Komtar rep apologises for conduct, still denies slur

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 14 — Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik apologised today to an Indian-Muslim shop owner for offending him during a recent tiff, but maintained he had not told the latter to “balik india”.

Ng told The Malaysian Insider that he had delivered his apology directly to Syed Kassali Mohammed Aliyar during a visit to his restaurant on Gat Lebuh Macallum here this morning.

The assemblyman, however, insisted that his apology did not mean he admitted to uttering the derogatory “balik India” remark.

“I apologised for my behaviour during the incident as certain parties had deemed my actions as inappropriate.

“But I maintain that I did not tell the owner to ‘balik India’, despite what has been claimed,” he said.

Ng added that he had issued letters of demand yesterday to Syed Kassali, Malaysian Indian-Muslim Congress (Kimma) Penang Liaison Committee chairman Faruk Raja Mohamed and Kimma itself for accusing him of uttering racial slurs.

“I sent the letters yesterday and they have been given a week to explain themselves and to retract their accusations,” he said.

He, however, would not say if he would press on with his threat to sue the parties for defamation if they failed to respond to his letter.

Ng admitted that it had been “unnecessary” for him to have accompanied officials from the Penang Municipal Council on an enforcement exercise to Syed Kassali’s premises two weeks ago.

The action was triggered after the restaurant’s practice of placing chairs and tables on the five-foot way was blamed for an accident between two cars nearby, earlier in the day.

The incident later resulted in a tiff involving Ng, the officials and Syed Kassali, leading to allegations that the former had spoken rudely to the shop owner and had told him to “balik India”.

Utusan Malaysia daily last week quoted Syed Kassali as saying that Ng had behaved like a “samseng (thug)” when he allegedly barged into the restaurant without introducing himself before slapping the arm of a worker.

“I promise that from now on, I will not accompany council officials during such duties at it is deemed as unfit for me to do so,” Ng said today.

He added that he had consulted with the Penang state government, including Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, prior to issuing his apology.

“I am not succumbing to political pressure but the reason for my apology is that I do not want to prolong this issue any further.

“I spoke to the chief minister and he approved of my action, so long as we maintain our stand that I had not uttered racial slurs during the incident,” he said.

Ng added that his about-turn today had been initiated by Penang PKR Youth leaders, who acted as mediators in the incident.

In a media statement, Penang PKR Youth chief Mohd Amir Ghazali said that in the spirit of comradeship, it was important that all parties closed ranks to prevent the issue from being prolonged.

“What is important is that we maintain close ties between the state government and the Indian Muslim community in Penang.

“We want to ensure that the state government’s efforts in protecting the rights of all traders in Penang are upheld.

“We also want to maintain the spirit of comradeship between all parties in Pakatan Rakyat,” he said.

Mohd Amir explained that the Penang PKR Youth had held a meeting with Ng on the matter and it was agreed that the latter should apologise for offending Syed Kassali.

“Ng has also apologised if he had offended the feelings of Syed Kassali himself, his family members as well as his friends during the night of the incident,” he said.

The Malaysian Insider understands, however, that despite Ng’s apology, a planned protest by a group of Indian Muslims is expected to proceed at 2pm today. - Malaysian Insider