KOTA, Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has expressed regret over Umno Deputy President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s apologies on behalf of Bukit Bendera Umno division chief, Datuk Ahmad Ismail for the alleged racist remarks he made last month during the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign.
As the Deputy Chairman of Barisan Nasional (BN), Najib should have taken strong action against Datuk Ahmad Ismail instead of apologizing.
We would like to remind Datuk Seri Najib that even the cabinet rejected the apologies of the father of rapsong, “Negaraku-ku” singer Wee Meng Chee.
Previously, then MIC secretary general Dato’ S Sothinathan was suspended as a deputy minister for three months over his remarks during the parliamentary debate on the Crimea State Medical University (CSMU).
In a statement issued here today, SAPP deputy Information Chief Chong Pit Fah pointed out that such a failure had inevitably revealed BN’s blatant hypocrisy especially in dealing with the conduct of its members.
“Datuk Ahmad Ismail should have been immediately issued with a show cause letter on why he thought action should not be taken against him for making such a racist remarks, nor should he apologies to all Malaysians, instead of covering for him by apologising on behalf”, Chong argued.
He was obviously referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's comment on the issue recently, who claimed that Ahmad probably did not mean it and that he would tell him not to do it again.
Ahmad had allegedly said the Chinese are “menumpang” or passengers, hence it was impossible for them to achieve equal rights amongst races.
He had allegedly uttered the remarks in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Chong continued that BN’s failure to take action against Ahmad and attempt to cover for him also clearly demonstrated UMNO’s sheer arrogance and failure to learn from the two ‘political tsunami’ in less than six months.
SAPP
03/09/08
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