In Perak, Zambry totters while Ngeh clears the air over Indians remark

As Perak politics turn increasingly chaotic with an implosion imminent at the state Umno division, Perak DAP chairman Ngeh Koo Ham has decided to clear the air once and for all.

After trying to defend Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming for an alleged racial slur, Ngeh found himself in political quicksand over a tweet that supposedly suggested he thought Indians were stupid,

"My tweet says Zambry and MIC must not think that Indians are stupid and can be easily misled by them by claiming that 'black metallic' MB Zambry refers to the Indian race. I am saying Indians are not stupid and not the other around," Ngeh clarified in an SMS to Malaysia Chronicle.

"The word 'they' refers to Vel Paari and Zambry. They are trying to mislead Indians to cover he (Zambry's) illegality. Indians not as stupid as they - which are Vel Paari and Zambry - think."

The tweet

The brouhaha erupted after Ngeh sent this message over his Twitter:

Vel Pari & Zbry play race politics. Alrdy explned Hitam Zambry means illegal Zambry. Try to mislead Indians to cover his illegality. Indians nt as stupid asthey think.

Ngeh declined to comment on the state of politicking in Perak Umno. But the deputy head of Perak PAS Youth Raja Ahmad Al-Hiss has already urged the state Umno leadership to name its candidate for MB.

"Will Tajol Rosli return to head Perak Umno? Or will the deputy chair Ahmad Husni be named to replace Zambry?"Harakahdaily reported Raja Ahmad saying, adding that Prime Minister Najib Razak was still at a loss on who to name as the state chief in the event that BN managed to retain Perak.

Before Nga's apology

As for the alleged slur, to some people, it sounded as if Ngeh meant Indians were not as stupid as Indians thought of themselves. And for this, Ngeh was lambasted and accused of having made a Freudian slip - i.e. that in his private thoughts he did think Indians were stupid.

It must be pointed out that Ngeh's tweet and the subsequent mix-up came before Nga's apology was widely publicized in the papers and the online media. Many accused Ngeh, who is also Nga's cousin, of trying to wriggle out of an unpleasant situation by giving excuses.

However, Nga, a most promising young leader, has in the face of strong criticism done the 'gentlemanly' thing.

Nga apologized to all who might have felt offended with his description of Perak Mentri Besar Zambry Kadir as being a "metallic-black" chief minister, which was widely taken as a reference to Zambry's dark complexion. Nga also apologized to Zambry.

Considering that Zambry - one of the most unpopular figures in Malaysian politics - has been accused of doing his utmost to destroy the justice system in Perak by helping Prime Minister Najib Razak topple the Pakatan Rakyat state government in 2009, this was not at all an easy thing for Kor Ming to do.

Nonetheless, the Taiping MP did it. And it is now Zambry, who is showing a most unpleasant streak with his recent ungracious remark that he had not received a "personal" apology.

"Since when must Kor Ming make a personal apology. He has already tendered a PUBLIC apology and if that is not good enough for Zambry and BN, it shows their low culture. A really no-standards, bankrupt-of-ideas grouping. It is all the more reason for Perakians especially the Indians to avoid the whole Umno-BN gang," PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng toldMalaysia Chronicle.

MCA's hand

Meanwhile, Ngeh too has been slammed for his role and given that Kor Ming has already explained and apologized, it would appear that Umno-BN are intentionally making use of the issue to wallop the cousins.

Already, there is talk that MCA president Chua Soi Lek is hoping to go for an Umno safe seat in Perak.

The MCA is regarded as being on its last legs, politically. It is highly unlikely Soi Lek could win in any Chinese-dominated constituency in any state especially Perak, and he would have to supplant one of the Umno assemblymen if he were to stand any chance at all.

On the other hand, both Ngeh and Nga have been consolidating their influence in Perak. Both men are capable leaders, who were instrumental in winning Perak for the Pakatan Rakyat in the 2008 general election.

Thus, the 'black-metallic' issue may have seemed like a 'God-sent' to Soi Lek, desperate for a foothold into the consciousness of the Perak people.

Nga and Ngeh have worked hard

In 2009, Najib was accused of 'buying' over three defectors - two from PKR and one from DAP - to wrest control of the state assembly. Najib also had the help of the Perak Palace in the dastardly coup d'etat, which was roundly condemned as a constitutional crisis and held up as a casebook study on how the law can be twisted by a government colluding with the judiciary.

While Nga and Ngeh were blamed for antagonizing Jelapang assemblywoman Hee Yit Foong into switching allegiance, the fact remains that Hee has also been accused of having received ample 'compensation' for agreeing to become a BN-friendly independent representative.

The latest polls show that chances are high Perakians will vote for Pakatan in the next general election, widely expected to be called in 2012. Hence the redoubled efforts by BN to come after Ngeh and Nga, whose networking and rapport amongst the Perak people, are well known.

"Both men have worked hard. If Nga made a mistake, he has apologized loud and clear and he should be allowed to move on. If not, then, those who keep criticizing must have ulterior motives of their own. As for Ngeh, it is another very unfortunate incident and this happens when emotions run high," said Jui Meng.

"But if I am not mistaken, Ngeh took the trouble to learn Tamil. He can speak it, so this is why his Indian colleagues didn't doubt what he meant. They know he is not a racist and once Nga apologized, both he and Pakatan should not be seen to be racist anymore. This is just as important - not only to apologize but also to be seen to apologize is important. Wrongdoing, if wrongdoing there has been, must always be acknowledged."

Overly 'arrogant' Zambry to be shown the door

Within BN, there are already strong signs that Zambry will be dumped as Mentri Besar even if BN retains Perak.

Zambry has been accused of alienating land for Umno-linked cronies and recently tabled another deficit budget for Perak, proposing to spend RM915 million based on 'forecast' and 'assumed' revenue of RM865 million.

The BN media labelled it as a budget to bring 'smiles to the Perak people', but many Perakians fear Zambry and Umno were just spending as much as possible in case they lost the state government to the Pakatan Rakyat once again in the next election.

Zambry has also been unable to unite the state after the messy Perak power grab, with legislative assembly sessions so heavily guarded that debates have practically ground to a standstill. Indeed, he has been fighting fire after fire not just with the Pakatan, but also with his own Umno colleagues who dislike his brash manner.

Many in Umno Perak prefer former MB, Tajol Rosli to be made chief minister again if BN holds onto power.

There is also talk that Zahid Hamidi, a federal minister and Umno vice president might be put in charge of the state in a major bid by Najib to stop the implosion in Perak Umno.

Another contender is said to be Second Finance Minister, Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah, who is known to be close to Najib.

Malaysia Chronicle