and the Jews, thus he must be hounded until there is no more place for him to run to”

Some make us doubt their honesty, like tourism minister Tengku Adnan who told journalists “So whatever you write, especially the press, write responsibly ... I am not asking you to write truthfully, but write responsibly”