LETTER | I refer to Malaysiakini report “Kok to Zuraida: No need to comment on my English, explain 'under one roof' remark”.

The job of the opposition is to keep the government in check, such as speaking up when there's corruption or offering constructive ideas when it comes to policies.

But sadly, many opposition lawmakers have abdicated such responsibility.

They have resorted to nitpicking the most inconsequential issues that have no real relevance to the people, except to rouse up their emotions.

One example is the row between Plantation, Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin and her predecessor Teresa Kok.

Kok has questioned whether Zuraida understood English when the former questioned the merits of putting Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) and the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC) "under one roof".

This led to a series of back-and-forth spats between the two women politicians which are reminiscent of the trash talk in schoolyards and which is most unproductive.

Like seriously, aren't there more substantive issues for Kok to raise, besides "Zuraida, do you not understand English? Let me put it to you in BM"?

This is most condescending not just to Zuraida but to voters as well.

Voters expect politicians to bring up issues like how to counter the anti-palm oil lobby in Europe and how to boost yield for the commodity through the use of more advanced plantation techniques.

Besides palm oil, there are also a lot of issues people like Kok can raise, such as minimum wage, how to stem the rise in Covid-19 infections or the controversy surrounding the conversion of Loh Siew Hong's children.

It is time people like Kok save the trash talk and help save taxpayers' money.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.