Sad, baffled and angry

Following the gruesome killing of Bernard Then by the Abu Sayyaf militants, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak wrote the following in his Facebook page:

"I, the government and all Malaysians are shocked and sickened by the murder of our countryman Bernard Then and we condemn it in its strongest terms."

We all agree with the PM on that and we share his feeling.

Najib went on to say: “We call upon authorities to take action against those who have perpetrated this savage and barbaric act and ensure that they are brought to justice.”

While we too want all that, I’m a bit baffled PM sir (if you’re reading this).

When you said: "WE call upon authorities to take action", who are you referring to? Are you not "the" authority or part of the "authorities"? Are you calling upon yourself to take action against the perpetrators?

Or are you referring to the Philippine government? Are they to carry out investigation and take action, solely on their own?

That seems to be what you are implying sir. What more when you further said: "We will also extend our full cooperation to relevant agencies and authorities in charge on the investigation of this incident."

What about our ministry of defence headed by your cousin Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and the home ministry helmed by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, your trusted number two? Surely, they too have a big role to play ?

Well,....

The PM conveyed his condolences to the family of the late Bernard Then.

So too, the Parliament of Malaysia – whose sympathy message was made by Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee.

However, the deputy speaker refused to allow a motion by Sandakan MP Stephen Wong for Parliament to observe a minute of silence for the late Bernard Then.

Reason?

According to Ronald Kiandee: "When Parliament observes a minute of silence it is reserved for heads of states and parliamentarians".

Bernard Then was never a head of state nor was he ever a parliamentarian. But he is a fellow Malaysian, who was..., well, we all know how he died.

And Parliament can’t even give him a short one minute? Because of protocol?

I just don’t know what to say anymore. – November 19, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.