It is always supposed to be a serene affair with interjections of humour and wit when lawmakers exchange views on all matters which affect the welfare and well-being of the people for the benefit of all Malaysians.
The affairs are usually conducted in a civilised manner. When accusations are made, they are substantiated with facts and figures. It has and never will be the platform for individuals to vent their anger or settle personal scores against anyone inside or outside the confines of the august House.
If vitriol of words is poured on someone inside the House, there’s an opportunity for rebuttal which has happened several times. The repartee is sometimes a friendly banter but, in most cases, it has been exchanges of not-so-nice words.
What transpired in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday was a full-frontal attack on Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. It breached all protocols, etiquette and conventions.
While previously, MPs watched helplessly in an air of expectedness from the usual suspects, this time, it came from someone whose voice was hardly heard in the past.
Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing announced his presence with acidic remarks. Although they were not peppered with unparliamentary language, the sting was in the content of the speech he delivered.
Debating the Supply Bill 2021, Tiong made a series of charges including claiming that Noor Hisham is “afraid to die”. He also wrongly assumed that he did not come down personally to Sabah to monitor the Covid-19 situation.
And to underscore his so-called negative perception on the doctor, he said: “I heard he (Noor Hisham) now wants his own project, to be the World Health Organisation's secretary-general.”
Where he obtained such information is for Malaysians to explore but that is not the issue. While the backbench remained silent to the unscrupulous attack, it was left to opposition MPs to take up cudgels to defend Noor Hisham. In the process, the Jelutong MP got evicted from the House.
But why didn’t any member of the cabinet stand up to Tiong’s sacrilege and defend Noor Hisham? What happened to the health minister and his two deputies? Where are they in the House? Someone sarcastically remarked that they were “busy promoting the air suam (warm water) cure” to their counterparts in “499 other countries” which the minister previously claimed he had conferred with.
It is no use lighting up Putrajaya in blue to honour frontliners when the country’s Number One in the frontline is being “flogged” publicly in Parliament. The silence of the front bench is telling indeed. How do they instil and cultivate the confidence of civil servants with such elegant silence?
Tiong never retracted his remarks despite being given an opportunity and hence they remain in the Hansard. He later issued a statement claiming to have expressed a “reflection of frustrations of frontliners facing Covid-19 virus pandemic challenges”.
“My statement was not malicious. We all know that civil servants do not have it easy. They are all working hard for the country and its people but shortcomings must be identified and improved,” he said in a statement.
He has not apologised nor expressed regret but maintains it is his right to put matters of public interest on the table. Agreed, but why the personal attacks? So, if you know that civil servants are working hard, then why single out Noor Hisham? Isn’t he a civil servant too?
It appears that Tiong is making these remarks as an afterthought, perhaps he got his facts wrong or realising that he had stepped on someone’s foot or has been ticked off by members of the cabinet.
Let us not forget he is a special envoy to China with ministerial status. While he should be projecting our image abroad, he seems to be running down officials of his own country.
The damage had already been done and Noor Hisham responded in his usual cool and calm manner to call on Tiong’s bluff. Short of saying that Tiong lied in Parliament, Noor Hisham said that he and his team had gone to the ground in Sabah at the end of August to check on the management and preparations prior to the Sabah state elections.
Deputy director-general for public health Dr Chong Chee Keong and the prime minister's special adviser on public health Dr Jemilah Mahmood were in Sabah two weeks ago.
His riposte was a class act: “What is important is for us to do our duty. Our purpose is to break the chain of infection in the country. We can have our differences, but what is important is to break the chain of infection so that we can save the country from an increase of cases and the death rate.”
While the Perikatan Nasional leaders’ silence was deafening, a loud dissenting voice was heard from across the seas.
Sarawak’s State Tourism, Culture and Arts Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah rebuked Tiong and said: “Honestly I was shocked. I didn’t expect it from him, I feel ashamed as well, as it came from a fellow Sarawakian.
"We should acknowledge what the frontliners have been doing in this difficult time.”
On Tiong’s insistence that he would not retract the remarks and merely wanted to reflect the frustration of some frontliners, Abdul Karim said Tiong was being overzealous and rude, especially in his position as an MP.
Can we hear more such voices from the government bench to denounce this MP? Is the silence because he is on the same side? Doesn’t anyone see the need to protect the integrity of the frontliners?
R NADESWARAN hopes there will be no repetition of civil servants not being defended when they are criticised for doing their job. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com. - Mkini
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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