Are our elected reps worthy of being called YB?
by K Parkaran
COMMENT | There was this cruel Whatsapp forwarded about politicians recently that I am sure many of you would have read.
It said: “Guys, please put the word out. I’m helping a friend who runs an Outdoor Activity Centre. We are offering free bungee jumping to MPs with no strings attached!”
The pun was obviously intended and no one could have missed the absolute insult the creator of this message intended for elected representatives. This was one among many insulting messages that were derogatory to our MPs which had been circulating for some time.
But honestly, the number of such insults has seen a drastic increase of late, especially after many party-hopping elected representatives who brought down the elected Pakatan Harapan governments at the federal and state levels.
The most telling ones were video clips of almost all our leaders juxtaposed with they had said about their rivals before the last election and what they had proclaimed after the infamous Sheraton move that saw key Bersatu and PKR leaders crawling back to those they had insulted during the campaign in GE 14.
This makes many wonder if these politicians are taking the rakyat for fools.
Also circulating wildly now are some of the antics of our parliamentarians one of which shows a senior politician screaming the “F” word at his rival. This has resurfaced now because of the Sabah state election as he is leading the Barisan Nasional team there.
It said: “Guys, please put the word out. I’m helping a friend who runs an Outdoor Activity Centre. We are offering free bungee jumping to MPs with no strings attached!”
👍👍👍😂😂😂😁😁😁
The pun was obviously intended and no one could have missed the absolute insult the creator of this message intended for elected representatives. This was one among many insulting messages that were derogatory to our MPs which had been circulating for some time.
But honestly, the number of such insults has seen a drastic increase of late, especially after many party-hopping elected representatives who brought down the elected Pakatan Harapan governments at the federal and state levels.
The most telling ones were video clips of almost all our leaders juxtaposed with they had said about their rivals before the last election and what they had proclaimed after the infamous Sheraton move that saw key Bersatu and PKR leaders crawling back to those they had insulted during the campaign in GE 14.
This makes many wonder if these politicians are taking the rakyat for fools.
Also circulating wildly now are some of the antics of our parliamentarians one of which shows a senior politician screaming the “F” word at his rival. This has resurfaced now because of the Sabah state election as he is leading the Barisan Nasional team there.
While we treat these as jokes, the fact is that this is the reality. We, the people, have voted these representatives into the august house and some of us are now left wondering what has happened to our judgment.
It is indeed sad that all of our MPs are lumped together in this category although there are some real gems in our midst from both sides of the divide.
I must admit it is not too large a number but they are guilty by association with their respective parties by virtue of having to abide by their whips and top leaders when voting or commenting on controversies.
I may have had a good laugh like the rest but I could not help reflecting on the state of affairs and the weirdest things the politicians have been doing or saying since GE14.
Under our parliamentary practice adapted from the British Westminster system, we have been referring to them as “The Honourable” members or "Yang Berhormat" (YB) in Bahasa Malaysia.
As we all know, this is a term that is used to show respect to the position of MP, not the person who holds it. However, it’s expected that the person holding this elected post shows absolute respect and behaves in a manner who is worthy of being referred to as such.
We have in our midst YBs who have been convicted while some others are facing criminal charges. A few are being investigated for criminal offences including a minister who seems to be a privileged politician, while the ordinary folks are not.
In Parliament, we have a bunch of screaming YBs who fling words which are not expected of these honourable representatives.
It is common to see them calling each other names like babi (pig), lembu (cow), bodoh (stupid), gelap (dark), komunis (communist) and pendatang (immigrant) among others.
There were a couple of them who actually used the four-letter word when the hysteria reached a crescendo and when they could not reason anymore.
I think some schools and colleges are making a big mistake of taking their students for a study tour of our parliament. They are the worst examples to emulate if you want to be a useful citizen.
And then you have another group of YBs who do not have any qualms about insulting each other’s religion with little regard to sensitivities.
Don’t forget others who lie blatantly in Parliament or the Senate, like the case of Sabah student Veveonah Mosibin who had to build a tree house to get better Internet coverage to help her prepare for exams.
It is indeed sad that all of our MPs are lumped together in this category although there are some real gems in our midst from both sides of the divide.
I must admit it is not too large a number but they are guilty by association with their respective parties by virtue of having to abide by their whips and top leaders when voting or commenting on controversies.
I may have had a good laugh like the rest but I could not help reflecting on the state of affairs and the weirdest things the politicians have been doing or saying since GE14.
Under our parliamentary practice adapted from the British Westminster system, we have been referring to them as “The Honourable” members or "Yang Berhormat" (YB) in Bahasa Malaysia.
As we all know, this is a term that is used to show respect to the position of MP, not the person who holds it. However, it’s expected that the person holding this elected post shows absolute respect and behaves in a manner who is worthy of being referred to as such.
We have in our midst YBs who have been convicted while some others are facing criminal charges. A few are being investigated for criminal offences including a minister who seems to be a privileged politician, while the ordinary folks are not.
In Parliament, we have a bunch of screaming YBs who fling words which are not expected of these honourable representatives.
It is common to see them calling each other names like babi (pig), lembu (cow), bodoh (stupid), gelap (dark), komunis (communist) and pendatang (immigrant) among others.
There were a couple of them who actually used the four-letter word when the hysteria reached a crescendo and when they could not reason anymore.
I think some schools and colleges are making a big mistake of taking their students for a study tour of our parliament. They are the worst examples to emulate if you want to be a useful citizen.
And then you have another group of YBs who do not have any qualms about insulting each other’s religion with little regard to sensitivities.
Don’t forget others who lie blatantly in Parliament or the Senate, like the case of Sabah student Veveonah Mosibin who had to build a tree house to get better Internet coverage to help her prepare for exams.
Honestly, they did choose a decent minister, who I would gladly call YB because of the way he carries himself even when under attack.
But I do wonder if this would have been the response if Sabah was not under national spotlight because of the snap polls there.
Don’t forget the huge number of frogging YBs who in the voters’ opinion have betrayed the constituents by switching from the very party ticket they were elected on.
Their hopping and leaping had caused the fall of some governments and resulted in instability, especially during the difficult time we faced because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The outrage and disgust that the voters have been feeling is beyond description.
Do these elected representatives still deserve to be called YBs? Or would it be better if we stop this courteous practice altogether to save the honour of our August House? I am not sure because to be addressed with that term one has to be of near-impeccable character and integrity because he or she represents an office that is supposed to be exemplary.
In some countries, the honourable elected members choose to quit with honour after admitting that they had indeed blemished the name of the office.
In this respect, let me point out that we only had one YB in Malaysian politics who quit after admitting that he was the person featured in a sensational sex DVD that was widely circulated in the country in 2008.
He is Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Unlike some other political leaders, he admitted that he was the one and formally announced his resignation from all posts including MP for Labis, vice president of MCA and Minister of Health.
He was the first and last despite many others who faced similar circumstances just chose to deny or remain silent and continue holding positions in the government and parties.
Unlike some other political leaders, he admitted that he was the one and formally announced his resignation from all posts including MP for Labis, vice president of MCA and Minister of Health.
He was the first and last despite many others who faced similar circumstances just chose to deny or remain silent and continue holding positions in the government and parties.
And these are the YBs who are actually ruling the roost.
[kt notes: Strictly speaking, Chua SL was the second because the first to resign for his 'wrong' was Datuk Abdul Rahman Talib (minister but of other portfolios 1960-1962) & (Education Minister 1964-1965)]
[Abdul Rahman Talib was accused of corruption by PPP D.R. Seenivasagam in Parliament; Abdul Rahman challenged D.R to repeat that accusation outside parliamentary privilege which D.R did. When he took D.R to court for libel, he lost, appealed, lost again and thereafter resigned, devastating then-PM Tunku Abdul Rahman]
You and I, who are the voters, have to share the blame for not only sending such representatives to Parliament or the state assemblies but also repeatedly voting them in despite their dubious records.
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allahyarhum Abdul Rahman Talib |
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Darma Raja (D.R) Seenivasagan, President PPP then touted as 'King of Ipoh' D.R and brother S.P 'ruled' the Kinta Valley until D.R passed away From Aliran: DR’s charisma and extraordinary ability to articulate the aspirations of the masses endeared him to all who came in contact with him – from the towkay to the coolie. It is a well known fact that his most loyal supporters were the downtrodden of society namely the hawkers, petty traders, trishaw peddlers, labourers and others of the working class like the now-forgotten dulang washers. These people remained faithful to DR to the end. When D R Seenivasagam passed away in 1969, some 150,000 people lined the streets of Ipoh to bid him a touching final farewell. D.R died of a massive heart attack at the age of 48, barely two months before the country’s general election. Till today, many still believe that the funeral procession of DR was the grandest and most touching ever seen by the people of Ipoh. It could be said Lee Lam Thye subsequently became the 'D.R' of Kuala Lumpur, popular with the masses. Like Lim Kean Siew (Socialist Front) of Penang he was both a lawyer and a fiery orator. Sadly, we'll never see another D.R or Lim Kean Siew |
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Lim Kean Siew brother of Tan Sri P.G Lim (photo below), who I felt & feel should have been made Yang Di Pertuan Negeri of Pulau Pinang  |
You and I, who are the voters, have to share the blame for not only sending such representatives to Parliament or the state assemblies but also repeatedly voting them in despite their dubious records.
We should have the courage to vote out those had not behaved honourably.
So if we don’t start changing now, nothing will. We will either remain where we are or worse still, go down several notches in global standings.
It’s our choice, really.
K PARKARAN is a veteran editor who served with The Star and Al Jazeera
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