Parliament Today: Disrespectful, Rude and Crude Remark!
I felt uncomfortable and embarrassed. The remarks were not made by me or any DAP MPs.
This morning, there was a question by MP for Gombak which asked the Minister of Foreign Affiars to state whether OIC will intervene in the sectarian conflict in Lebanon that has resulted in many being killed.
This question was answered by the Parliamentary Secretary, Ahmad Shabery Cheek
MP for Sri Gading then took the opportunity to ask a supplementary question which, to me, sounded rude, crude and disrespectful. The remarks was made against the Head of European Commission Delegation to Malaysia, Thierry Rommel.
He said,
” Datuk Haji Mohamad bin Haji Aziz [Sri Gading]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Kebanyakan atau boleh katakan keseluruhan yang menyebabkan huru-hara di dunia ini kerana campur tangan luar khususnya kuasa-kuasa besar, barat kepada negara-negara membangun, melaga-lagakan. Maka sebab itulah huru-hara tidak dapat dibendung kerana perbuatan terkutuk negara-negara yang saya sebutkan.
Sebagai contoh; minggu yang lalu kita terperanjat, kita marah kerana campur tangan Rommel daripada EU, kurang ajar dia punya kenyataan, campur urusan dalam negara. Sepatutnya tendang dia keluar, jangan benarkan dia masuk kerana inilah Tuan Yang di-Pertua, kebanyakan negara-negara Eropah campur tangan dalam urusan sesebuah negara. Apa dia tahu tentang urusan negara kita, apa yang dia tahu?
Ini kenyataan sebenarnya melaga-lagakan perkara-perkara yang telah pun diterima di negara ini oleh seorang yang tidak tahu asal usul negara ini. Saya harap Kementerian Luar kalau boleh tendang dan jangan benarkan orang-orang seperti ini menjejakkan kakinya di bumi bertuah Malaysia tercinta. Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua.
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Ini mengenai Lebanon, perkara ini mengenai Lebanon.
Datuk Haji Mohamad bin Haji Aziz [Sri Gading]: Fasal urusan campur tangan Tuan Yang di-Pertua, betullah Lebanon, Lebanonlah Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Hamas dengan Fatah pun urusan melaga-lagakan kuasa besar. Minta maaf Tuan Yang di-Pertua kalau saya terkeluar sedikit tapi ada urusan dengan Kementerian Luar. Terima kasih.
Tuan Ahmad Shabery Cheek: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, terima kasih di atas soalan tambahan Yang Berhormat Sri Gading yang saya fikir itu adalah merupakan sentimen yang dikongsi bersama di kalangan ramai Ahli-ahli Parlimen di sini. Pendekatan Malaysia yang selalu kita tegaskan tentang banyak konflik antarabangsa terutama sekali yang melibatkan negara Islam dan yang melibatkan apa yang disebutkan keganasan dan sebagainya.
Kita selalu menekankan tentang cara menangani konflik bukan sahaja membanteras konflik itu sahaja, tetapi juga melihat apakah punca konflik tersebut. Sebab itulah tentang soal campur tangan, tentang persoalan penindasan, soal ketidakadilan yang berlaku dalam menyelesaikan konflik terutama sekali Timur Tengah selalu kita menganggap bahawa ini adalah punca besar hingga berlakunya peristiwa-peristiwa lain yang digambarkan, dikaitkan dengan soal keganasan antarabangsa dan sebagainya, kita setuju tentang soal itu.
Mengenai yang terbaru yang disebutkan tentang seorang duta daripada European Union, Persatuan Eropah yang membuat kenyataan yang menyinggung perasaan ramai orang Malaysia pada hari ini. Pihak kementerian akan memanggil duta tersebut untuk mendapat penjelasan seterusnya. Duta kita di Belgium juga akan terus menyatakan bantahan kita di ibu pejabat European Union tentang rasa tidak senang kita apabila tindakan orang diplomatik yang dianggap undiplomatic, yang mencampuri tentang dasar-dasar dalam negara berkenaan, perkara ini sudah dilakukan. Terima kasih. “The sentence that shocked me was, “… calling on the Foreign Ministry to “kick” such people out of this country and disallow them to step into this beloved land of Malaysia…”
Immediately I felt so uncomfortable and embarrassed. The first thing that came to my mind when I heard the remark was, “the least we could do is to thank Rommel for telling us the truth (after all that was what Pak Lah wanted to hear, I think) about the weaknesses of our policies and system which would hinder foreign investor and as a result affect our economy.”
If the statement made by Rommel was full of praises and compliments of the leadership and the system, then would the reactions of this BN MP be the same and seen as “interfering in internal affairs of the country” violating international norms and practices? Further, this statement was made at a luncheon talk organised by EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
How could such a remark be made in Parliament with no respect at all to a visitor who is also the head of European Commission Delegation to Malaysia?
I know if I were to stand up and protest against the remarks made by MP for Sri Gading, I guess the highly probable reply from him would be, ” see, supporting foreign agent or foreigner to condemn our country.” Tell me, I have “tasted” such remarks from BN when I was in my first term, speaking up against irresponsible local college operators which “cheated” foreign Chinese students. They do not talk with senses, most of the time.
I did read about the protest of DPM and the Foreign Minister against the said remarks too. At least, it was a proper channel.
Constructive criticisms must be seen positively and not negatively, if we want improvement for ourselves and the country.
YB Fong,
There’s no fool like a bold fool. - Carolyn Wells.
Comment by Jim — June 26, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
I think it was fair comment by His Excellency. But if our leaders and BN MPs refuse to accept reality it is their prerogative too.
But why PM waited for VW’s proposal to join with Proton?
On the one hand, we are proud of our system, on the other we want their participation. I am sure, VW found the NEP a major obstacle to rejuvenate Proton. Imagine wanting their technology and capital, yet insist on maintaining our inefficient suppliers.
Comment by K S Ong — June 26, 2007 @ 10:41 pm
keep it up
Comment by shenyeeaun — June 28, 2007 @ 1:49 am
Actually, i’m a uni student, the main purpose i’m writing this is to ask a question because the whole website i counldn’t found any place that i can click on to write u a message. so i hope u dont mind i missuse it. My question is: should freedom of speech allow in a globalised world ? i’m looking forward for ur reply. thanks in advance.
Comment by Sean Ong — June 30, 2007 @ 2:51 am
I still remember when Bill Gates was here the last time and praised CyberJaya and the MSC, and this sent all and sundry in UMNO into the nineth cloud, even though the place in mention is so badly maintained - potholes, tall lallangs and empty buildings. Little did they know that a guy like Bill Gates was just simply carrying out a little diplomacy act. A person like Bill Gates comes from the Silicon Valley and there is simply no way we can compare ours with SV. See how easy to make simple kampong minds happy and how easy to make simply kampong minds angry? As for Poh Kuan, I admire not your courage to speak up to these morons but the amount of patience you have in putting up with these blokes. In one sentence, they are simply beyond redemption.
Comment by Billy — June 30, 2007 @ 8:25 am
this is the legacy of mahathirism - a breed of politicians who do not know how to deal with criticism (constructive or otherwise), still living in the era as if Malaysia tis the darling location of FDI (never was and never been) and thinking that Malaysia is the central of the world.
when our oil money run out in 10 years time, when China, Vietnam and India economic structure mature in time, FDI will go over to them. We can’t stand on our own feet economically - we have no sustainable global brand of our own. We need to face realuity, bite the bullet, suffer but emerge stronger in the years to come. Many non-bumis have left Malaysia and they are considered brain drain, not trouble drain as one of our famous politician was quoted as saying by Mister Lee Kuan Yew.
Comment by lee wee tak — June 30, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
I think it they have to show how good they are to gained support…..So you will see more comment or remarks for them. So just relax and listen ……….
Comment by superkid_kpg — July 11, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
Do you still remember RECALCITRANT?
I rest my case on the UMNO supporters of today !! The less said the better.
Comment by Michael Tan — July 12, 2007 @ 8:43 am
thank you dap for helping rakyat sincerely
Comment by fuziah salleh — July 12, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Outright fools. I totally agree with you that those leaders talk utter nonsense. Crude,brash,brazen,lewd and more words to describe them.It doesn’t help the race they represent to create a high regard for themselves. Arrogant and foolish-it is not a new discovery. A spate of events showed that our leaders are not capable of accepting feedbacks, even less capable to accept correction. Denial or partial denial is a must to maintain their position, possibly done in a bid to show that they are “one” with Ur Most Nepotic One and that they are backing our beloved nation. If their acts and intention are bona fide,then they are really misled. Most likely they repel correction intentionally, such twisted and selfish people. Sometimes I really want to have that Minister live for a debate with key figures prominent in the field of politics, economics and finance since they think so highly of themselves.Rommel ain’t stupid,who are we kidding anyway? The world at large doesn’t agree with nepotism aimed to protect certain race from the others. They criticise the West for their bad influence. True,cultural differences resulted in East regarding the West as bad influence. However,those countries have marked progress in nation building. Nobody wants to deal in a situation where rights and obligations are restricted by favouritism.A prudent businessman(assuming,he’s not the protected ones),in the absence of other considerations, wouldn’t fall for such deals. Does the MP read Fortune,Forbes,Newsweek,etc. Does he even bother to keep abreast with global issues affecting economies worldwide by watching CNN,CNBC,etc. Or maybe Akademi Fantasia is more entertaining? Ain’t it dumb to reject Rommel’s argument without proper grounds. At least base your arguments on economic theories both theoretical or empirical. Rejecting Rommel’s comment solely on the reason of “kurang ajar, campur tangan dalam hal negara kita” only goes to show how shallow and constricted the minds of our leaders. It’s clearly a protest based on ego and pride which goes ahead of economic interest. Malaysia is unlike China,they can demand equity in e.g, the automotive industry up almost 50% for foreign players wishing to enter the market. They have the bargaining power on their side as a result of a scary ballooning economy. What do we have? Susu getah or kelapa sawit? While I don’t have the time or access to update on parliamentary debates, I assume that a lot of MPs don’t have broad knowledge on the mechanism of economics or finance because I don’t often (maybe I missed out)see them debating any issues based on their knowledge of economics/finance for related issues. At most, they just quote a line or two and throw in one or two percentage figures. I bet they are alien to the name John Maynard Keynes, Hayek, etc. It’s always the same but restructed lines they throw out. Does the MP know what is EU? Is it something edible? Edible Urchins? Formation of EU was based on lowering or removing trade barriers, to allow free flow of human capital and so on between member countries. It abolishes the barrier meant to create high entry barrier in a particular trade. Of course Rommel would be concerned with NEP. No wonder our trade talk fails. PLEASE Fong, you have to educate these MPs. I can’t stand them, capable of rhetoric display of BM, but when making impromptu comments, especially in English, they go like, “Err…err…apa ni…err….err…apa nama tu…” just watch the news on tv. Laughing stock.
Comment by Procol — July 21, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
Relating to comment posted by Billy (#5) above, I recalled that Bill Gates pulled out from investing in MSC after praising it, but redirecting all his outsourcing plans to India instead! BN needs to bite reality as it has not tasted some for a long time. If they are so reluctant to accept critics from EU delegates, then please do not even welcome Volkswagen to bail out Proton…
Comment by K.S. Lee — July 25, 2007 @ 3:56 am
They behave like morons and that’s the calibre of MPs Barisan National proudly present. How on earth such low quality BN goons get their ‘ticket’ into Parliament baffles me. Instead of positively open to feedbacks to improve the situation, they just make a fool of themselves and always on the defensive.
This is why this country is so “koyak” and going to the dogs. What a shame, 50 years on, 50 years of Merdeka and this is as far as BN can get. And they proudly compare Malaysia is still far better than Burma, Sudan and Afghanistan eh?!!!!!
Comment by Jong — July 27, 2007 @ 1:38 pm