Minister should apologise for 'joke': Liew
Published on: Tuesday, October 06, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah PKR Deputy Chief, Christina Liew lambasted Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister, Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman for claiming that his 'slap' remark at ethnic Chinese was just a joke."If that is the case, then he is indirectly telling the world that there is a bunch of jokers in the Federal Cabinet. Jokers are not fit to be in the Cabinet."His 'joke' remark is damaging to the image of the Malaysian Government. He has given the impression that ordinary Malaysians can be insulted by racist leaders, including Ministers, Deputy Ministers or elected representatives, at their whims and fancies without any consideration for the feelings of other races," she told a press conference, Monday.
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She stressed that the Government should not condone such utterances that have the potential to foment racial disharmony.Liew, who is Api Api Assemblywoman, said Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders should demand that Tajuddin retract his extremist statement and apologise to all Malaysians, adding he should be ousted from the Federal Cabinet.On October 1 in Kuala Lumpur, Tajuddin issued a 'slap' warning to the Chinese Malaysians at a press conference, directed at those who complain to foreigners about Malaysia."I want to warn the Chinese Malaysians, don't think when you have a problem, you want to complain – just a little bit also complain – that there will be people to protect them.
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"Nak kena lempang macam itu (Get a slap, if like that)," he was quoted as saying.However, on October 2, he said his 'slap' remark was only a joke and not part of the press conference.
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At this juncture, Liew concurred with Special Tasks Minister Datuk Teo Chee Kang's media statement on Monday that Tajuddin's remark was an act of stupidity.Urging Teo to take a step further to ensure that stern action is taken by the Government against the Deputy Minister, she said."Just by issuing a statement in the media to denounce the Deputy Minister's action is not good enough. It doesn't work. Put your foot down, present a strong case to the BN top leadership for punitive action."Why say you hope the Government will take stern action against Tajuddin? You (Datuk Teo) are part of the Government and the President of a political party. And if LDP's views are ignored, despite being a component party that represents the people, then perhaps it's time to review its position in the BN Coalition."Earlier, both MCA and Gerakan had said they would issue a formal protest note and ask the Coalition leadership to punish the Perak lawmaker.It was reported that Tajuddin's remark was an apparent response to a comment by Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Huang Huikang in Petaling Jaya last week, that Beijing would not hesitate to speak out against any threat that might affect the country's ties with Malaysia, in commenting on the communal tension in the country.Meanwhile, Liew commended the Sabah State Government for its speedy action in appointing Teo to compile a comprehensive report on the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).UEC is the Chinese independent secondary school qualification that is equivalent to STPM.On September 23, Liew at a press conference proposed that a special task force be set up and led by Teo to study the matter in seeking UEC recognition for Sabah.On September 26, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah announced the setting up of a special task force headed by Teo to study the issue."I welcome the announcement and thank the Government for making a quick decision in this respect. Since (Datuk) Teo has been given the mandate to work closely with The United Association of Private Chinese School Committees, Sabah (or Sabah Dong Zong) to compile a comprehensive report for the Chief Minister, I hope it will be ready for tabling at the next State Assembly sitting in November towards bringing a closure to the longstanding issue. "Work faster, please. If everything goes well, Sabah's recognition for the UEC qualification will be a New Year gift for Chinese educators and students in Sabah. I am saying this not for myself but for the Chinese community in particular," Liew enthused.At the press conference, she repeated her call to the State Government to allocate 500 acres of land to Sabah Dong Zong for the benefit of Chinese education. "Based on media reports, Sabah Dong Zong had for a number of years pleaded with the State Government to approve their land applications for the good of Chinese independent secondary schools in the State. But for whatever reason(s), such calls had apparently fallen on deaf ears," she said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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