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Media Statement
by Karpal Singh
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(Kuala Lumpur, Thursday) : I am surprised that the Cabinet has only referred both the Member of Parliament for Kinabatangan, Datuk Bung Mokthar Radin and the Member of  Parliament for Jasin, Datuk Mohd Said Yusof to the Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to look into the ‘bocor’ issue. The Cabinet should have taken the matter more seriously. The remarks made by both the MPs go beyond impropriety. It is difficult to imagine how both these MPs could have uttered such words against the Member of Parliament for Batu Gajah, Fong Poh Kuan. The words uttered by them demean all women in the country. I would have thought the Cabinet would at least have referred both these MPs to the Privileges Committee to show cause why they should not be expelled from Parliament. Both these MPs have no right to sit in the highest legislative body in the country after what they have uttered in Parliament. 

I was referred to the Privileges Committee for stating in Parliament that MPs when taking their oath have to put up their right hand. I was suspended in September 2004 for 6 months and stripped of all privileges of an MP. I call upon the Prime Minister to review the decision taken by the cabinet. A retraction and apology by both these MPs cannot erase the irreparable damage done to the psyche of women throughout the country. 

It is most unfortunate that these remarks were made by these MPs in Parliament and therefore immune from litigation in court. Had these words been uttered outside Parliament, the DAP would have taken legal proceedings against these MPs for their dishonourable conduct. I am surprised that Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz is playing down the issue that an apology by these MPs is not due to MP for Batu Gajah, Fong Po Kuan. By his actions, Nazri is, clearly, an accessory after the fact. As a lawyer, he should have known better than to have backed these two MPs. I hope in the coming General Elections, UMNO will not nominate them for re-election.

(17/5/2007)