All Ministers and BN MPs should digest the statement of the European Commission Ambassador to Malaysia, Thierry Rommel that there is no proper closure of the sexist “bocor” outrage in Parliament by two BN MPs, Mohd Said and Bung Mohtar and that it is most damaging to Malaysia’s international reputation

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Media Conference        
by Lim Kit Siang  
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(Parliament, Thursday): All Ministers and BN MPs should digest the statement of the European Commission Ambassador to Malaysia, Thierry Rommel that there is no proper closure of the sexist “bocor” outrage in Parliament by two Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs, Datuk Mohd Said Yusuf (Jasin) and Datuk Bung Mohtar Radin (Kinabatangan) and that it is most damaging to Malaysia’s international reputation. 

In a letter to Malaysiakini yesterday, Thierry wrote: 

“I would wish to convey a third party opinion, prodded by internal discussions, on the possible effects of sexist remarks made by prominent Malaysian citizens on Malaysia's international reputation.

”The short answer to this pertinent question is yes, for a number of reasons.

”It is a violation of the spirit of the Universal Human Rights Declaration more so coming from persons who are in a position of influence and power.

”Malaysia is a member of the UN Human Rights Commission, further raising expectations of exemplary and ambitious approach to upholding human rights, including gender equality, and fundamental freedoms.

”Finally, such remarks have a far greater and adverse impact than some people in position of power care to admit. Witnessing moreover the impunity that has accompanied such remarks, astonishment and disbelief prevail.”

This is one further example rebutting the answer by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz to my question in Parliament on Tuesday that the Cabinet regards the “bocor” scandal involving Mohd Said and Bung Mohtar as settled is wrong, ill-advised as well as completely unsatisfactory and unacceptable. 

The issue of the need for a satisfactory and proper resolution of the “bocor” parliamentary scandal precipitated by the crude, vulgar, sexist and gender-insensitive conduct of the two BN MPs, which must include at minimum a contrite and genuine apology by the two MPs to DAP MP for Batu Gajah Fong Po Kuan in Parliament, is necessary not only to protect the good image of Parliament and the international reputation of the country, but to send out a clear message that the era of a culture of impunity for wrongdoers among top Barisan Nasional leaders has ended. 

We see around the country government leaders, whether at Cabinet, parliamentary or government level, committing all sorts of wrongs and misdeeds, including corruption and abuses of power, being able to get away scot-free because of the stifling and most undesirable culture of impunity, where wrongdoers are not punished or do not have to admit wrong with public apology. 

So long as such a culture of impunity is allowed to flourish, Malaysia will never succeed to become a “First-World Infrastructure, First-World mentality” developed nation but will be condemned to “Third-World Infrastructure, Fourth-Class Mentality and Ninth-Class Maintenance” – and there are more and more recent indications that the country is heading in this direction.

(21/6/2007)