GEORGE TOWN: Two journalists have called for the disqualification of Abu Backer Sidik Mohamad Zan from the Bukit Gelugor by-election, accusing him insulting Malaysia’s Indian community with a racist remark.The two, employed by Tamil dailies Puthiya Paraval and Makkal Osai, lodged a police report this afternoon alleging that Backer displayed his insensitivity to ethnic sentiments by using the word “pariah” during a press conference this morning.
They urged the police to investigate him for sedition and called on the Election Commission to disqualify him as a candidate in the May 25 poll.
Backer is one of two independent candidates fighting against DAP and Parti Cinta Malaysia.
During the press conference, the two reporters protested against his use of “pariah” in a tirade against activist lawyer and former Bersih leader S Ambiga. They told him the expression was taboo to Malaysian Tamils.
Backer retorted that he was referring only to Ambiga and was expressing his displeasure with her for leading street demonstrations.
He alleged that many other people had called Ambiga a “pariah” for staging protests against the Barisan Nasional government.
The reporters were not pacified and demanded that he apologise and retract his statement.Backer, who is a lawyer, said he had used the word before in Bar Council meetings and saw no reason to apologise.
Some Pakatan Rakyat members joined the shouting match and also demanded an apology, but Backer insisted that he was not a racist and was seeking election in order to fight for the wellbeing of all Malaysians.
“What Abu Backer said was uncalled for and can cause public disorder, disharmony and disunity,” one of the reporters said after lodging the report at the Lebuh Pantai police station here.
“He may have been attacking Ambiga, but he has insulted Indians. He should be disqualified from the by-election and charged under the Sedition Act.”
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