It’s high time we had class, not crass, in Parliament House

THE general election is around the corner, and it is a matter of time before the current Parliament is dissolved.

Ironically, one of its last orders of business at yesterday's sitting was to amend the Standing Orders to ensure that "it shall be out of order for Members of the House to use offensive language or make a sexist remark".

That the Standing Orders have to be amended to ensure that our MPs do not make sexist and rude remarks is a sad testimony to the fact that unless something is there in black and white, there is no telling if anyone will speak out of turn.

While we laud the move to make this amendment, we must also be realistic that the rule in itself will not prevent incorrigible and insensitive MPs from continuing to say the wrong things at the wrong time.

The Standing Orders have always been firm on the use of "unparliamentary language" and, in the broader context, sexist and offensive remarks do fall under this category.

But with this amendment, the House must also ensure that strong punitive measures, including suspension, be meted out to the recalcitrant ones who continue to abuse their privilege to speak freely.

It would be meaningless if an MP continues to make such remarks and get away with it simply by "withdrawing" said remarks after a fellow MP points out that he is in breach of that particular standing order.

What we, the voters, can and must do is to hold our MPs to the highest standard of accountability.

When both sides say they want to pick winnable candidates, this should also include gender-sensitised candidates who respect women and support their aspirations.

We can insist that any candidate who wants our vote will promise to behave in the House.

He or she must speak well, do proper research and not make sexist and offensive remarks, especially those with racist and religious overtones.

We have learnt much from this current Parliament that was constituted after the political tsunami of March 2008.

It is probably one of the most boisterous in our parliamentary history because the make-up of the House had been dramatically transformed.

For the first time, the ruling coalition did not have a comfortable two-thirds majority, and every order of business was scrutinised and debated like never before. But that is as it should be. Healthy debates, after all, are a hallmark of a mature democracy.

But some of our MPs, be they veterans or newbies, unfortunately, do not know how to make high-quality presentations with elegance and wit. Instead, they engage in clownish and intimidating antics and plunge the House into disorder with their offensive and sexist remarks. At times, we wondered if their verbal tirades might even degenerate into real physical drama.

Fortunately, the majority of MPs have carried themselves with decorum and dignity.

Each time a new Parliament is convened, and when a new Speaker is elected, MPs have to be reminded to uphold the integrity of the House.

They have to be reminded to fulfil their responsibilities and truly be the voice of the people who put them into the august House in the first place.

The Standing Orders have stood the test of time in ensuring proper conduct in the House.

With this amendment, it is our hope that the YBs who will head to Parliament after the 13th general election will be better behaved and truly engage in debates of substance without causing offence, not only to their fellow legislators, but also to the public at large. Let there always be order in the House.

Related stories:
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Dewan Rakyat approves motion to amend Standing Orders
Johor state assembly may amend house rules

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