That a Barisan Nasional MP has used the word 'keling' in Parliament, saying that the word is not derogatory to the Indian community runs contrary to the meaning given in Kamus Dewan published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka of Malaysia.

To make matters worse, he had used the idiomatic expression 'keling botol' (drunkard) which is not complimentary to the Indian community in Malaysia at all.

Malay dictionaries published in other countries do not have such derogatory idiomatic expressions using the word 'keling' except, maybe, 'keling karam' (very noisy) found in the classical Malay literature texts.

As the use of the word in a derogatory sense has been taken up and discussed at the national level, it is not a wise move by the YB of Jerai to have shown his ignorance or outright arrogance.

Barisan Nasional MPs should be role models in respecting the sensitivities of the various communities, even when under provocation. And even when speaking with immunity in Parliament.

Maybe the senior leaders of the component parties, especially of the dominant party, need to educate their followers. After all, national unity is under the Prime Minister's Department. Organising classes for such 'communal leaders' on the ingredients of our national unity should not be too difficult.