Gerakan seeks BN censure of Umno MP

Abdul Ghapur of Kalabakan made insulting remarks yesterday, says Simpang Renggam’s Liang.

KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan is asking the Barisan Nasional leadership to punish an Umno MP over a perceived insult made in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Simpang Renggam MP Liang Teck Meng told reporters today that he had complained to Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin about Kalabakan MP Abdul Ghapur Salleh’s remarks regarding Gerakan’s attempt to have a presence in Sabah.

According to Hansard records, Abdul Ghapur (photo), while speaking on the 2012 Budget, said:

“Gerakan has had its roots pulled out of the peninsula. And now it wants to settle in Sabah. The Chinese in Sabah say, ‘If the peninsular rejects Gerakan, then why does BN want to give that stupid Chinese man a chance to put candidates in Sabah?’”

He was referring to Gerakan President Koh Tsu Koon and the party’s poor showing in the 2008 election.

“It may be his personal opinion,” Liang said, “but he has not only damaged Umno’s image, but also that of Gerakan, and damaged the relationship within the BN component parties.”

Abdul Ghapur also alleged that Gerakan had paid people to attend the inauguration of a party office in Tawau.

“Two weeks ago, the Gerakan president went to Tawau, officiated a Gerakan office. And it was full of people who were paid RM300 each,” he said.

He complained that some Umno members had to attend the ceremony.

“If it was just the Chinese, then there’d be nothing wrong, but Umno members from Tawau and Kalabakan were also brought along. This is shameful.”

Leaving it to the BN whip

None of the MPs from BN stood up yesterday to defend Gerakan or censure Abdul Ghapur.

Liang (photo) told reporters his party was asking Muhyiddin in his capacity as the BN whip to take action against Abdul Ghapur.

However, he declined to say what Gerakan would do if the Kalabakan MP was not punished.

“I have already submitted to the DPM,” he said. “He is the whip. I will leave it to him.”