It looks as though our country is not lacking in excitement. One exciting episode seems to follow another in rapid succession giving little time for the average man digest what is really happening.

Among such recent incidents was the nude picture scandal of Selangor state assemblyperson Elizabeth Wong. It is an unfortunate incident that the state and the nation can ill afford at this time of economic uncertainties.

There are two aspects to this scandal; firstly it relates to the morality of Wong and secondly, the morality and legality of the actions of the person responsible for obtaining the photos without her consent and circulating them amongst the public.

The mass media and the enforcement agencies seem to have highlighted the first and neglected the second which is more serious and should have been the primary focus.

There is no doubt that our wakil rakyat should have a high moral integrity as they should be role models for the younger generation.

However, as normal humans they, too, have their weaknesses like any other individual and whatever mistakes of the past should not be used to gauge their present status as the people’s representatives.

They should be judged by what they do now when they are in office and not what they have done in the past which may not reflect their true character of now being in public office.

However, if Wong, or anyone holding public office, is discovered, and proven beyond doubt to be morally unfit to be a leader, there is no reason why she should not be asked to relinquish his or her post to safeguard the sanctity of that public portfolio.

Wong claims she is a victim of a political conspiracy aimed at discrediting her party and she should be commended for being willing to resign to protect the greater interest of her party.

If what she says is true, which appears to be so, then it brings to surface unpleasant and unethical political practices that are taking root in the country. That is a highly regrettable and should be condemned.

Is it scandalous to go nude in the privacy of your own home? If somebody can be accused of being immoral by being nude in his/her own house, then who will be morally righteous enough to run the country?

If being nude in your own home is a crime, than all Malaysians are committing crimes everyday. On the contrary, it is the invasion of such privacy that is scandalous.

We do not know whether Wong is wrong or otherwise. This needs to be investigated fairly by the authorities and appropriate action taken.

What we know for certain is the person involved in taking and distributing these photos is definitely wrong and he needs to be severely punished in order to deter others from doing such things in the future.

The culprits responsible for circulating the pictures of Wong and the politicians, if any, who are exploiting the issue, must be exposed and brought to task.

It is sad that there are people who are willing to stoop so low to resort to such unethical means to bring down our elected representatives, particularly those who are dedicated.

Malaysians must reject the use of such shameful tactics and condemn in the strongest terms possible the desperate people responsible for such despicable act.