“Old Men Destroy The Country” – Young Malaysians React to the 3rd Session of the 14th Parliament

By Karissa Lund  •  13 Jul 2020 in Features

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Today, all eyes were on the Third Session of the 14th Parliament of Malaysia. The Dewan Rakyat sitting today has been adjourned amid continuous chaos throughout the ongoing debate session as it was broadcasted live on RTM and online platforms.

ICYMI, pandemonium broke out in the Dewan Rakyat as Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin tabled a motion today to replace the Speaker, Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof. The bid to remove him succeeded with 111 yays to 109 nays.

According to the Malay Mail, the motion was fiercely debated as Opposition MPs protested the move to replace the former Court of Appeal judge. Next in line was the motion to appoint former Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun and Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said to replace incumbent Speaker Mohamad Ariff and his deputy, Nga Kor Ming.

But what really caught the attention of the youth were the remarks by Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim…

When Batu Kawan MP, Kasthuri Patho questioned the lack of women representatives in the list of the Parliamentary Selection Committee members today, Abdul Azeez allegedly passed shouted racist remarks at her including “gelap tak nampak” (“dark, I can’t see”), and then told her to apply powder to look more visible.

There was also a point in the sitting where young Muar MP, Syed Saddiq was “mocked” with ageist jokes by other MPs. Abdul Azeez also chipped and shouted at Syed Saddiq to “Tanya Atok kenapa dia letak jawatan” (“[go] ask Grandpa why he resigned”), referring to Langkawi MP and former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Baling MP didn’t stop there. Abdul Azeez also shouted “Cakap Melayu la, kalau tak boleh cakap Melayu (“speak in Malay, if you can’t speak in Malay”) you aren’t fit to be in this parliament lah” to Ipoh Barat MP, M. Kula Segaran who briefly spoke in English regarding the process of appointing the Speaker.

All in, it was chaos and the clips of these moments were out in the open for the youth to judge. Take a look at what they have to say:

When Batu Kawan asked about women’s representation, Baling apparently said “Gelap tak nampak!” & “Pakai bedak je lah”

Such disgusting racism – absolutely unacceptable!

If this happened in Parlimen Digital, we would have muted & kicked Baling out immediately.

— Lim Wei Jiet (@limweijiet) July 13, 2020

“Cakap melayu la, kalau tak boleh cakap melayu you aren’t fit to be in this parliament la”

Punya dah takde modal nak tembak.

This kind of mentality sitting at such level. Think about that.#ParlimenMalaysia pic.twitter.com/gLnG84lFRg

— A Myth (@kamalkhadir) July 13, 2020

Productivity: 0 https://t.co/zfHh9FuYZm

— Harith Zuharman (@hiz98) July 13, 2020

Situations like this are catalysts to make some of our greatest young minds rise and demolish such a system. Just you wait
✊✊✊ https://t.co/TKulVPT0yu

— ✨hemma✨ (@hemma__e) July 13, 2020

Disappointed in the barbaric and childish remarks made by some MPs towards Syed Saddiq. The youth only asks for respect and a chance to use their voices.

Respect goes both ways. Keep that in mind, boomers. https://t.co/KL4cBpLUCI

— arissa (@allyaari) July 13, 2020

Who needs Keeping up with the Kardashians when our Dewan Rakyat is 10X more rude, dramatic and disrespectful. https://t.co/y5zjaPWqbX

— ⚔️ (@nithyaaaaa_) July 13, 2020

The party that I would vote for in the next election is the one that can give me the most number of under 40 calons, most number of women calons, and a young PM.

Today parliament session demonstrated one thing. Old men destroy the country.

— SuriRumah Perancis (@FrenchSuriRumah) July 13, 2020

Harapannya, selepas menonton sesi Parlimen hari ini, orang muda yang cerdik, pandai, berprinsip dan beridealisme akan lebih berkobar-kobar semangat mereka untuk lebih celik politik & cakna isu-isu semasa.

Political literacy, so the youth can forge a better path for the nation.

— Faizal Hamssin (@faizalhamssin) July 13, 2020

No amount of Perdana Fellows and Parlimen Belia can revamp youth representation in politics as long as party leaders tolerate MPs who ridiculed a fellow MP, who is a former minister, for his age. (“Cucu atok”, “budak mentah”, “budak hingusan”)

— OKH (@ooikokhin) July 13, 2020

Syed Saddiq is not anyone’s junior in that chamber. He is their PEER. A fellow MP.

Yet, everyone treats him like he’s an unwelcome nephew.

This is the uphill task facing youth representation in politics. And the reason why it’s absolutely essential.

— Rohan Javet Beg (@RohanBeg) July 13, 2020

Most of the MPs are old people above 60 years old. These people who will be disappearing from the Earth in less than 10-20 years are making judicial decisions that will determine the future of the younger generation in our country. Yikes

— 110 days till Halloween (@theonlyizzah) July 13, 2020

Ahli Parlimen Baling is the rudest MP I have ever seen! How did you guys has the guts to vote on this xenophobic guy? I noticed he changed his Malay accent to loghat Chinese bila MP from PH berbahas and he even said “Gelap tak nampak” bila an Indian MP from PH berbahas So rude!

— is it? (@fikryadhzmi_) July 13, 2020

Kepada anak muda yang rasa jijik melihat gelagat Ahli² Parlimen tua:

I love your voices on Twitter.

Tapi jangan tunggu mengundi saja.

Kamu di Baling
Jelebu
Padang Rengas
Pasir Salak kena yakinkan orang sekampung untuk undi wakil rakyat yang lebih berwibawa.

Mobilize NOW. https://t.co/aRQhjksKXE

— Lim Yi Wei 林怡威 (@LimYiWei4MY) July 13, 2020

Personally, I feel like this is why NGOs like Undi18, Challenger etc & programs like @ParlimenDigital are VERY important. To educate the rakyat on democratic processes, duties of parliament & members, speakers etc. To let them know that what happened today is unacceptable.

— Coach (@frzfauzi) July 13, 2020

Inilah masanya anak muda. Its about time for us to kick out the boomers and ends the tagline of ‘aku makan garam dulu’ for real. Lets unite and take over the politics of Malaysia together! https://t.co/Rr6uANhb0K

— Naeem Rumzi (@naeemrumzi) July 13, 2020

The whole process today was literally painful to watch.

1. Little to no finesse in arguments made
2. No separation of powers
3. Petty fights
4. Rude gestures and namecallings

And saddest part – this is exactly how our parliament has been for so long#MasaKita #AmbilAlih

— amiraaisya (@_amiraaisya) July 13, 2020

BOOMERS OUT. YOUTHS IN.#MasaKita #OurTurn

— POLICE BRUTALITY AGAINST INDIANS IN MSIA EXISTS (@balvinxo1) July 13, 2020

The way Syed Saddiq was mocked & belittled in the parliament is a proof of how the views and opinions of the youth are often left unheard and neglected by the boomer generation. Let the youth take over and carry Malaysia to a better place.

— Wan Afifi Zawawie (@afifizawawie) July 13, 2020

Wahai anak muda sekiranya anda mengikuti persidangan Dewan Rakyat pada hari ini, anda tahu apa yang perlu dilakukan menjelang pilihan raya seterusnya. Nilailah prestasi ahli Parlimen anda! #MasaKita #OurTime #Parlimen

— Aaron Denison | #KitaJagaKita | #MigranJugaManusia (@aaron16denison) July 13, 2020

PRU15 is the time for young candidates to be the voice in Parliament. Boomers menjerit, emosi, ejek with argument tin kosong bila orang muda bercakap. No productive discussion. Masa untuk #OrangMudaBinaNegara https://t.co/JHvYlviLYW

— anep (@hanifjamals) July 13, 2020

MP yang bodoh-bodoh ni will not survive under normal debate rules and circumstances. That’s why they resorted to annoy people so that people won’t see how stupid they are.

— Nazrin (@nazrinsaad) July 13, 2020

Let’s end this with a funny one: 

Tempat budak bergaduh. Tempat orang tua bergaduh. pic.twitter.com/Wn3QtOTmF9

— 나 (@MNormanhakim_) July 13, 2020

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