Bung’s betrayal in Parliament?

Multi-award winning journalist Frankie D’Cruz is editor of The Malay Mail. He can be reached at frankie@mmail.com.my or Twitter @frankieDcruz.

JULY 18 — It was only Monday and already Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar was having the worst week in Malaysia with his staggering remark that Barisan Nasional politicians who don’t ask for 

contracts from the government are cowards.

Bung had implicated his colleagues and none I would expect were sympathetic toward him. But we all know that Bung’s demeanour is one of gruff agitation. The cranky MP is like that obsessive spammer who fills your inbox with thickets of confusing disclosures.

Everyone snaps from time to time, but Bung broadcasts his hostility and impatience in the rudest and most impudent manner. In the process, he sparks a jarring breach of parliamentary respectability.

On Monday in Parliament, grouchy Bung stood up, rolled his eyes, shook his head and left BN MPs flushed with embarrassment when he openly declared that they demanded contracts from the government and anyone who did not do so were cowards.

Clearly, he displayed greed when, according to Malaysiakini, he said that open tenders were indeed being done but lamented that because of this, he could not get the contracts that he  demanded.

Malaysiakini reported that Bung, responding to a question raised by Gombak MP Azmin Ali, said: “I think Gombak has left Umno for a long time and he does not know about the developments (in the party).

“We are also upset with the leaders because when we ask (for contracts), we do not get them.

“Everything is via open tenders now and it shows the government’s transparency in moving towards open tenders. Gombak does not know of these changes.”

An amused Azmin replied: “I thank Kinabatangan for verifying for us that Umno division leaders do indeed ask for contracts.”

Realising his mistake, Bung lashed out at Azmin: “In PKR it’s the same, they also ask (for contracts). If they do not ask, they are cowards.”

Will Bung, the entertainer, ever embrace quiet humility in the august House?

That’s a skill he has yet to learn — and if the first session of the 13th Parliament is any indication, he certainly isn’t trying — as are others.

Still, that should come as no surprise.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.

- malaymail