Respected? I think not!

These are the faces of the elected representatives of the people in Parliament. The MP from Kinabatangan and the MP from Jasin were essentially degrading women with a vulgar, sexist remark aimed at a female MP. In Malaysia, the MP's are called Yang Berhormat loosely translated into Those Respected. Strange since they neither give respect nor receive it from most of us. Such uncouth, undignified, crude pigs. The sad thing is, the 2 of them are very likely to get off scot free since sexist remarks are the norm in our Parliament and despite the backlash, these 2 sons of the earth will not have to deal with any repercussions... except perhaps, from Datin Said Yusuf and Datin Bung Mokhtar.

But what does it say about us, that we have chosen these people to represent us?

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Most Shameful Mother's Day in Nation's History (excerpt from Lim Kit Siang's blog)

Sunday will be the most shameful Mother’s Day in the nation’s history.

This is because the dignity of women had been dishonoured in Parliament with Barisan Nasional MPs thumping the table in glee and joy when DAP MP for Batu Gajah Fong Po Kuan failed in her effort to redeem the dignity of Malaysian women and salvage the good name of Parliament.

Today is a day of shame for Parliament, when Barisan Nasional MPs abused their 91% parliamentary majority to gang up, support and defend two of their number, Datuk Mohd Said Yusuf (Jasin) and Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (Kinabatangan), who had made vulgar, sexist and offensive remarks against Po Kuan yesterday when DAP MPs raised the subject of Parliament ceiling leaks after a RM100 million renovation works – saying “Batu Gajah pun bocor tiap-tiap bulan pun bocor juga”. (Batu Gajah also leaks every month)

The Speaker, Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib returned to the Dewan Rakyat Chamber after lunch recess at 2.30 p.m. to reject Po Kuan’s application to move a privilege motion to refer Mohd Said and Bung Mokhtar to the Committee of Privileges on the ground that Po Kuan had not invoked Standing Order 26(1)(p) with regard to the alleged breach “when it occurred” as required – i.e. yesterday itself.

I asked Ramli whether before making his decision to reject Po Kuan’s application on a technicality, he had referred to Erskine May’s Parliamentary Practice, the authoritative work on parliamentary practices and procedures, where it is stated very clearly that “when it occurred” in S.O. 26(1)(p) had been interpreted in most Commonwealth Parliaments to mean “at the first available opportunity”.

In the case in point, when Mohd Said and Bung Mokhtar made the vulgar, sexist and offensive remarks, DAP MPs could not hear them both because of the din and pandemonium at the time and being seated far away from the duo. However, they were heard distinctly by reporters and other BN MPs who sat near the duo.

For Po Kuan, raising the privilege motion this morning was her “first available opportunity” after reading press reports. My objection and those from other DAP MPs were of no avail, and it was most sickening to see BN MPs cheering as if they had won some great victory – when what they had done was the despicable and disgraceful act of giving solidarity to Mohd Said and Bung Mokhtar for their vulgar, sexist and offensive remarks against women. It is most deplorable that BN MPs, including women MPs, who had heard the duo making vulgar, sexist and offensive remarks yesterday, had not stood up to defend women’s dignity and Parliament’s honour.

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Update: The MCP's have apologised.