MCA Youth slams Hanipa over slur in Parliament

PETALING JAYA: MCA Youth has slammed Mohamed Hanipa Maidin following his slur against Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said in Parliament.

Its chief Nicole Wong said the remarks by the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department spoke volumes about the calibre of Pakatan Harapan’s Cabinet.

“To have a top leader utter such a derogatory statement within the halls of Parliament is a disgrace to our country.

“Despite Pakatan’s pledge to turn Malaysia into a progressive nation, the rudimentary notion of showing courtesy and respect seems to have escaped even their deputy minister.

“All Parliamentarians must pay proper attention to the character they exude in the Dewan Rakyat.

“They should debate on national policies with the utmost professionalism, knowing that what they do impacts the future of our country,” she said in a statement.

Hanipa had on Wednesday said he was unsure of Azalina’s gender due to her appearance.

“Sometimes, even I can’t differentiate if you are a woman or a man,” he said in jest while debating the Bill to repeal the Anti-Fake News Act.

According to Wong, Parliamentarians should not get sucked into a third-rate mentality by spewing vulgarities and squabbling without content or direction.

She said, for instance, when debating the repeal of the Anti-Fake News Act, there was a need to analyse the policy from the standpoint of pragmatism and practicality, instead of repealing it simply because the previous administration passed it.