GEORGE TOWN: The “Ng Wei Aik” racial controversy must serve as a political lesson for DAP elected representatives, DAP national chairman Karpal Singh said.
He called on the party elected representatives not to get overzealous or over-step their legal boundary when carrying out their duties.
Referring to the recent racial storm involving Komtar assemblyman Ng, Karpal admitted that the controversy could have been avoided if Ng had not got actively involved in the local council enforcement operations.
“I think he was overzealous. But I also think that he had no ill-intention.
“I am sure that he would not have uttered the racist remark he was accused of,” Karpal told a press conference in Air Itam here today.
However, he said the DAP would not hesitate to take action against Ng if anyone can produce evidence to show that he had made such a remark.
However, Karpal, the Bukit Gelugor MP, said the Ng’s episode was a lesson to be learnt by all party elected representatives.
“Elected representatives shall refrain from getting actively involved in council enforcement raids, especially when public officers are around.
“Elected representatives can be present at the scene but not as active participants,” said Karpal.
The embattled Ng was accused of uttering a racist remark against the workers of Restoran Nasi Kandar Mohammed Aliyar in Gat Lebuh Macallum during a council raid on Jan 2.
Ng was alleged to have uttered “tutup kedai, balik India” (close shop and go back to India) against the restaurant workers.
The controversy caused a political storm with Indian community groups, including Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma) and Suara Anak-Anak Mamak Pulau Pinang, which staged street protests against Ng.
They have demanded for his apology and some sought his resignation as Komtar assemblyman.
On Friday, Ng apologised to restaurant owner Syed Kassali Mohammed Aliyar, his family, workers and friends if he had uttered an unwarranted remark during the raid.
His apology was accepted by Kimma but not Suara Anak-Anak Mamak, whose chairman Mohamed Ghani Abdul Jiman has called on Ng to resign and pave the way for a by-election in Komtar constituency.
Karpal believes that Ng, who is Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s political secretary, would not have uttered the racist remark simply because he hailed from DAP.
“DAP is a party that always despises racism and racist remarks.
“I am sure a DAP representative would not utter such words,” he said, adding that Ng’s public apology should put the issue to rest. -FMT
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