Don't make slapping acceptable
Published on: Friday, April 11, 2014
Kota Kinabalu: Former Kadamaian Assemblyman Datuk Herbert Timbun Lagadan said both Home Minister Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee should immediately stop their tit-for-tat tussle over the "slapping challenge". Instead, he said, they both should issue an apology and seek forgiveness from the millions of Malaysian children who may have misunderstood that slapping is a noble act to be rewarded handsomely. "I wonder why both leaders have stooped so low to tell the whole world as if 'slapping' is acceptable as a noble act in Malaysia? In the first place, why must a former Sabah Chief Minister have the guts to offer money to a person who dares to slap Ahmad Zahid," he said in response to the "slap offer" exchanges between Yong and Ahmad Zahid. ADVERTISEMENT It started with Yong, who is Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President, who had offered RM500 to anyone who slaps the Home Affairs Minister in his next visit to Sabah for him to take ministerial responsibility for yet another serious security breach in Sabah's east coast, referring to the latest abduction incident by a kidnap-for-ransom group from the Philippines at Singamata Reef and Adventure Resort in Semporna. Yong had also offered another RM500 for another slap on the Home Minister for his broken promise to reveal the names of the "three opposition leaders" behind the Lahad Datu Tanduo intrusion by another armed group from the same country in March last year. Ahmad Zahid, in his response, then offered to pay RM501, RM1 more than the RM500 offered, to Yong if he dared slap him. Yong on Thursday accepted this challenge from Ahmad Zahid, saying he will personally take up the challenge to slap him (Ahmad Zahid) and the RM501 he will donate to the Tabung Wira Lahad Datu (Lahad Datu Heroes Fund) for the benefit of the families of the fallen heroes who were sacrificed in defending Sabah during the Tanduo intrusion. ADVERTISEMENT "Indeed, Yong's act has tarnished the good office of the Sabah Chief Minister and brought shame to all Sabahans. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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As a former Chief Minister he should have shown an exemplary behaviour to the young Sabahans," charged Herbert.
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"Isn't there any good virtue from the heart of a politician, apart from promoting hooliganism?" he asked.