Ong Ka Chuan
PETALING JAYA: Two MCA leaders have joined the bandwagon in calling for Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman to apologise for his ‘slap’ remarks on Malaysian Chinese.
MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said Tajuddin's remarks had seriously offended all Malaysian Chinese and the party will lodge a formal protest via the Barisan Nasional channel for action to be taken against him.
“We want Tajuddin to apologise to the people of Malaysia for his damaging remark. As a deputy minister, he should check his facts before making statements instead of recklessly commenting on the Malaysian Chinese community.
"The Malaysian Chinese are only loyal to one country - Malaysia. The Malaysian Chinese will never swear allegiance to other countries, let alone lodge complaints when abroad.
"This is an extremely ignorant statement coming from Tajuddin,” Ong said in a press statement on Friday.
Ong added that the nation was facing many challenges and it was all the more important for a leader to lead by example, to unite the people and endeavour for national economic recovery.
"We certainly do not need Tajuddin’s statement which has incurred harm to national unity.”
MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chairman Jason Teoh Sew Hock said Tajuddin had displayed a ‘low-class’ mentality by issuing the threat which has undermined the dignity of the Malaysian Chinese.
“Clearly he does not qualify to be a leader as he had failed to take into consideration the importance of racial harmony when he made that provocative and targeted remark at an event in Kuala Lumpur whereby he had threatened to slap Malaysian Chinese who had complained about the government thinking that China will come to their aid.
“Gelang Patah MCA is unhappy with Tajuddin’s conduct, and we urge that Umno takes necessary action on him to prevent racial tension from further flaring up,” said Teoh, who is Gelang Patah MCA division chairman.
He said the division was unhappy with Tajuddin’s conduct, and urged Umno to take necessary action against him to prevent racial tension from further flaring up.
“Not only has his threat caused panic which lead to further breakdown in racial relations, this will also directly affect investors’ sentiments, and henceforth the nation’s economic growth as well.”
“Racial unity is Malaysia is very important and no one should 'stir up the hornet’s nest' by making provocative and racist statements, even more so if they are leaders of political parties and members of the Cabinet.”
On Thursday, MCA central committee member Koh Chin Han demanded an apology from Tajuddin.
MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon had also said that the party would be taking the matter to the Barisan Nasional supreme council.
“If confirmed (Tajuddin has said) he wants to “melempang” (slap) the Chinese, then he should apologise immediately to all Chinese in this country,” he said.
Tajuddin has denied using words such as “tampar” and “lempang” during a press conference at an exhibition in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, saying the words “are not suitable for a veteran politician like me”.
Tajuddin, however, admitted that he had requested Malaysian Chinese to settle matters internally and not bring issues abroad.
MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said Tajuddin's remarks had seriously offended all Malaysian Chinese and the party will lodge a formal protest via the Barisan Nasional channel for action to be taken against him.
“We want Tajuddin to apologise to the people of Malaysia for his damaging remark. As a deputy minister, he should check his facts before making statements instead of recklessly commenting on the Malaysian Chinese community.
"The Malaysian Chinese are only loyal to one country - Malaysia. The Malaysian Chinese will never swear allegiance to other countries, let alone lodge complaints when abroad.
Ong added that the nation was facing many challenges and it was all the more important for a leader to lead by example, to unite the people and endeavour for national economic recovery.
"We certainly do not need Tajuddin’s statement which has incurred harm to national unity.”
MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chairman Jason Teoh Sew Hock said Tajuddin had displayed a ‘low-class’ mentality by issuing the threat which has undermined the dignity of the Malaysian Chinese.
“Clearly he does not qualify to be a leader as he had failed to take into consideration the importance of racial harmony when he made that provocative and targeted remark at an event in Kuala Lumpur whereby he had threatened to slap Malaysian Chinese who had complained about the government thinking that China will come to their aid.
“Gelang Patah MCA is unhappy with Tajuddin’s conduct, and we urge that Umno takes necessary action on him to prevent racial tension from further flaring up,” said Teoh, who is Gelang Patah MCA division chairman.
He said the division was unhappy with Tajuddin’s conduct, and urged Umno to take necessary action against him to prevent racial tension from further flaring up.
“Not only has his threat caused panic which lead to further breakdown in racial relations, this will also directly affect investors’ sentiments, and henceforth the nation’s economic growth as well.”
“Racial unity is Malaysia is very important and no one should 'stir up the hornet’s nest' by making provocative and racist statements, even more so if they are leaders of political parties and members of the Cabinet.”
On Thursday, MCA central committee member Koh Chin Han demanded an apology from Tajuddin.
MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon had also said that the party would be taking the matter to the Barisan Nasional supreme council.
“If confirmed (Tajuddin has said) he wants to “melempang” (slap) the Chinese, then he should apologise immediately to all Chinese in this country,” he said.
Tajuddin has denied using words such as “tampar” and “lempang” during a press conference at an exhibition in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, saying the words “are not suitable for a veteran politician like me”.
Tajuddin, however, admitted that he had requested Malaysian Chinese to settle matters internally and not bring issues abroad.
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