BN MP calls DAP MP a bastard in Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 – It is often referred to as “this august house” but conduct in the Dewan Rakyat today plumbed new depths with obscene language that would make even a street walker protest. More than eyebrows were raised when a government MP called an opposition member a “bastard”. [The Malaysian Insider, 5/11/08]

The verbal insult was directed at Ipoh Barat MP, M.Kulasegaran (image) by Pasir Salak MP, Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman who was offended by the former's statements. Kulasegaran was claimed that Tajuddin was "hated" by the Indian community in Pasir Salak; an allegation which apparently did not go down well with the Barisan Nasional man.

In retaliation, Tajuddin furiously yelled, "Bastard!" and repeated the insult. He was also quoted saying, "You bloody bastard, show me proof!"

Opposition MPs immediately objected en masse against the profane language used by Tajuddin at their colleague. Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar then requested the Pasir Salak MP to retract the derogatory word but Tajuddin said he would only do so if Kulasegaran would retract his statement first.

The Ipoh Barat MP, however, deemed his allegation that Tajuddin was "hated" among the Indian community in the Pasir Salak constituency was fair. He reasoned that he had been an MP for a neighbouring constituency (Teluk Intan) and thus, was only conveying the true sentiments of the Indian community over at Pasir Salak.

Nonetheless, the Deputy Speaker said Kulasegaran had provoked Tajuddin by using the word "benci (hate)" to describe the ill will of the Indian community in that area towards their parliamentary representative. The Ipoh Barat MP was then asked to retract his comments which according to the Deputy Speaker, were 'strong' and inappropriate.

“I have heard a lot of unparliamentary words. This is the first time I hear that hate is not an acceptable term. I will withdraw it and replace it with ‘don’t like him’ (tak suka),” Kulasegaran replied.

Tajuddin subsequently withdrew his word but was not in a forgiving mood towards his instigator. He said, despite the withdrawal of words by the two men, Kulasegaran had shamed him for making such a remark.

The spat between the two MPs then prompted another Opposition MP to ask for a clarification over the issue of offensive statements in the Dewan Rakyat.

“Two weeks ago, when Karpal Singh told the Speaker to be serious … he was thrown out. But here, Pasir Salak used the word bastard twice and nothing was done. Why is there a double standard?” Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng asked but was quickly brushed off by the Deputy Speaker.

Lim was referring to Karpal Singh's (Bukit Gelugor MP) recent suspension from the Parliament after he accused the Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia of not being serious and “main-main (playing around).” [Click here for the news report].

The Parliament is not new to the occasional vocabularic fracas by elected representatives who are, most of the time, guilty for their poor choice of words in their speeches. The senseless quarrels over offensive words may just prove to be a waste of time and effort as national issues that require urgent attention are momentarily neglected for MPs of both sides to settle their score.