Ahmad In Hot Soup!!

Monday September 1, 2008 MYT 3:33:45 PM

Police reports lodged against Ahmad

By BERNARD SEE and STEVEN DANIEL

(The Star) GEORGE TOWN: Komtar assemblyman Ng We Aik has lodged a police report against Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail, who allegedly called the Chinese pendatang (immigrants) during a ceramah in Permatang Pauh on Aug 25.

Ng said Ahmad's statement had hurt the feelings of all Malaysian-Chinese in the country and he should not be let off with just a light slap on the wrist.

"The DAP wants Umno leaders to take stern action against him; moreover, the police should also investigate him under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948.

"DAP divisions in Selangor, Perak, Negri Sembilan and Malacca have been told to lodge police reports against Ahmad, whose statement is liable to cause disharmony in a united society," he told reporters after a lodging a report at the Patani Road police station on Monday with Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N Rayer, DAP national Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Bukit Mertajam chief Tan Khong Chong and Dapsy national executive committee member Teh Lai Heng.

Rayer said that while the DAP supports freedom of speech, this did not mean that one could make statements that insulted other races.

"We had asked Ahmad to retract his statement and issue an apology but till now he just kept quiet about it. He has also been missing and no one has seen him over the past few days," Rayer said.

A police spokesman said the report would be handed over to the Bukit Mertajam investigating officer for further action.

In PETALING JAYA, Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San also lodged a police report, accompanied by DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua, Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu and several supporters.

Lau said Ahmad should apologise and retract his statement, and also urged the party whip to take disciplinary action against Ahmad as a lesson that seditious remarks which could destabilise the country's unity would not be tolerated.

"I also urge the police to conduct their own investigations into this matter and I hope appropriate action would be taken against him to quell the anger of the people," Lau said.

Monday September 1, 2008 MYT 3:38:52 PM

MCA Fong: It's seditious! (Updated)

By SIM LEOI LEOI and ANN TAN

(The SPUTRAJAYA: MCA vice-president Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn has joined the chorus condemning Datuk Ahmad Ismail for his racist remarks, saying that the Barisan Nasional government should consider the possibility of charging the Bukit Bendera Umno division chief with sedition.

He said this was because Ahmad had touched on the issue of citizenship involving non-Malays in the country.

“The matter of citizenship for non-Malays should not be questioned, just as some religious issues should not be called into dispute.

“An apology from Ahmad is not enough. A sedition charge should be considered against him,” he said here on Monday.

Dr Fong said this was the sentiment of most the MCA grassroots as many felt that such remarks from Umno leaders and members were “occurring too often.”

“They are very offended," he said, on reports that Ahmad had allegedly called the Chinese pendatang (immigrants) at a ceramah (political address) during the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign recently.

The remarks came to light after they were widely reported in Chinese newspapers.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had said he would tell Ahmad not to repeat such remarks and that he (Abdullah) did not think Ahmad meant what he said.

However, other Barisan leaders had called for stricter action to be taken against Ahmad.

Dr Fong said it was not enough for Abdullah to merely tell Ahmad not to repeat such statements because “the latter obviously meant what he said”.

“He uttered these remarks during a ceramah in front of the Deputy Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak). I will bring this matter up at the next MCA central committee meeting,” he said.

In GEORGE TOWN, Bukit Gelugor MCA division youth chairman Koh Wan Leong said the state government should strip Ahmad of his Datukship.

Koh called on the Yang diPertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas to do so as a lesson and reminder to others not to make remarks on sensitive issues that could provoke racial sentiment.

"The state government, as a responsible new government, should take action against him because he doesn't deserve the Datukship.

"Ahmad should also apologise openly to all the Chinese in Malaysia," Koh said at a press conference on Monday.

He also urged the Prime Minister, as the country's leader and Umno president, to take disciplinary action against Ahmad, reminding Abdullah of his National Day message that Malaysia can again overcome any test it is currently facing if "we stand together and work hand in hand."

PM too weak to chastise, says Klang MP

By Adib Zalkapli

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 — The DAP’s Charles Santiago today described Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s refusal to take stern action against Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail as a sign of his weakened position in the party.

Ahmad, during the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign, had allegedly called the Chinese immigrants and do not have the right to demand equality.

On Saturday, the Umno president said he would tell Ahmad not to repeat his remark, adding that did not think Ahmad meant what he said.

“Abdullah is not able to severely reprimand Ahmad as he fears a further backlash from party members during the upcoming Umno division elections. The premier wants to keep his job at whatever cost and at the expanse of further alienating the people,” said Santiago in a statement.

He added that the ruling coalition and Abdullah have not learnt from the lessons of March 8 and the Permatang Pauh by-election where the people rejected race-based politics.

"If Abdullah is sincere about promoting racial unity in the country he must take strict disciplinary action against Ahmad. Whether or not Abdullah is able to do that would candidly reflect the premier’s commitment, if any, to nation building and being the Prime Minister of all Malaysians,” said the Klang MP.

Abdullah’s stand on the issue, added Santiago, also contradicts the premier's National Day message where he urged Malaysians to maintain racial unity.

PKR’s Amirudin Shari said that Abdullah failure to reprimand Ahmad proves that the Barisan Nasional’s divide-and-rule formula no longer work. “They should stop saying different things to different group. Such practice will only breed extremism,” said the Batu Caves assemblyman.

He also urged the police to investigate Ahmad as reports have been lodged. “I hope the police will be fair in their investigation, and if there is a case, Ahmad should be charged,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

The BN candidate for the Permatang Pauh by-election, Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, refused to directly comment on Ahmad’s alleged statement, leaving it to national Umno leaders to decide on Ahmad, but stressed that the loyalty of Malaysian citizens should not be questioned.

“We have been independent for 51 years and it is very important for us to respect each other as Malaysian citizens. That should not be questioned,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

He added that his campaign had refrained from manipulating racial issues.

“I did not hear what he said, maybe his remark was misinterpreted. But let it be investigated,” he said on the police reports lodged by MCA Youth and Gerakan Youth against Ahmad.

On whether he would be meeting Ahmad to get clarification, he said there was no need for him to do so. “I am just a grassroots leader. Let the national leaders handle this issue,” said Arif Shah.

Ahmad could not be reached for comment.