Patriot expects all MPs from – both the ruling coalition and opposition parties – to speak up intelligently, contribute to good debates and ensure a respectable decorum in the house.
The august house of Parliament is nowhere august when there are members who behave like hooligans in terms of the language used and uncouth behaviour.
The conduct of parliamentarians is supposed to be dignified. Their speeches are supposed to inspire, to be intelligent, to contribute to innovative ideas and to add value to debates. At the very least, they should act as good role models, especially to our young. But when members shout abusive language and use vulgar words in their speeches arguing like the uneducated instead of articulating intelligently, the word hooligan is the kindest possible.
Parliamentarians not in the government are supposed to be formidable opposition. They have important roles: to provide checks and balance and to give counter-suggestions when necessary. Absenteeism and failing to meet a quorum has happened far too often and is already bad enough.
Their incapability to speak intelligently is equally bad. Arguing and shouting abusive words is bad enough. But arguing with a vulgar word makes the MP a scumbag unworthy of being present in the august house. Censuring and merely asking for the withdrawal of the unmentionable word is too light a ticking off.
The Tanjung Karang MP, the so-called honourable Noh Omar, who uttered the unmentionable word, must also apologise to all women and the young in the country. He is a bad example of an adult and a father and certainly not fit to be an MP.
There were previous occasions of other utterances of vulgarities and displays of sexism. It appears that certain MPs are in a habit of using such vulgarities and resorting to misconduct. This nonsense must stop.
Patriot expects all MPs from – both the ruling coalition and opposition parties – to speak up intelligently, contribute to good debates and ensure a respectable decorum in the house. Otherwise, they are merely occupying the seats and wasting public money.
Retired Brigadier General Dato Mohamed Arshad Raji is president of the National Patriots Association (Patriot).
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Patriot expects all MPs from – both the ruling coalition and opposition parties – to speak up intelligently, contribute to good debates and ensure a respectable decorum in the house.
IS THIS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK AND THUS AN EXPECTATION IN VAIN?
The august house of Parliament is nowhere august when there are members who behave like hooligans in terms of the language used and uncouth behavior.
IS THIS NOT A COMMON CULTURE AMONG POLITICIANS IN MANY COUNTRIES WHO MAY BE PERCEIVED FROM THEIR ACTION TO BE THERE FOR HIGH REMUNERATION AND PERKS TO BE ENJOYED DURING BEING YBs AND LATER AS PENSIONERS AND LIKE TO SHOW THEIR PRESENCE MORE BY THEIR BEHAVIOR THAN WHAT THEY SAY?