Guan Eng calls Umno man’s bluff, says slurs aimed at all Chinese

Permatang Pauh Umno division chairman Datuk Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said had uttered derogative remarks against the Chinese, and he did it twice, said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Playing a video of Zaidi's controversial speech at last Friday's Umno general assembly today, Lim said the Umno man made the remarks against the Chinese twice without indicating that he meant only "some Chinese".

He was rebutting Zaidi's statement yesterday that he used the words "kadang-kadang" (sometimes) and "segelintir" (a few) in his speech when saying that the Chinese gained wealth and influence from illegal activities in Penang.

"He said 'kekuatan Cina kadang-kadang dijana melalui perniagaan haram' (the strength of the Chinese is sometimes generated through illegal businesses).

"That remark is directed to all the Chinese, not 'segelintir'. With 'kadang-kadang', even if its 50% and not 100% of the time, it still carries the same meaning, having the same effect."

He added that Zaidi's other remark that the Chinese in Penang will fear the Malays if enforcement action was taken against them over illegal activities.

"With that, he had said it twice... it is clear that Zaidi made those remarks. He should not be a coward. Just admit it, if you had said it. If you feel it was wrong, then retract and apologise."

As the clip was played, Zaidi was also heard uttering the word “keling” in his speech, a derogatory word referring to Indians.

Lim said Zaidi should not stir up racial sentiments for the sake of politics, adding that he should also not twist and turn, and try to deny what he had said.

"Here you try to blame others. That is the racist face of Umno," Lim said, referring to Zaidi claiming that his speech was misinterpreted by some media.

Zaidi yesterday called a press conference and told the media that the word “kadang-kadang” was omitted in the reports, causing the news reports to give an "inaccurate picture" of the content of his speech.

He said what he meant was not all the time and not all Chinese were making money and gaining power through illegal means.

"The word 'kadang-kadang' showed that not all (the Chinese in Penang) were like that. In Malay, the word 'kadang-kadang' means very seldom.

"I uttered the word very clearly in my speech... I did not say all the Chinese in Penang. I meant 'kadang-kadang ada segelintir orang Cina di Pulau Pinang' (sometimes some Chinese in Penang) were involved in such activities.

"The word 'kadang-kadang' was omitted in my speech... this shows malicious intention to split the people, cause them to fight," he said.

Zaidi also reportedly said that his speech was directed at raising the issue of weaknesses in the enforcement authorities under both the federal and state governments that did not take action to eradicate illegal businesses like gambling, prostitution and entertainment outlets.

Lim said Zaidi had still made a serious allegation, and if the Umno man has information of the illegal activities, he should have gone to the police with the details.

It was the police's job to go after the people involved in the illegal activities, not the local authorities, he said, adding: "Don't tell me Zaidi as an Umno leader does not even know this. The police is also under the federal government."

"Zaidi wanted to attack me with his allegation but instead, he also attacked the police."

Lim also asked what Barisan Nasional component parties MCA and Gerakan thought of Zaidi's explanation.

"What will they do? Will they still work with Umno? We will also see what the police will do now that police reports have been lodged against Zaidi," he said.

Batu Uban assemblyman Dr T. Jayabalan from PKR and Lim's political secretary and Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai yesterday lodged police reports against Zaidi at the northeast district police headquarters.

After Zaidi's speech, MCA vice-president Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said the party condemned Zaidi in the harshest terms for his false and wild accusations against the Penang Chinese.

She added that Umno must look into it and take action against any of its members, who insult the sensitivities of others, to prevent social unrest that can be caused by extreme views, and to arrest the negative effects on inter-ethnic harmony.

Chew, who also heads Penang MCA, said in a statement on Saturday that it was pathetic Zaidi sought to score cheap political mileage by resorting to rubbish claims of magnifying “vice activities” to slander the Penang Chinese. – December 2, 2014.

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