Sunday June 29, 2008 MYT 5:02:43 PM

BN assemblyman slammed over racial slur

IPOH: The racial slur by a Barisan Nasional assemblyman continued to receive flak from various quarters, including Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang calling for a public apology over the statement.

Lim said Perak Barisan Nasional whip Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali should tender an open apology for the statement by Sungai Rapat Hamidah Osman at the Perak state assembly recently.

On Friday, Hamidah was reported to have asked Speaker V. Sivakumar if he "agreed to disagree" with a saying of whether a snake or an Indian should be killed first.

However, she retracted her words when Tajol Rosli asked her to do so.

Lim, when opening the Buntong DAP service centre here on Sunday, said her statement showed the mentality of Barisan assemblymen.

“She humiliated Indians," he said, adding that Barisan should resume full responsibility for what had happened.

Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, who also attended the Buntong function, said Indians were “aggrieved” with what had transpired at the Perak state assembly.

“The MIC should be ashamed of what has happened and pull out of Barisan,” he said, adding that Hamidah’s statement was not good for nation building.

It also showed the arrogance and childish behaviour of Barisan assemblymen, he said.

Meanwhile, Buntong Jaya Parti Keadilan Rakyat branch chief M. A. Tinagaran said Hamidah’s statement had left an emotional scar on Indians.

“We are not happy and we want her to apologise publicly in all major dailies,” he said, adding that Tajol Rosli should also take disciplinary action against her. Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng concurred, saying Hamidah should be punished severely for her degrading remark.

He said Umno must take stern disciplinary action against Hamidah if the party did not share the same views as her.

“I find this shocking, especially when it (the utterance) came out from an assemblyman. The comment is clearly unacceptable.

“She is a disgrace to all wakil rakyat (people’s representatives). When we talk about peace, living harmoniously and cooperation among all races in the country, she talks about killing. The remark showed she is not fit to be a wakil rakyat,” he said after launching a children’s play camp at SJK (C) Shang Wu on Sunday.

Guan Eng said a leader must show good example by showering love and giving hope to the people.

“I have received many SMSes and the Indian community has expressed its disappointment. The people are very angry and outraged.

“We are Malaysians. We must show compassion to each other regardless of race, religion, gender and political affiliation,” he said.