Last week some of our MPs allowed us a not-so-rare insight into their desperate need for respect, particularly from the government officials who serve them.
Their dire need was made known through a directive issued by the House's General Affairs Office, which required all government officials to "show respect to MPs whenever they come across them" and to serve the politicians "to the best of their abilities".
"Showing respect" is quite a broad term in Thai culture, but it was well understood that the directive was meant to have the officials perform a wai to the MPs if they happen to cross paths.
As it happened, the controversial directive triggered an avalanche of strong criticism. Within hours it was mercilessly shot down. It was probably the shortest-lived administrative command ever in Thai history.
In a face-saving move, Pitoon Pumhiran, secretary-general to the Parliament, had to come out and defend his colleagues.
He said the whole brouhaha over wai-ing and showing respect was just a matter of "misunderstanding". Unfortunately, he did not elaborate as to what had been misunderstood, by whom and how.
Yet, Mr Pitoon admitted that many of his colleagues, particular first-time MPs who are young or look young, are frustrated about the lack of proper respect from officials who either work under or with them.
In Thai tradition, the act of bringing one's palms together in a gesture of respectful greeting, or wai, is a matter concerning age and social status. For example, it is the younger people who have to perform a wai to older ones. In administration, people in inferior positions are supposed to give their superiors a wai. In school, the students wai the teachers. Of course, the action itself can be problematic, particularly when it deals with a person in an inferior position who is more senior in terms of age.
Is such a tricky situation the problem in Parliament? Older officials versus younger MPs? Or, perhaps, older officials vs arrogant young MPs. Or, even worse, officials versus MPs with "untoward behaviour"?
Even though the matter of the good-manners directive has been dropped, its short-lived existence has made it clear that from now on there will be few - if any at all - House officials, no matter how old, who dare not give the MPs their much-desired wai, since the honourable MPs have made their wish so clear.
Put in perspective, the MPs' dire need for respect is very understandable. After all, this is a tough, top job that allows those in the position to earn high honour and prestige. But the way they pushed for it - through that idiotic directive - is simply not agreeable.
Needless to say, there must be many MPs who still have not the slightest idea why they don't get enough respect. But the reason is quite obvious to us members of the general public, who have followed House sessions or read the newspapers.
On the bright side, we should be glad that the MPs made such a bold move in issuing that directive. If they look carefully at this issue they will realise that gaining respect is no difficult task at all - they only need to act respectably.
Can we be optimistic and hope that our MPs will eventually learn a bit from this exercise and improve their actions - public or private - accordingly?
If the answer is yes, it means our MPs will do their best to make us proud in this political institution. That they will strive to make Parliament the respectable institute that it is, and not just a place where they routinely gather and shamelessly conduct a political farce.
It would mean our hot-headed MPs will do better in anger management and stop turning Parliament into a boxing stadium during - or after - a heated debate.
It would mean our honourable MPs will refrain from vulgarity or any dirty tricks only to win political games.
It would also mean that they will not lie or behave in a corrupt manner, that they will perform their duty with integrity.
Most important of all, the public need MPs with self-respect. The type of political breed that we can and will respect - not because of a directive, but from the heart.
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Originally Posted by Ploenpote Atthakor in The Bangkok Post
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