theSun | THURSDAY DECEMBER 11 2008 15

INTERVIEWS VIEWS Conversations

A matter of respect
THREE WEEKS AGO, THESUN PUBLISHED AN INTERVIEW WITH DR MOHD PUAD
ZARKASHI (BN-BATU PAHAT), ONE OF THE BACKBENCHERS OFTEN SEEN
PROVOKING OPPOSITION MPS ABOUT THE SO-CALLED NEW CULTURE OF THE
12TH PARLIAMENT. TODAY, HUSNA YUSOP SPEAKS TO PAKATAN RAKYAT
MP KHALID ABDUL SAMAD (PAS-SHAH ALAM), WHO HAS BEEN EQUALLY
PROVOCATIVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DIVIDE. THE 51-YEAR-OLD
FIRST-TERM PARLIAMENTARIAN IS THE YOUNGER BROTHER OF DOMESTIC
TRADE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS MINISTER DATUK SHAHRIR ABDUL SAMAD.
theSun: Why do you think the practice of cultured. They resort to this kind of words in it. That’s why they want the backbenchers to So they must be able to accept the differences
name-calling and usage of unparliamentary reaction to, supposedly, what we have said. reply on behalf of the ministers. in opinion and criticism and not react in that
words in the Dewan Rakyat has become a For example, they said even the word way (using abusive language). On our side,
culture that is acceptable now? “kamu” (you) is rude and disrespectful. They Perhaps it is because some of the deputy we should not counter with similar (abusive)
Khalid: All the unparliamentary words, name- said I should address the MPs as Yang Berhor- ministers are inexperienced? words. So far the PR parliamentarians have not
calling and the like should not have happened. mat. They are trying to show we are the cause, Yes, that’s partly the reason. The ministers resorted to that kind of reactions or used such
And in most cases, we see the same people but it is their inability to accept the fact that the should not leave too much to the deputy words. Only perhaps, sometimes (Ipoh Timur
doing it. One or two Pakatan Rakyat MPs do politics of the nation has changed and they are ministers. They should realise their deputy MP Lim) Kit Siang retorts.
this but this is not something we condone or no longer dominant. The sooner they accept ministers are new and young and have the
encourage. Perhaps it happens because the that, and the sooner they realise they need to daunting task of facing so many opposition You mean like the time between him (Lim)
situation in Parliament now is more tense with re-think some of their strategies, the better. But MPs. So, they should not allow their deputy and Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Moktar
a larger number of opposition (MPs). Earlier when they are not willing to think about it, in ministers to take the lead initially. They should Radin (when they labelled each other babi
the voice of the Opposition was not too obvious. the end they resort to using such terms. It is for train their deputy ministers by coming to the hutan and orang utan)?
But now with more opposition MPs, the issues the lack of strong and consistent arguments Parliament and answering the questions first. Yes.
raised are seen to be more challenging. that they have to resort to this kind of tactic. Then, from there, maybe at later sessions, next
session for example, the deputy ministers can So far, is this the kind of thing being given
So, the bigger number of opposition MPs What do you think of Pasir Salak MP Datuk take the lead. attention by PAS, it being an Islamic party?
contributes to this culture? Tajuddin Abdul Rahman’s request for the Before we join Parliament, we understand that
It should not be a contributory factor but maybe Speaker to allow backbenchers to reply to Do you think the Dewan Rakyat should be we have to be calm, use proper language, etc.
the BN MPs are not used to this kind of environ- the Opposition? more orderly and serious like the Dewan That does not only apply when we are in Parlia-
ment, they find it intimidating. So when they It shows a lack of confidence in the ministers. Negara? Or do you think the lively situation ment but also outside. Should we (PAS MPs) do
feel intimidated they are not able to present They feel dissatisfied with the answers given now is okay? anything wrong, I’m confident the leadership
their arguments rationally. Then, they try to by the ministers. That’s partly the reason. The I think what’s happening now, to a large extent, would haul us up. But there has been no such
give a bad image to the Opposition by using minister has all the time he needs to explain the is okay. What needs to be controlled is one or incident so far.
tactics to challenge us and that sort of thing, or issue, but I think it’s obvious to the BN MPs that two characters who like to use abusive lan-
give the impression that we are not calm and some of the ministers are not able to handle guage that’s unbecoming of parliamentarians. » Turn to Page 16