Derogatory Words At State Assembly Are So Uncalled For

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THE ruckus at the Melaka state assembly proceeding is the perfect example of George Bernard Shaw’s quote, “I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it”
On Monday, Pengkalan Batu assemblyman Norhizam Hassan Baktee (pic) claimed he called opposition assemblymen “babi” because they had called him “barua” (lackey), “babi” and “pengkhianat” (traitor)
The state executive councillor said he wouldn’t apologise for calling his peers “babi” as he was reacting to their provocation
“The Opposition called me names, and I merely wanted to defend myself. I’m disappointed that the video made it look like I started the argument, but I was doing my own thing peacefully when they verbally insulted me,” Norhizam, who is known as YB Hulk, told the media
Whether YB Hulk was provoked or not, he got “dirty”, and the public saw his behaviour
In a viral video clip, the former DAP member was seen pointing his finger and shouting “Babi! Babi! Babi! Babi!” at his former party comrade, Kota Laksamana assemblyman Low Chee Leong
Low, who was flanked by several opposition assemblymen, was also seen shouting “pengkhianat” at Norhizam, who abandoned DAP to turn independent, leading to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in Melaka
It is the holy month of Ramadan, yet politicians were at each other’s throat in the august state assembly
They used a barrage of derogatory words to demean their fellow legislators. They also used “babi”, which in this day and age is not politically correct
During the name-calling, Sungai Udang assemblyman Datuk Seri Idris Haron of Umno threw the Standing Orders book at the Opposition
He claimed he did so because no one was listening to him
Idris told the Dewan that Speaker Datuk Wira Omar Jaafar of PKR had a conflict of interest
He read out a Standing Order regarding the election of a Speaker but Omar and the Opposition rejected it
As elected representatives, they should maintain decorum in the august assembly
The politicians should remember that the government is concentrating on important matters that the world is facing
We have the Covid-19 to fight. We have the economy to revive
Please, stay focussed. And we should be united to fight the invisible enemies
Assemblymen should focus on urgent matters instead of calling each other “babi”. - Star

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