I read with much amusement the news concerning the sexist remarks made by 2 male MPs to a female MP recently which have grabbed headlines in the newspapers for the past week or so. It is amazing how such a small issue can be blown out of proportion and now, it seems like everybody else is just focusing on this issue alone.


It all started when opposition MPs tried to raise a motion on the leaking ceiling near the media centre during a meeting of the Dewan Rakyat. MP for Jasin, Datuk Mohd Said Yusof and MP for Kinabatangan, Datuk Bung Mokthar Radin then said, “Mana bocor? Batu Gajah pun bocor setiap bulan.” (Where is the leak? Batu Gajah (MP Fong Po Kuan) also leaks every month.)


And before we know it, women's groups, some gay men and even the Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil vented their frustration and criticised the two MPs for not only making sexist remarks in Parliment but also failing to apologise to both MP Fong Po Kuan and the public.


As I said, this issue has been going on for a week or so and yet, the real issue at hand has not been resolved : the actual leak in the media centre. Now do you agree with me when I say Malaysians love to fan the fire and make a big issue out of something so insignificant? In my opinion, each and every person involved in this issue is in the wrong. Yes, the two MPs were wrong for making a sexist remark during a meeting in Parliment and one would certainly question their level of education. Lest we forget, MP Fong Po Kuan and Datin Shahrizat were also in the wrong.


So why then, you ask, did I say MP Fong was also wrong in this issue? I am quite sure that a certain degree of education, wittiness and street-smartness is in need in order for one to become a MP. So what if they made sexist remarks? Couldn't MP Fong accepted their insult with grace and dignity and perhaps come up with a witty and intellectual insult to hand back to the MPs? This only reminds me of the Queen Elizabeth and George Bush case.


The president just barely stopped himself before dating the queen to 1776.
"You've helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17 -- in 1976," Bush said at a White House ceremony as he noted the queen's long history of dealing with successive U.S. governments. Did the Queen got angry with Bush? Did the British felt insulted and wanted to go to war with the Americans? Of course not. With a playful grin, the queen opened a dinner toast to the president saying: "I wondered whether I should start this toast by saying, 'When I was here in 1776...'


The Queen has shown how an educated and wise person, a dignified and witty woman, a leader of a modern First World country, should behave. Couldn't MP Fong have done the same? As a matter of fact, most Malaysians usually run their mouths off without thinking properly. I am sure somewhere in your life you have debated with a kiasu Malaysian before...you know, those who keep talking and never listen. They come up with fact after fact and logic after logic that you feel as though you are being stomped to the ground with no chance to get back up whatsoever.


MP Fong and all those people who are being stomped should pick up the attitude and mentality of the Chinese in the old days. Those Hong Kong and China costume dramas always depict how a wise man would answer a question not before slowly stroking his beard and gazing into the horizon all the while laughing heartily. The point I want to make is that one should think properly and use as much time as possible to come up with a reply/answer/insult that is not only witty/intellectual but also good enough that you earn the respect of your opposition. Back to MP Fong, there will always be another chance to get back at the MPs, maybe through another insult or through your jasa to the rakyat. No need for making this into such a big public issue.


Now for Datuk Seri Shahrizat, instead of letting all three MPs settle this issue themselves, she had to come in and fan the fire by bringing in women's groups and demanding for an apology, all this while making it sound like we men are always out and about insulting women. This is definitely uncalled for. Under the constitution of Malaysia, each person is given the freedom of speech and also to bear whatever consequences from this freedom. So the MPs made a sexist remark. So what? They will get their punishment in due time. The rakyat are not stupid and insensitive. We will definitely want to see action taken on the two MPs. But please, Datuk Seri, we do not need constant reminders about the issue from you or the women's groups in the newspapers. There are more important things to look out for.


As for the two MPs, it is clearly wrong to make such a remark in a formal meeting, what more in a Dewan Rakyat meeting. To not apologise after a week or so just shows how undeserving of the MP title and how ungentlemanly and MCP-ish you people can be. As I said, one must bear the consequences and I truly believe that in order to set things straight, an apology is definitely called for here

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If these are the people supposedly running our country, I can see why Malaysia is always labeled as a country with First World infrastructures with a Third World mentality. No no. This doesn't end with only the MPs. Generally, everyone is the same, including me. Your overcharging taxi drivers, lacklusture public services, and many more all share this Third World mentality. Well who can we really blame when even our MPs are behaving like that? We do not have proper role models. I think Malaysians should choose its leaders not because of his/her popularity but of his/her intelligence and dedication to improving the country. MPs of today?? Bahhh..a childish lot and yet...more enjoyable then any sitcoms/dramas that I know of.