According to The Star, Khalil said the opposition had gone too far, adding that he was appalled by their tactic.
He said: "UMNO members were shocked to find these posters being distributed among primary schoolchildren."
Khalil said it was "unbecoming of the opposition to involve schoolchildren in this political fight".
He said: "I believe such tactics have gone way below human decency and the damage in the minds of these schoolchildren has far-reaching consequences."
I do not know whether Khalil’s allegation is true, but decent-minded Malaysians are shocked that Khalil is only "appalled" by the posters of the Pahang Mentri Besar’s "lewd gesture" being distributed to schoolchildren, but not in any way "appalled" by Adnan’s "lewd gesture".
It is indeed unbelievable that Khalil could agree that Adnan had made a "lewd gesture" and yet he and the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi could justify Adnan’s "lewd gesture" in a public place before men, women and children. If so, what is wrong with the distribution of the poster with Adnan’s "lewd gesture" to schoolchildren? It may serve the purpose of showing schoolchildren the line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour and conduct.
It is only when Adnan’s "lewd gesture" is generally condemned by society and the political leadership that the distribution of posters of Adnan’s "lewd gesture" can be regarded as equally reprehensible.
In Malaysia, there is selective justice, selective prosecution, selective release of information and now there is selective morality and selective moral judgment.
The Barisan Nasional leaders should make up their minds as to whether there is anything wrong with Adnan’s "lewd gesture". If Abdullah and Khalil believe that there is nothing wrong with Adnan’s "lewd gesture", then there is nothing wrong with the posters of Adnan’s "lewd gesture" being distributed to schoolchildren.
It is only when Adnan’s "lewd gesture" is condemned as beyond the pale of acceptable and civilised behaviour and conduct, especially by the head of a state government who should be a role model for the people and not just the young generation, that the the distribution of posters of his "lewd gesture" could be condemned.
I call on the Barisan Nasional leadership to condemn in no uncertain terms Adnan’s "lewd gesture" and to demand that Adnan apologise unreservedly. It is only then that Khalil can take the moral high ground to deplore the distribution of the poster of Adnan’s "lewd gesture" to schoolchildren.
Adnan’s crude, vulgar and indecent gesture - which Khalil agrees is "lewd" - must be a central factor for the Sanggang voters on April 1, 2000, for it shows the shocking drop in moral standards of Barisan Nasional leaders - involving not only the Pahang Mentri Besar, but the entire Barisan Nasional leadership which could come to Adnan’s defence.
Is Adnan as Pahang Mentri Besar going to allow such "lewd gesture" to be made in the Pahang State Assembly meetings especially when he feels "provoked" by the Opposition?
Adnan Yaakob should resign as Pahang Mentri Besar if he persists in
refusing to publicly apologise for his "lewd gesture" on Sanggang
nomination day.
(28/3/2000)