FREE YOURSAY ‘I think DAP has fallen into a trap and sadly shows itself as being prejudiced of sexual minorities.’
Media ticked off for Ramkarpal 'gay' query
Hafidz Baharom: It's a simple question. If you're not gay, just say you're not. To be offended by this question in this day and age, and then telling off the press for asking the question, is a big no-no.
Politicians need to step up their game and just answer diplomatically. Besides, Penang is talking about setting up a committee to assist the development for the transgender community.
For a Penang politician to be offended by this question goes to show that it is not as open as many Malaysians think it is.
For myself personally, DAP is overthinking this issue. They should have just let Bukit Gelugor candidate Ramkarpal Singh answer the question and left it alone.
To continually give this press coverage would just take away the news cycle from the policies that Ramkarpal should be promoting to be elected MP of Bukit Gelugor.
Good Men: I think the reaction from Pakatan Rakyat camp is misguided. The response should have been a simple "this has no bearing on the matter at hand".
Because truly, it does not. In actual fact, the question reflects poorly on the asker, not the person being asked. You are covering a by-election for a newspaper, not a celebrity party for gossip magazine.
But Pakatan, try chilling out a bit. The rakyat can judge. If Ram really felt he needed to answer, he could have just said, "no, I am not", and perhaps chastised the person for considering it a relevant question.
Or maybe even ask them back to explain why it is relevant.
Proarte: I think DAP has fallen into a trap and sadly shows itself as being prejudiced of sexual minorities, and paradoxically this does not do one bit to prove Ramkarpal's heterosexuality.
The correct answer should be, “No, I am not gay and what is the relevance of that question to this election campaign?”
DAP must accept the fact that a single man in his late 30s who is not married or who has not had any girlfriends, has at least a reasonable chance of being gay. That is just a fact of life. But so what? Why express such indignation at the question?
It is not a crime to be gay and as a party which claims to fight for human rights and the dignity of the rakyat, its reaction over the gay query does not reflect well on its commitment to its espoused principles.
DAP must realise that reacting in such a melodramatic way over this will raise the suspicion that Ramkarpal 'doth protest too much'.
Sleepy: What do you want Ramkarpal to do or say, belittle homosexuals or gays to prove that he is not gay?
By the way, I thought elections are measured by one's ability to serve his constituency unless Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) vice-president and Bukit Gelugor candidate Huan Cheng Guan is suggesting that being gay is an incompetency.
However, when a statement is made close to an election, you give an "unfair advantage" knowingly or otherwise to another, and not answering is like agreeing, so I see DAP's point.
Let me elaborate "unfair advantage" and the reason why DAP is criticising the media. Gay means sodomy which may result in legal action.
Ramkarpal is in Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy appeal team. See, where this is going has nothing to do with by-election issues.
Another point, I have said it before, candidates are there to legally bring out issues like hudud and homosexuality. PCM and the other independent candidates know they will lose and they are there as legal by-election candidates not to win but to create doubt.
Avatar_2397: So what even if he's gay? Would that make him any less intelligent, capable, trustworthy as a leader? Malaysian-born Senator Penny Wong, who is homosexual, is a leading choice for Australia's next prime minister.
Don't tell me it's because Australia is decadent; on the contrary, that country is run with far more integrity and respect for its people than Malaysia ever will be in the foreseeable future.
If you don't appreciate being condemned and bullied by racists and misogynists, don't do that to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people either. Grow up and stop acting like you're superior just because someone else is different from you.
Tempua: If you cannot defend yourself without using the late Bukit Gelugor MP and Ramkarpal’s father Karpal Singh’s name, you are not worth becoming a YB. How long are you and your siblings going to hide behind Karpal’s name?
KKCheong: How you deflect the attack also shows how effective you are as an MP. I don't see how you can become a good MP if you're so sensitive?
Kangkung: So all single men are gays and single women are lesbians? Then that means we have many gays and lesbians running around.
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