To All ADUNs and MPs: Stop Being Professional Clowns

November 11, 2012

http://www.nst.com.my

By Marina Emmanuel | marinae@nst.com.my

THE just-concluded Penang legislative assembly sitting has proven yet again that it serves as a platform for political histrionics.

The scenes inside and outside the neoclassical building in the heart of George Town have included group protests, rowdy and name-calling politicians, court jesters and the exchange of barbs among elected representatives on issues such as manipulation, conspiracy and corruption.

The normally calm and composed Speaker Dato’ Abdul Halim Hussain had his patience tested this week when his advice to assemblymen to back down from their arguments went unheeded.

He was also not amused that courtesies such as not interrupting a representative whose turn it was to speak, were thrown out of the window, as politicians went about doing this shamelessly without seeking permission.

For those following the proceedings via the print or electronic media, it must be quite tiring to find dramas played out on a daily basis with little thought or regard to the fact that meaningful contributions to discussions and debates of national interest are the furthest thing on the minds of selected Yang Berhormat.

Although bread and butter issues, such as affordable housing, inadequate public amenities and supporting infrastructure, were addressed by some, the heart of the matter is that no solid solutions had been offered.

Instead, endless rhetoric ruled the day, with finger-pointing and one-upmanship dominating just about every session.

The whole issue of conflicting replies to questions asked, the lack of depth in issues tackled and the sincerity in truly wanting to address the needs of voters are being questioned, as many now wonder if they made the right choice in choosing a particular candidate over another at the ballot box.

The mind boggles that some of these politicians, who are professionals in their respective fields and fully capable of handling themselves with the required decorum in other settings like boardrooms and courtrooms, choose to accord no respect on how they should behave in the august house.

This handful of representatives appear to be suffering from selective amnesia that their presence in the house serves as a special opportunity and privilege accorded them to represent the people of Penang at the state’s highest constitutional body, while contributing to meaningful nation-building.

While this November sitting may be the last for some state assemblymen in the light of the impending general election, it is still timely to remind these representatives — some of whom are also members of parliament — that their role is not to convert the house into a stage for histrionics.

As much as most media representatives covering the daily sittings have attempted to avoid getting drawn into the antics of such juvenile behaviour, it has been a chore to remain focused on the purpose of why they are really assigned to cover the assembly sessions.

The issues plaguing Penang are manifold and they range from the basics like traffic jams, an acute shortage of affordable housing, flash floods, unhygienic and sometimes unethical business operators, rising crime rate and the cost of living, indiscriminate cutting of hills and the list goes on.

Issues related to the management of Penang Port, and the still unfinished upgrading of the Penang International Airport also stand out as those which need to be urgently addressed.

George Town’s precious and much-prized World Heritage listing status, which is aimed at giving everyone a sense of pride and belonging, appears to be not given the attention it deserves with inadequate planning policies and a much-awaited management plan.

It does not matter at this point whose “fault” or responsibility it is to return everything to order and restore the lustre to the once “Pearl of the Orient”.

Most Penang residents want to go about their lives with little fuss or drama and rest in the knowledge that the person they had chosen to represent their voice in government is one who is sincere in serving them and not self-serving.

As they focus on earning a living, seeing to the needs of their families and businesses as the global economy continues to cast a shroud of gloom, they have precious time for political-class clowns who are beginning to emerge as a total waste of time, energy and taxpayers’ money.

So Dear YBs, please wake up to the reality that there is a real and concerned world out there needing your time and energy to improve their quality of life, with no space or interest for professional clowns.