So, Najib Abdul Razak finally ticked off Umno backbencher Bung Moktar Radin over the latter’s salute via Twitter to Adolf Hitler following Germany’s stunning World Cup victory over Brazil, stating that it was “unacceptable and wrong” and the Kinabatangan MP should withdraw it.

And we know what Bung did thereafter: he offered a lukewarm apology that ended with a self-congratulation: Long Live Bung, effectively snubbing Najib.

While many rushed to shower praises on Najib for taking on Bung the loose cannon, lest not forget the man himself has long been known for more than gaffes: sexism, racism and an utter lack of respect for others.

Bung shot to national fame with his notorious ‘bocor’ remarks back in 2007 when he ridiculed Fong Poh Kuan by saying, “Mana ada bocor? Batu Gajah pun bocor tiap-tiap bulan juga ” (Where is the leak? Batu Gajah leaks every month, too), when the then-Batu Gajah MP was taking the government to task over a leaky parliament roof.

In 2008, Bung demonstrated his worst when he challenged the late Karpal Singh, then already wheelchair-bound as a result of an accident, to stand up in Dewan Rakyat.

When Kuantan was beset with floods in December last year, all the Bung could do was to tell Fuziah Salleh, the Kuantan MP, to return to her constituency instead of making noises in Parliament.

Earlier this year, Bung sought to distract Teresa Kok ( left ), the Seputeh MP, from the subject by questioning abruptly if the latter’s dressing was appropriate, saying “the skirt goes until the knees… I can see the knees... how can this be allowed”.

And just last month, he crossed swords with G Manivannan and made an innuendo of the Kapar MP as potentially becoming a robber if not elected. The racist undertone was too clear to be brushed aside.

Not to forget the sexist comments of his about women drivers, of which Bung felt thoroughly vindicated after the video clip of the road bully Kiki went viral early this week.

In all of these gaffes - intentionally or else - Najib has said nothing but maintained his not-so-elegant silence because, contrary to popular belief, Bung’s unparliamentary behaviour as such is helping Umno rather than damage the Malay party.

Kinabatangan is a sprawling constituency with merely 25,000 voters. With its vast resources and advantages as ruling party, Umno has won the seat with immense ease. In the 2004 general election, Bung even secured it uncontested, much to the chagrin of those who would see him as a joke.

Entrenching vulgarism and indecency

Since his election as a lawmaker in 1999, Bung has done nothing to create a healthy culture of debate in Parliament, but contributed tremendously to entrench vulgarism and indecency in Malaysia’s public life, best embodied in his unlawful polygamy which he almost escaped scot-free. In sum, Bung is terribly short on policy, but dangerously enormous on gutter politics.

But an uncouth character as such is now the deputy chairperson of the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers’ Club, a body that, under a properly functioning Westminster parliamentary system, is tasked with monitoring legislative proceedings and holding the government to task over policy.

It only goes to show that, unruly and unbecoming he may be, Bung enjoys the confidence of much of his party’s rank-and-file. His street-fighter style is also well-suited to Umno’s long-held aim of diverting opposition lawmakers from policy debate and scrutiny.

Which is why Najib has acquiesced in Bung’s series of racist, sexist and unparliamentary language, which is also widely shared by other extremist groups including Perkasa and Isma. Together, they represent a constituency that Najib can ill-afford to ignore, but must walk carefully between maintaining his ‘reformist’ image and keeping the grassroots support intact.

It was just so unfortunate that Bung went over the top with his Hitler tweet, which is a sheer outrage by international standards. Germany did have a reason to be livid, and it was nothing but the stern protest by the German embassy that prompted Najib to take action.

In other words, Najib is no liberal as many of his propagandists would have us believe. Had it not been the righteous wrath of Germany, an important trade partner to Malaysia and Europe’s economic powerhouse, Najib would have chosen to play dumb as he used to do in the past. In short, Germany’s presence is far too formidable for the Najib government to stand idly by over Bung’s latest malevolent behaviour.

Quite simply, if Najib did earnestly care about the impact of Bung’s indecorum, he could have spoken out for others who have endured Bung’s insults in the past. The fact that he did not is clearly indicative of his calculative, unscrupulous and perfidious character.

JOSH HONG studied politics at London Metropolitan University and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. A keen watcher of domestic and international politics, he longs for a day when Malaysians will learn and master the art of self-mockery, and enjoy life to the full in spite of politicians.