Derogatory words at state assembly are so uncalled for

THE ruckus at the Melaka state assembly proceeding is the perfect example of George Bernard Shaw’s quote, “I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it”.

On Monday, Pengkalan Batu assemblyman Norhizam Hassan Baktee (pic) claimed he called opposition assemblymen “babi” because they had called him “barua” (lackey), “babi” and “pengkhianat” (traitor).

The state executive councillor said he wouldn’t apologise for calling his peers “babi” as he was reacting to their provocation.

“The Opposition called me names, and I merely wanted to defend myself. I’m disappointed that the video made it look like I started the argument, but I was doing my own thing peacefully when they verbally insulted me,” Norhizam, who is known as YB Hulk, told the media.

Whether YB Hulk was provoked or not, he got “dirty”, and the public saw his behaviour.

In a viral video clip, the former DAP member was seen pointing his finger and shouting “Babi! Babi! Babi! Babi!” at his former party comrade, Kota Laksamana assemblyman Low Chee Leong.

Low, who was flanked by several opposition assemblymen, was also seen shouting “pengkhianat” at Norhizam, who abandoned DAP to turn independent, leading to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in Melaka.

It is the holy month of Ramadan, yet politicians were at each other’s throat in the august state assembly.

They used a barrage of derogatory words to demean their fellow legislators. They also used “babi”, which in this day and age is not politically correct.

During the name-calling, Sungai Udang assemblyman Datuk Seri Idris Haron of Umno threw the Standing Orders book at the Opposition.

He claimed he did so because no one was listening to him.

Idris told the Dewan that Speaker Datuk Wira Omar Jaafar of PKR had a conflict of interest.

He read out a Standing Order regarding the election of a Speaker but Omar and the Opposition rejected it.

As elected representatives, they should maintain decorum in the august assembly.

The politicians should remember that the government is concentrating on important matters that the world is facing.

We have the Covid-19 to fight. We have the economy to revive.

Please, stay focussed. And we should be united to fight the invisible enemies.

Assemblymen should focus on urgent matters instead of calling each other “babi”. - Star