COMMENT In the debate on whether ministers send their children to national or private schools, PPP information chief A Chandrakumanan has unwittingly revealed that he requires a quick lesson in Morality 101.

                                                           

In his haste to defend Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, he lashed out at DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, calling him “ old, insane and pathetic ”.

 

Chandrakumanan was livid that Lim had asked if Najib would sack his ministers if it is discovered that their children are placed in private and international schools, therefore turning their backs on national education.

 

He challenged Lim to reveal which schools Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers’s children attended. It was a fair challenge.

 

But his choice of words in putting his views across begs the question as to which school the PPP leader had attended?

 

If Chandrakumanan ( left ) is a product of a national school, then his rude outburst is testimony that the national education policy is in dire need of reform.

 

Love or loathe Lim, he is a seasoned politician, who has always engaged his political foes in a civil manner, seldom transgressing the rules of engagement.

 

Even when he does cross the line in the eyes of his political opponents, he is not known to make derogatory remarks at them.

 

Furthermore, his contribution to Malaysian politics outclasses that of the entire current crop of PPP leaders, top to bottom, put together.

 

‘Pondon’ outburst

 

And even before the shock could abate, Umno lawmaker Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim chose to drop another dim-witted bombshell.

 

Peeved that DAP lawmaker Tony Pua had refused to allow him to interrupt his speech, Azeez called him a “ pondan ” in the august House.

 

Perhaps it is after witnessing the antics of such half-baked politicians in their midst, BN ministers had decided to send their children to private schools, hoping they would be inculcated with more class than crass.

 

Politicians like Chandrakumanan and Abdul Azeez ( right ) fail to realise that it is precisely this arrogant and uncouth attitude which is costing BN votes.

 

Such remarks only serve to cement the perception that the ruling coalition is made up of those who cannot articulate their arguments in an intelligent manner and therefore must resort to hitting below the belt.

 

Politicians, on both sides of the divide, must never resort to such cerebrum impoverished tactics to seek political mileage or please their masters.

                                                                                                           

ANANTHA KIRISNAN is an avid watcher of Malaysian politics.