I could not believe of the sensitive statement by Bukit Bendera UMNO chief, Datuk Ahmad Ismail during the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign.
This is the Merdeka month. Malaysia has been celebrating its 51st independence day but there is still some minority numbers of people who like to bring up the sensitive and racial issue.
We Malaysian, not just Malay but also Chinese, Indian and other races; has been lived together for over half century. Together we live in harmony and peacefully in our beloved country. Why some people would like to bring up this sensitive issue?
Bukit Bendera UMNO chief, Datuk Ahmad Ismail had allegedly called the Chinese pendatang (immigrants) and was also reported to have said that “as the Chinese were only immigrants it was impossible to achieve equal rights amongst races” during a speech in Permatang Pauh in Aug 25. He had allegedly uttered the remarks in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Our Deputy Prime Minister who is soon to be the Prime Minister of Malaysia was present and did nothing to condemn the derogative remark.
Penang Gerakan Youth committee member Dr Thor Teong Gee lambasted Ahmad and charged that Umno was still using racial ideology to achieve its own personal political agenda.
Bukit Mertajam MCA division chairman Lau Chiek Tuan called for disciplinary action against Datuk Ahmad Ismail.
Penang’s Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s political secretary Ng Wei Aik also called on Ahmad to immediately retract his statement and apologise to the community.
Datuk Ahmad Ismail could not be reached for comment.
Tanjung Gerakan Youth division chief H’ng Khoon Leng lodged a police report at the district police headquarters in Patani Road over Ahmad’s alleged remarks.
MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said there was no reason for Datuk Ahmad Ismail to stir racial feelings with his remarks.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Umno leaders should stop using racial sentiment to seek support from the people.
And now, all our beloved Prime Minister can say is making sure the culprit will not repeat the remark and nothing more. Excuses like “I will tell him not to do it again” and “I don’t think he meant it” is not acceptable.
We would like to see our Prime Minister to take strict discipline against Datuk Ahmad Ismail.
Should MCA, Gerakan and other parties to quit from Barisan National if UMNO and Datuk Ahmad Ismail fail to apologise to the community and all Malaysian? I hope MCA, Gerakan and other parties could “wake up” and “voice out” if they want to maintain the support from the people.
We want all races and religions to live happy and harmony together in this country, our beloved Malaysia. Do not let the minority people to spoil our friendship and relationship that we (Malaysian) built back before our country independence.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:34 pm
He should apologise to all Chinese and non-bumiputra.
Umno should also sack him for all his post in Umno.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:38 pm
He should be arrest under ISA. If leaders of Hindraf can be arrest under ISA, why not him? Is it because he is from Umno or Malay?
August 31st, 2008 at 8:42 pm
MCA Youth will demand an apology from Bukit Bendera Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail over a racist statement he supposedly uttered when campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election.
Its secretary-general Dr Wee Ka Siong said the statement had angered the Chinese and other non-Malay communities.
“I have received many complaints from the Chinese community over the statement for the past two days.
“I am saddened that he could make such a statement. It is a generalisation to assume that all Chinese don’t treat their friends well. Accusing the whole community like this is uncalled for.
“I know he was canvassing for votes during the recent by-election but he didn’t have to resort to using a racist statement,” he told reporters Wednesday at the Parliament lobby here.
“It’s insensitive to talk about other races like this. We want him to retract the statement and we will demand an apology from him,” stressed Dr Wee.
The statement, which was widely reported by the Chinese newspapers on Monday, has been posted on the website of the Puchong MCA Youth.
Dr Wee also said it was unbecoming for a politician and community leader like Ahmad to make such remarks in a multi-ethnic community.
“We want to maintain peace and stability in the country,” he said.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:47 pm
i have friends from chinese and malay since i was a small kid in kampung. i so disappointed over the statement. he should be sack!
August 31st, 2008 at 8:51 pm
is it too much for abdullah badawi to demand an apology from ahmad ismail who is only a division leader? if he fail to do so, it shows us how powerless he actually is.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:00 pm
a party will not progress if it fails to consider people’s criticisms.
umno is an arrogant party. they rarely admit they are wrong and let alone making an apology.
i think the next general election people will vote for pas, pkr and dap.
umno still not waking up since the humiliation in the recent general election.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:33 pm
i as a malay and also a malaysian. i feel so shameful. still got people who is racial.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:45 pm
He should be arrested under ISA. He is trying to cause instability in the country.
UMNO will not change.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:34 pm
I feel so sorry that my people saying such a word to insult any one of you.
September 1st, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Hey…..you. do you know i have a lots of chinese & indian friends. shame on you
September 1st, 2008 at 8:46 pm
i feel shameful because still got people so racial. we all malaysian and we will still be malaysian.
September 1st, 2008 at 8:58 pm
MCA vice-president Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn has joined the chorus condemning Datuk Ahmad Ismail for his racist remarks, saying that the Barisan Nasional government should consider the possibility of charging the Bukit Bendera Umno division chief with sedition.
He said this was because Ahmad had touched on the issue of citizenship involving non-Malays in the country.
“The matter of citizenship for non-Malays should not be questioned, just as some religious issues should not be called into dispute.
“An apology from Ahmad is not enough. A sedition charge should be considered against him,” he said here on Monday.
Dr Fong said this was the sentiment of most the MCA grassroots as many felt that such remarks from Umno leaders and members were “occurring too often.”
“They are very offended,” he said, on reports that Ahmad had allegedly called the Chinese pendatang (immigrants) at a ceramah (political address) during the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign recently.
The remarks came to light after they were widely reported in Chinese newspapers.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had said he would tell Ahmad not to repeat such remarks and that he (Abdullah) did not think Ahmad meant what he said.
However, other Barisan leaders had called for stricter action to be taken against Ahmad.
Dr Fong said it was not enough for Abdullah to merely tell Ahmad not to repeat such statements because “the latter obviously meant what he said”.
“He uttered these remarks during a ceramah in front of the Deputy Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak). I will bring this matter up at the next MCA central committee meeting,” he said.
In GEORGE TOWN, Bukit Gelugor MCA division youth chairman Koh Wan Leong said the state government should strip Ahmad of his Datukship.
Koh called on the Yang diPertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas to do so as a lesson and reminder to others not to make remarks on sensitive issues that could provoke racial sentiment.
“The state government, as a responsible new government, should take action against him because he doesn’t deserve the Datukship.
“Ahmad should also apologise openly to all the Chinese in Malaysia,” Koh said at a press conference on Monday.
He also urged the Prime Minister, as the country’s leader and Umno president, to take disciplinary action against Ahmad, reminding Abdullah of his National Day message that Malaysia can again overcome any test it is currently facing if “we stand together and work hand in hand.”
September 1st, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Don’t let him off the hook lightly.
This was the call by Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in urging action against Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail.
This was following reports that Ahmad had allegedly called the Chinese pendatang (immigrants) at a ceramah during the Permatang Pauh by-election.
On Saturday, Abdullah said that he would tell Ahmad not to repeat such remarks and that he (Abdullah) did not think Ahmad meant what he said.
Dr Teng said the “light and non-deterrent” comments by Abdullah was totally insignificant to prevent the occurrence of similar mistakes by Umno and Barisan Nasional leaders in future.
“The fact that Ahmad has refused to apologise when facing the wrath of the Chinese community showed how recalcitrant, arrogant and insensitive he is to a multi-racial society like Malaysia,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Dr Teng urged the police to investigate the police reports lodged by the MCA and Gerakan Youths against Ahmad’s statement.
Bukit Bendera MCA division deputy chief Quah Eng Lam said Ahmad’s remarks were “irresponsible, racist and extreme.”
“We strongly condemn the remarks and urge Umno and Barisan Nasional to take stern action against him,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Division vice-chairman Tan Khai Beng said the remarks were uncalled for and unbecoming of an Umno politician.
“We demand that Umno sack him. He obviously doesn’t know the non-Bumiputra sentiment,” he said.
Ahmad could not be reached for comments.
September 1st, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Umno will never change. Let’s all vote for Pakatan Rakyat.
If they release our Hindraf leader because of our rally blaming us for causing instability. Now they are the one causing instability in the country. Why he is not arrested?
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
don’t vote for bn! we all go vote for pakatan rakyat.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:11 pm
I am fedup with all that is going on in the country… Today DPM has appologised to the people over ismail’s comment… y must DPM appologise ant not him… this clearly shows how UMNO is playing tricks on us malaysian… I wonder what Khairy has got to say to all of this..
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I also don’t understand why Najib have to apologise but not him (Datuk Ahmad Ismail).
About arresting him under ISA, I don’t think so. Unless he is out of UMNO.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Vote for PAS..they never talk about racial issue
If you Chinese very good in business…why don’t help Malays & Indians….provided you are not racist la…
September 4th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Irman. Don’t make a fool of yourself. We do help Malays and Indians. Help doesn’t mean we have to donate blindly.
Why people getting the title Datuk or awarded with PJK, etc? It is because we have help and contributed to the community.
September 9th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Malaysian should work together to bring up Malaysia. Chinese and Indian businessman ’s majority business in China and India, Asia pacific , not in Malaysia. Malay should know the Globalisation. Why Maxis Communication public listed in India? Why Public Bank listed in Cambadia, Vietnam, HK? Why Berjaya Bhd invested in Vietnam? Pakson Listed in HK? Why Maybank loss in investment in Indon bank? Malaysian known the reason. UMNO, MCA, MIC are lied to Malaysian 51 years. Sarawak and Sabah are two third of Malaysia. If Sarawak and Sabah will independent one day in future. People in MALAYA should work together.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:20 am
He shold be detained under ISA for creating such a mess in the country.Do not bring racial sentiments into politics.Its a shame as the impact is big on the rakyat who practice a lot of mutual respect for all
September 10th, 2008 at 9:43 am
i want see him sack from umno and kick out of penang.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:34 pm
This Thor Teong Gee is a typical opportunist and hypocrite. You think he really lambasted Ahmad for the sake of Malaysian chinese? He only wanted some cheap points and propaganda for himself as he was contesting for Penang Gerakan Youth chief.
Politician haiyah politician, and if believe what they say. Rafidah was crying emotionally when Mahathir was resigning. Just try to believe that too!