By Tony Pua, MP for Petaling Jaya Utara

DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Kuching, Chong Chieng Jen had in his Facebook post a week ago harshly criticised the policy of playing the national anthem, Negaraku prior to the screening of movies in cinemas.

Chong was heavily criticised for his post by both Barisan Nasional politicians as well as the netizens at large. He has since however, promptly admitted to the inappropriateness of his language and apologised for his post.

To quote the Communications and Multimedia Minister, Dato’ Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek himself, Chong had been penalised by the public which had issued criticisms against him on the Internet. “For politicians, the heaviest penalty is when the public dismisses, criticises and humiliates them.” he said.

What’s more, Chong did not at any time criticise or fail to respect the national anthem. His remarks which has since been withdrawn was to criticise the policy of playing Negaraku in cinemas, not the national anthem itself. This is because the cinema is a place of entertainment and the appropriateness of playing the anthem was questioned because the sanctity of Negaraku may be smeared.

Regardless of the appropriateness of the policy, Chong clearly stated that his family had stood to attention while the anthem was played. Hence the question of being unpatriotic for disrespecting the anthem as criticised by many, did not arise.

Chong’s prompt apology is hence a complete contrast to many UMNO leaders who failed to show any remorse over espousing racist rhetorics and making incendiary statements against the minorities.

While UMNO Supreme Council member, Dato’ Seri Puad Zakarshi had the cheek to say “sorry no cure” to Chong, he himself is often guilty of making insensitive statements as well as telling lies without having the political courage or dignity to apologise.

Puad was infamously guilty of stereotyping all males wearing V-necks and tight fitting shirts as homosexuals. Last year, he was also guilty of concocting lies about DAP printing an astonishing 100,000 Bahasa Malaysia copies of the Bible using the word “Allah”. Mohd Puad’s lies were insane and without any basis whatsoever. And yet, he never bothered to apologise.

Hence UMNO leaders are in no position to take the moral high ground on the issue of Chong’s apology as they have behaved worse, told blatant and malicious lies and did not ever bother to retract their statements, much less make an apology to the public.