The notion of one rule for us, and another for them, is a defining theme every time our lawmakers make statements in the august house.
The legal immunity enjoyed by MPs, by virtue of parliamentary privilege, is meant to allow our elected representatives to perform their duties without interference from outside of the house.
This means that the MPs cannot be sued or prosecuted for their statements made in Parliament.
Ideally, one would expect our elected representatives to discharge their duties to the best of their abilities, and to use the privileges accorded to them in Parliament in the best possible manner.
However, if history has taught us anything, it is that some of our MPs seem to believe that they can get away with anything in Parliament, often hiding behind the veil of ‘parliamentary privilege’.
The ruckus in Parliament earlier this week between Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman and several women MPs from DAP just before the passing of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill, is a prime example of how misogynistic, sexist, and derogatory remarks, continue to take centre stage in the Dewan Rakyat.
Tajuddin was dismayed after he and his fellow Barisan Nasional MPs (Kinabatangan’s Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and Baling’s Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim) were earlier accused by DAP Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching, of frequently making sexist remarks in the lower house of Parliament.
Tajuddin later said Teo was trying to tarnish his image. He had also said: “They don’t know us … how we take care of women, how we help (women). You don’t know how we treat our women.”
He later said DAP women were rude and “indecent”. He had also allegedly used a swear word not picked up by the microphones in Parliament.
I find it ironic that Tajuddin had made such a claim.
Consider these previous cases, referring to words and statements uttered by the trio.
In 2007, the Dewan Rakyat found Bung Mokhtar guilty of uttering offensive remarks to a female opposition MP, when he said the latter ‘leaked’ every month. He was comparing a leaking roof to a woman’s menstrual cycle. In 2011, he was alleged to have disparaged women in Parliament by saying that women are lousy drivers.
And later, in 2017, Bung Moktar said; ‘If a woman is not pretty, even if she is naked, who would want her?’. Even a fellow BN coalition member – then Wanita MCA chairman Datuk Heng Seai Kie – lambasted him over his comments.
In 2008, the brash and outspoken Tajuddin had used the terms “b******” and “bloody b******” against Ipoh Barat MP, M. Kulasegaran, after the latter said Indian voters in Tajuddin’s constituency were not fond of him. Tajuddin later retracted his statement.
In 2016, Tajuddin, who was then Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries minister, described Seputeh MP Teresa Kok as the only woman with a ‘kok’ in Seputeh.
Abdul Azeez meanwhile, had in 2015, said “Apek duduklah”, and “balik tongsan”, to then Kota Kinabalu MP Jimmy Wong, effectively telling Wong to return to his “homeland”. In 2020, Abdul Azeez was forced to retract his statement in the house after he had earlier uttered “Gelap” (dark) and “Pakailah bedak” (put on face powder), directed at Batu Kawan MP P. Kasthuriraani.
While time may make others forget, sometimes, it’s just best to let facts speak for themselves.
The passing of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill simply means that sexual harassment is now a crime.
This means one can now be prosecuted for sexual harassment, if one engages in any objectionable behaviour in any form – against a woman or a man – be it verbal or non-verbal, visual, implied or physical, which offends, disrespects, or harms their wellbeing.
An act of Parliament, however, only applies prospectively, and not retrospectively.
While this new law applies to all Malaysians, it does not, unfortunately, apply to our legislators who are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for their statements and actions done in the course of their legislative duties.
One rule for us, and another for them, will remain a defining theme for the privileged lot.
