I refer to the malaysiakini report Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! on the debate in Parliament between Minister in the Prime Minister's department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz and Lim Kit Siang on the subject of corruption.

I had the occasion of sighting the video clip on this debate and to my dismay and disbelief, I found the minister's behaviour and performance absolutely pathetic and rowdy as if he were in the company of some disorderly school children. This was how he addressed the members from the opposition party in Parliament. He called them: 'Ai! Ai! Rambut puteh! Rambut puteh! Bodoh! Bodoh! Bodoh!'

My college-age children had the misfortune of seeing the video clip and they themselves were shocked and asked me if this is how MPs behave and act in Parliament. Now, Nazri, you must listen to me now and here. You have brought absolute ridicule to the Parliament. You behaved as if you were a thug representing a group of unruly gangsters.

To begin with, where are your manners? You called Lim 'bodoh'. Is that how you show respect to a senior, both in terms of age and someone who is one of the most senior politicians in Parliament? Remember, he is also the head of the opposition in the Parliament. Doesn't that mean anything to you?

I would call you 'kurang ajar' and totally unfit to occupy the august house. I feel sorry for you but you certainly reflect that of someone who was badly brought either in your own home or in your school. Perhaps your teachers have failed to give you any moral training.

You were not debating but merely yelling. You kept saying 'Ikut pandangan saya' there was no corruption. Your debate had no substance nor any form of logic to back your argument. Is this how you participate in a debate?

What irritates me even further is that I have been told you are a law graduate. If that is the case, then I wonder what training you received in law school. It certainly does speak badly of your alma mater. If this is how you perform in court as a lawyer then I doubt you can win even a single case.

Is it your failure in the legal profession that prompted you to take a shot in politics? Remember, the profession of politics - just like any other - must be treated with decorum and decency. If the people that make up the profession act with impunity, have bad behaviour and are devoid of any sensible and rational thinking, then the profession would soon be dumped as a piece of rubbish.

I would not want my money to be used to maintain such rubbish. Now, I do not know whether you have reached a point of 'beyond redemption'. This is for you to answer. Having said what I wanted to say, the responsibility now rests in the hands of the prime minister. The PM must take the bull by the horns and carefully vet every candidate standing for elections. He must make a check list for himself.

Every candidate must be fully scrutinised for his character of conduct, educational background, intelligence, family background, value for human dignity, good mannerisms, innate desire to serve the public, plural racial spirit, and of course the ability to understand the complexities of legal enactments.

They must be made subject to a strict code of ethics in Parliament whether they are from the ruling party or from the opposition. There should be no room for prejudice or favouritism.

Finally, the speaker of parliament must be someone who can maintain decency and respect in the conduct of parliamentary debates.