Cerita Masuk Pintu Belakang

From Sin Chew Daily

By TAY TIAN YAN


Seriously, I am very proud of Nga Kor Ming.

Firstly, he was appointed deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker, and secondly, he apologized.

To be honest, I think the second one is way more precious than the first.

Prior to that, his hopes of getting into the cabinet were dashed, unable to cross over despite having a leg on the threshold.

During the election campaign, his party's leadership made huge promises that failed to materialize. The frustration of his supporters is therefore understandable.

But, we all know where the problem actually lies.

During the election campaign, or even earlier than that, he had indeed openly made some inappropriate statements.

Even though he was targeting the rival camp, the use of racist remarks had offended the Malay and Indian Muslim communities in the country.

His subsequent remarks on the cooperation between Pakatan Harapan and Tun Mahathir were perceived as hostile to the latter.

I do not believe Nga is a racist, but as a politicians with the gift of the gab, perhaps he thought the use of such words could help him gain additional support from his audience, or could it just be a slip of the tongue?

An excessive dose of such phrases could bring the exactly opposite results.

His remarks were posted on YouTube and found their way into the conservative Malay villages especially in the heat of the election, giving people an impression he was a Chinese chauvinist.

Nga's images in the Chinese and Malay communities were completely opposite.

After the elections, the Chinese community found it incomprehensible that Nga was not made a cabinet minister. To the Malay society, that nevertheless was justifiable.

Fortunately, a second door was open to him. He was offered the post of deputy speaker and was not completely sidelined.

During an interview with an online media, Nga admitted that he was offered the post by PM Mahathir: "This position allows you to learn to control yourself and other people, and remain neutral."

He also said he was apologetic having hurt some people's feelings through his past speeches.

"I know a lot of Malays misunderstand me. I will adjust myself and strive to meet public expectations for a deputy speaker.

"I hope the public can help make me a better person, a more matured leader."

What I understand is that to a certain extent Nga has confessed his mistakes and is willing to accept criticisms while promising to rectify.

We are bound to say wrong things at different stages of life and everyone is bound to err.

The thing is, how are we going to confront our own mistakes? Our attitude will determine how others perceive us.

Of course, it will be much better if he can tender an open apology through a more official channel.

Nga's apology makes me think of his comrade, also a new generation DAP leader Liew Chin Tong.

Liew was appointed a senator before he was sworn in as deputy defence minister, in a way that befits the "back door" approach he once used derogatorily on MCA politicians.

It is foreseeable that he will not escape the "back door" shadow cast upon him for the next five years. What he once said makes his senatorship and deputy ministerial position all the less legitimate.

I would like to suggest that he confess and apologize. I don't want to criticize him nor make a big fuss over his "back door" rhetoric any more.

In its stead, I believe in his effort and competency and indeed have hoped he could make it to the government and boost the performance of the new Pakatan government.

Because of this I really hope he will apologize for his verbal lapses so that he can assume his senatorial and deputy ministerial posts with his head up.

A full and sincere apology will not negate or destroy a person's worth but will unleash his potentials for the future.

And you people thought I was talking about ... wakakaka.