I refer to ‘Leaked: Sexist remarks hurled in PKR WhatsApp group’ whereby an inappropriate message by a PKR leader about a fellow leader was leaked to outside party.

Let me at the outset start by saying that I don’t condone or support any sexist or racist remarks. This is the basic level of behaviour in this day and age.

However, given that many in Malaysia, especially those holding legislative and executive posts, have over the years uttered such disgusting and bigoted messages and got away with it scot free, therefore we cannot then hold another section of our society to a higher standard although we should rightfully do so.

Let me ask everyone who is reading this letter to put their hand to their heart and take an oath on whatever they hold dear that they have not uttered any such sexist or racist remark. Have you all never done such thing? I admit, I have on many occasion in the confine space of close friend and family uttered such words, sometimes being ‘bollocked’ in return by my wife who does not like it one bit.

However, the key point is, it does not make me a sexist or a racist person, I am just a normal person, having a normal pattern of behaviour, if I am any better , I would have applied to be the next Pope.

Similarly, in the above leaked WhatsApp message salacious bit of utter word, it was banter between the male species, leaked by another who does not understand the sanctity of private conversation. These uttered words, although inappropriate, are not a crime in this country although they may be morally repugnant.

In my opinion, the person who should be embarrassed and hung out to dry should be the person who leaked this private message to outsiders; he or she is the guilty party. It is also good to note that a private conversation between two individuals should be subject to the same privacy standard and equal protection given under the Data Protection Act. Surely the person who leaked this message has committed and offence under the Data Protection Act?

Private conversations are private; this is why the English FA did not take any action in the case of Malky Mackay .

This is different from the UK MP who was forced to resign for sending sleazy texts .

This is also different where an Australian Minister was forced to resign over bad behaviour in a pub .

Let’s not practice double standards, let’s not punish someone who probably did what all of us have done all along. To his credit he admitted he was at fault, and did not blame the press for twisting what he said and so on.

Again, to stop the arrows, bullets and knives heading my way, I do not support these sorts of statements, public figures must be more careful and circumspect but more importantly, privacy is paramount. No one should leak private conversation, unless national laws have been broken or national security is under threat.

Ask yourself, would you want your private messages leaked to the press?