Proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat are usually quite sobre affairs, which can turn ugly when members of parliament start shouting at each other.
There are, however, times when the mood can be light and laughter and giggles can be heard. Even politicians have their "naughty" side.
One example was when Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil talked about Taylor Swift and her fans, known as "Swifties" adding that he himself was a "Sitizoner", which is what fans of Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza call themselves.
However, Fahmi was interrupted by Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor: "Yang Berhormat, 'striptease'?"
Fahmi explained what he had said, to great laughter from the house, drawing even more when he reminded Ramli that it was the fasting month.
That lighthearted moment, however, is one of the few, if any, that occur in Malaysia whenever one mentions Swift and her Eras tour. The multi-Grammy winner is a big deal all over the world and our country is no exception.
That she has not come here, and worst of all, performed in our neighbour's backyard is a shame, given the friendly rivalry between our nations and the love-hate relationship Malaysians and Singaporeans share.
Malaysia's failure to entice Swift is indeed a shame and also a missed opportunity to make some money.
After all, the term Swiftnomics has been bandied about whenever there is a report on the profitability of the Eras Tour.
This has led to Bersatu politicians hitting out at the government for missing the opportunity, even demanding it explain why this has happened.
Especially vocal has been former youth and sports minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who blamed current Minister Hannah Yeoh.
Then there was Bersatu legal and constitution bureau deputy chairman Sasha Lyna Abdul Latiff, who pinned the blame on Yeoh and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Her claim was that Malaysia had begun communicating with Swift's concert promoters as far back as in 2022, when Bersatu was part of the government.
Yeoh, however, said the Eras Tour concert was never offered to Malaysia, adding that her ministry had nothing to do with bringing in concerts.
Sasha has earned kudos from many for being a moderate and daring to question the government over its failure. But is it really the government's failure?
It has to be asked whether this was mere political bluster or someone speaking from the heart. Perhaps it was a little of both.
What is for sure is that Sasha's statement was also a missed opportunity.
Why did she not also hit out at Bersatu's coalition partner, Pas, which kicks up a fuss each time an international (or should we say "Western") artiste wants to perform here?
Pas recently protested about Coldplay performing in Malaysia. And this is a band that has supported the Palestinian cause.
These international artistes, it says, promote Western culture and hedonism, and it has even threatened to stage protests nationwide each time a concert is held here.
Stampin member of parliament Chong Chien Jen was right when he said Pas would have protested if Swift had performed here.
It is one thing to have strict rules, such as on the use of obscenities and the way artistes dress.
These rules are made known to concert organisers and artistes and anyone worth his or her salt should be sensitive enough to people's cultural practices.
But to label all Western artistes hedonistic is something else. Such generalisation belongs in the same rubbish bin as racism.
Whatever the reason Swift and her team decided the superstar should not come to Malaysia, one thing is for sure; more and more performers will give us a miss if we continue to hit out at Western artistes.
Why would they come here if they are to face vitriol and protests? Why would they risk insult and possible injury?
At the end of the day, the "failure" to bring Swift here is not that of the government.
It is the failure of those who kick up a fuss whenever we hold such concerts.
It is fine for citizens to criticise the government for it. But it is hypocritical for opposition politicians to do so without addressing their allies for protesting such concerts.
* The writer is NST news editor
