The patronising attitude Barisan Nasional representatives never fail to rile me.

It was reported that Kampung Gajah state assemblyman Tajuddin Abdul Rahman had told off DAP's Perak state chief, Ngeh Koo Ham, when the latter questioned him about being involved in money politics during the Pasir Salak Umno division elections.

Tajuddin was reported to have said that he was cleared by Umno of money politics and that the opposition should stay out of Umno's affairs.

His statement would be perfectly acceptable if Umno is not the ruling party and its leaders are not involved in running the country. In this case, Tajuddin was being appointed a member of Public Accounts Committee of the Perak state assembly and Ngeh's question was quite valid.

Although Tajuddin was cleared of money politics by Umno, it would have been better if someone else is appointed to the Perak PAC. Otherwise, it only gives the impression that Umno lacks suitable candidates that can promote transparency and accountability. Such positions come with great responsibility and candidates must not only be clean but be seen to be clean.

To Joe Public, money politics is related to corruption and the fact that such incidents are not referred to Anti-Corruption Agency - but only to Umno - is looked upon unhappily. Next to the ruling party, ACA seems toothless with a lack of initiative.

To further illustrate the patronising attitude of BN representatives, the Pokok state assemblyperson Ho Cheng Wang was quoted as telling Ngeh: 'Give you an inch, you want a yard. Let you come into the room, you want to get onto the bed'.

To anyone reading the report, it would give the impression that the Perak state assembly belongs to BN and that the opposition should be grateful that they are invited in. And as guests, the opposition should behave themselves and not ask too many questions about the house rules, which in this case are BN's rules.

Whatever happened to Pak Lah's request to 'work with me'?