DAP rep gets support from Kimma

Embattled Komtar rep Ng Wei Aik receives a timely boost when Indian Muslims accepted his apology.

GEORGE TOWN: The embattled Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik received a timely boost today when Indian Muslim community leaders here, including from Kimma, accepted his public apology over his unwanted role in a recent “racial” storm.

Both Kimma (Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress) state liaison committee chairman Faruk V Raju Mohamed and past founding president Badrul Zaman both praised Ng for his guts to own up to his responsibility and apologise over the incident.

In the incident that happened during a local council enforcement raid against a nasi kandar restaurant here on Jan 2, Ng was alleged to have uttered a racist remark “tutup kedai, balik India” (close shop and go back to India) against the restaurant workers.

Ng, however, denied saying it and maintained his innocence.

At a separate press conferences today, both Faruk and Badrul agreed that Ng’s open apology over the controversy was enough to end any debate on the issue.

Faruk said he was happy that Ng met the Jan 14 dateline given by Kimma to apologise to the Restoran Nasi Kandar Mohammed Aliyar owner Syed Kassali Mohammed Aliyar.

Last Friday, Kimma staged a mass protest at Komtar against Ng and handed over a memorandum to the Chief Minister’s office demanding the Komtar rep apologise.

Yesterday, Ng, who is Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s political secretary, expressed regrets to Syed Kassali, his family and friends if he had uttered any unwarranted remarks during the raid.

“Ng’s apology should end the public row. Everyone should now work towards forging stronger working ties,” Faruk said in a statement after a meeting at the Penang Muslim League building in Little India today.

‘Close ranks’

Later, Badrul urged all parties to stop passing judgment on Ng since he has tendered his apology.

“Everyone should stop these unhealthy activities as it will only stir up racial sentiments. We must now close ranks for mutual benefits,” Badrul said at Ng’s service centre.

Jelutong PKR division chief Shahul Hameed Mohd Ishack was also present.

Although Ng had apologised, the ad hoc Suara Anak-Anak Mamak Pulau Pinang chairman Mohamed Ghani Abdul Jiman refused to accept it.

Yesterday, the group held a mini protest at the entrance to the government offices in Komtar, demanding Ng resign his assemblyman seat.

The group warned it would hold a mass protest on the first day of Chinese New Year celebration on Feb 3 if he refused to step down.

Ghani said that he would like to stand for election in an event of a by-election in Komtar.

But Ng brushed aside Ghani’s demand, saying that he would not entertain quit calls from ‘bogus politicians”.

Shahul Hameed also dismissed Ghani’s action as a gimmick.

He said that Ghani would not get even 100 votes if he stood as a candidate.

He, however, advised Ng not to overstep his legal boundary by getting involved in council operations.

“Ng must know that he is a people’s and not a council representative,” he said. - FMT