CAUGHT ON AUDIO, UMNO DEPUTY MINISTER NOW SAYS THAT SLAP REMARK WAS A JOKE?

Image above: Umno’s Datuk Tajuddin on 'slap' remark

 

Umno’s Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman sought to play off his “slap” remark aimed at ethnic Chinese as just a joke, after an audio recording was uploaded onto the Internet, Sin Chew Daily reported this evening.

The deputy agriculture and agro-based industry minister insisted he had not done anything wrong as the comment was made after his news conference yesterday; and even challenged news portal Malaysiakini — which had uploaded the audio clip — to produce a video recording of him saying it instead.

“Do they have the video? Was I still sitting or standing at that time? Or I was about to leave after saying that?

“It was only a joke and not part of the press conference,” he was quoted as saying by the Chinese-language daily in a report posted on its website in English.

Tajuddin, who received immediate criticism, had initially accused Malaysiakini of misquoting him in its article, which had translated the Bahasa Malaysia portion of his remarks to mean that he was threatening to slap the Chinese.

The Pasir Salak MP also told Sin Chew Daily that he did not fear any disciplinary action from his party over the incident as he had not issued any inappropriate statement in an official capacity.

However, Tajuddin’s off-the-cuff remark appears to have riled up even his political allies in Barisan Nasional (BN), with both MCA and Gerakan saying they will issue a formal protest note and ask the coalition leadership to punish the Perak lawmaker.

“MCA will lodge a formal protest via the BN channel and request that the coalition stops and takes action against such a person who has brought destruction towards national unity.

“We want Tajuddin to apologise to the people of Malaysia for his damaging remark,” MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan in a statement.

Ong ticked off Tajuddin, telling his Umno ally to first check his facts before issuing such reckless comments on Chinese Malaysians.

Tajuddin’s remark was ostensibly in response to a comment by Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang in Petaling Street last week that Beijing would not hesitate to speak out against any threat that may affect the country’s ties with Malaysia, in commenting on the communal tension here.

It seems that the BN leaders can change their stance overnight. Ku Nan defended Tajudin saying that he was misquoted by the media. Now, what do they have to say since there’s proof of what Tajuddin said. Oh…it was only a joke.

So, since it is a joke, so stop talking about this and don’t sensationalize it. These low grade leaders are truly a waste of tax payer’s money.

Contribution

Malaymailonline

KU NAN: TAJUDDIN MISLED BY SOCIAL MEDIA, NO NEED FOR APOLOGY. WHY?

Image above: Umno Secretary General, Tengku Adnan (Ku Nan)

 Umno will not demand its leader Tajuddin Abdul Rahman to apologise to the Chinese community for threatening to slap them, as the remark was uttered due to a miscommunication. Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor told Sin Chew Daily today that Tajuddin was misled by social media and subsequently acted out in anger.

He explained that miscommunication might have caused the deputy agriculture and agro-based industry minister to think local Chinese had sought help from China, which ultimately led to his outburst. The issue of Tajuddin having to apologise does not exist, as this was merely an issue caused by miscommunication, Tengku Adnan (photo) said in the daily's evening edition.

"I can understand his feelings. The same thing happened, when I initially misunderstood China’s ambassador (to Malaysia) Huang Huikang's remark, and I was very mad. "Huang's remark was twisted by DAP leader Ronnie Liu. The envoy never mentioned Chinese Malaysian but citizens of China. The remark was twisted into a diplomatic row," he was quoted in the report.

Huang had visited Petaling Street on the eve of a planned controversial rally, which was aborted. During his walkabout, the envoy said China was against any form of terrorism, racism, and extremism. 'Don't fall into opposition's trap'

Tajuddin's comment came in the wake of a diplomatic row caused by the ambassador’s visit to the popular tourist attraction in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur. The Umno supreme council member told Chinese Malaysians yesterday to stop dreaming that a 'Godfather' from China would come to their aid.
He then issued a 'slap' warning to Chinese Malaysians who complained too much. Tajuddin had declined to apologise to the Chinese community, denying he threatened to slap them, despite an audio recording proving otherwise.

"Let’s not fall into the trap of the opposition, particularly DAP. All must stop the debate; don't make this into a racial issue," the Umno secretary-general told the Chinese language daily."

Image above: MCA president Liow Tiong Lai

Tengku Adnan, who is also BN secretary-general, confirmed that MCA president Liow Tiong Lai  had called him yesterday over the matter.

Tengku Adnan, however, urged both MCA and Gerakan - which protested over Tajuddin's 'lempang' remark - to calm down, be rational, and cease criticising Tajuddin.

Instead, he urged both parties to continue to defend the unity and harmony of the nation and demanded that all BN coalition members to stand together.

He advised them not to be influenced by social media, analyse the situation before making any statement, as this was how Tajuddin was misled and lost his cool.

Big brother supporting small brother when things get out of hand? So, it is okay for UMNO people to say whatever they want, and then say no apologies required? Try if MCA, MIC or any other non-Malay parties to say derogatory or abusive remark and see how things get transformed.

From grassroots until the leaders, everyone will be condemning the remark with some calling for the striping off the ‘datukship’ title, some will ask them to go back to India or China, some will be demand for a public apology, hundreds of NGO from nowhere will make Police reports over the remark made, the clown named Jamal will come with his gang of red shirt honchos who will break bricks and beat themselves up with sticks as a way of saying don’t play with fire, as Malays are fire while some will burn effigies. These loads of rubbish will go on….

Contribution

Mkini