I started my speech on the supplementary estimates this morning calling on MPs to stand up for seven shouts of “Merdeka” to uphold the Malaysian Constitution as the country is still celebrating the 50th Merdeka Anniversary.
Only DAP MPs stood up, with me shouting “Merdeka” and the DAP MPs responding “Secular Malaysia” seven times.
Not a single Barisan Nasional (BN) MP, whether Umno, MCA, MIC or Gerakan stood up to shout “Merdeka”.
In my speech, I said I had called for seven shouts of “Merdeka” for two purposes: firstly, to demonstrate that the loyalty and patriotism of DAP MPs to the country is second to none to anyone from Barisan Nasional in Parliament, whether minister, deputy minister or parliamentary secretary.
Secondly, to highlight the ‘farce” of patriotism staged by certain BN MPs last Wednesday who disgraced Parliament and demeaned the 50th Merdeka anniversary celebrations just to score cheap political points against Opposition MPs.
The BN MP for Jasin, Datuk Mohd Said Yusof growled from his seat that my seven shouts of Merdeka in Parliament was “cheapening” its meaning. I must thank him for helping me to illustrate my point about the “farce” of patriotism staged by him and other BN MPs in Parliament last Wednesday.
Love of country and patriotism are not proven by shouting “Merdeka” seven times. As I said in Parliament this morning, those who are corrupt like those responsible for hijacking gargantum sums of public funds, e.g. the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone bailout scandal, would shout Merdeka the loudest although this would not make them patriots when they should be regarded as traitors.
Those who are prepared to stand up against the tidal pressures of the government to voice out the innermost thoughts and feelings of the people, and even to undergo detention in defence of the higher interests of the citizenry and country, are clearly even more nationalistic and patriotic than the Cabinet Ministers and BN MPs.