Many Malaysians, listening to his speech which was telecast live, must have wondered what was the use of such lamentation when the leaders of the Barisan Nasional government are setting bad role examples to the youths of the country.
One such bad role example erupted in Parliament on Wednesday when the Barisan Nasional MP for Kinabatangan Datuk Bung Moktar Radin dishonoured Parliament and our national reputation when in an exchange with the DAP MP for Bukit Mertajam, Chong Eng over MCA’s “secular Islamic state” stance used the four-letter F-word, the first time such disgraceful conduct took place in the 42-year history of Parliament.
It is not enough for Bung Moktar to apologise for besmirching the 42-year dignity and decorum of Parliament by using the four-letter F-word in very unrepentant circumstances and manner. Bung Moktar knew that if he had not withdrawn and apologised for the four-letter F-word, DAP MPs would not have allowed him to stand up and speak in Parliament at all.
Normally, when a MP says a wrong thing, the matter ends when he or she withdraws the offending term and tenders an apology. But there are times when the offending term is so outside the pale of acceptable behaviour that a withdrawal and apology is not adequate. Bung Moktar’s four-letter F-word is one such case.
Bung Moktar’s apology can be taken into consideration as a factor for mitigation purposes but it cannot absolve him from punishment for having committed such a gross, indecent and disgraceful conduct as using the four-letter K-word in the august House of Parliament - something which is totally impermissible even at home, in school or in polite and civilized company!
An example must be made of such atrocious and completely unacceptable parliamentary behaviour, and Bung Moktar should be suspended from Parliament and severely disciplined by Barisan Nasional for using the four-letter F-word in Parliament - or Parliament and the Barisan Nasional would be guilty of condoning such ultimate misconduct and disgraceful behaviour. In fact, Bung Moktar’s Datukship should also be withdrawn!
The Malaysian public and NGOs should make their voice heard and disgust known to make it clear to Parliament and the Barisan Nasional leadership that such misconduct in using the four-letter F-word in Parliament is completely unacceptable, and that they demand that Bung Moktar should be severely punished to set a good example not only to MPs but to the new generation of Malaysians if serious social ills in the country are to be successfully addressed.
Otherwise, every time a Barisan Nasional Minister talks about social ills in the country, Malaysians should think about Bung Moktar and his four-letter F-word!
(20/10/2001)