Between upholding parliamentary integrity and maintaining partisanship, it is a sad but predictable fact that most parliamentarians will abide by the latter. However, when integrity matters most, some parliamentarians do rise to the occasion. Johor Bahru MP Shahrir Abdul Samad is one such parliamentarian.

Many would rather be led by the nose or the party whip, but he had chose to support a motion put up by his political nemesis, DAP's Lim Kit Siang. In his speech calling for the restoration of the Parliamentary Services Act, he asked how can we ask for integrity in others when we ourselves do not have integrity? Ironically, this proposal did not receive majority support from his backbenchers as well.

Shahrir Samad has walked his talk by stepping down. But do we have to sacrifice good men for little reforms all the time? This episode may have yielded some positive results but how many good men left that we can afford to lose? The executive may agree to allow the establishment of a special committee to formulate guidelines on the proper conduct of members of parliament when dealing with government departments. It is better late than never. But will justice be served?

In the last one week, Shahrir Samad was subjected to overflowing media attention when the spotlight should be on Jasin MP Mohd Said Yusof. Mohd Said Yusof demonstrated a common dilemma of average people tasked with high positions that come with the necessity to maintain high morality and respect for the rule of law.

Drawing from an example, he naively retorted: 'It is normal matter. It is like you re driving on the highway where the speed limit is 110km per hour. But you drive at 150km per hour, and you're stopped by the police. What would you do? You will say please, sir (ask for leniency)'. This is what an average person would do and not an elected parliamentarian who represents his voters at the highest policy formulation level.

With the creation of a first-world mentality at the top of its agenda, the present government must take crucial steps to restore the integrity and image of its administration and the Parliament.

First, the prime minister must restore Johor MP Shahrir Samad to his rightful place as the Backbenchers Club chairman. By accepting the resignation of Shahrir Samad or subjecting him to the coalition's disciplinary council for committing the mistake of supporting an opposition motion, the ruling government is taking a step backward. It does not reflect well on the maturity of the present administration. An issue of parliamentary integrity cuts across both sides of the divide, involving both the government and the opposition.

Second, a special committee to review and monitor the proper conduct of members of parliament must be immediately set up to deal with current and future cases. This special committee can work with both the National Integrity Institute and Transparency International to formulate a code of conduct for members of parliament and to organise relevant workshops for aspiring politicians, politicians and members of parliament.

Third, Jasin MP Mohd Said Yusof must be made accountable for his admission and action taken if he was found to be frustrating and not facilitating the works of the civil service. A stern action will serve as a lesson to all who hold public offices to not overstep their boundaries.

The aspiration to become a first-world nation must not be long on rhetoric and short on action.