‘Take immediate action on foul-mouthed MPs’

> They must respect and abide by speaker’s decisions: Ex-senator

PETALING JAYA: All parliamentarians, regardless of whether they are on the government or opposition side, must respect the august house and not use profanities in it.

MCA Wanita head Datuk Heng Seai Kie, a former senator, said it is time for a penalty to be imposed on those who use foul language when Parliament is in session.

“Regardless of who they are, they must show respect to others and abide by all decisions taken by the speaker.

“I would fully support any action against those who fail to follow the rules.”

She said the action imposed on an MP should not be retrospective but taken immediately when the rules are broken, otherwise everyone will keep looking back in an attempt to find fault with others.

On Tuesday, the Dewan Rakyat descended into chaos for the second time in two days, after Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (pix) shouted “f*** you” at Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin during a debate on the sales and services tax.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon let Bung Moktar off the hook by asking him to retract his offensive statement.

Lipis MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamad shouted “p****ak” in the Dewan on Monday.

The obscene terms are considered highly offensive.

MCA publicity spokesman Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said it was unparliamentary and professionally unethical for Bung Moktar to use foul language and the fourletter word in the Dewan Rakyat.

“Regardless of which party you belong to, such language should not be used in the august house in any and all circumstances. Every MP should respect the rules and regulations in Parliament and conduct his business professionally.

“As politicians, we must not forget that we represent the rakyat and an MP is in Parliament because the people give them the honour when they voted them in. In return the MPs elected should conduct themselves with respect for the speaker and the house,” Ti said.

“Do you think the respect for MPs will continue if MPs go around shouting profanities at each other?”

Ti said whatever personal differences politicians have among one another should be addressed professionally and they must never allow emotions and feelings to get the better of them and lose their self-respect in the process, especially when they resort to using profanities.

MIC vice-president Senator Datuk T. Mohan who had watched the video of Bung Moktar using the profanity, said it was the wrong way to behave.

He said using such language in Parliament is not part of our culture and if this goes on then others may start using such language.