PKR's Chap Goh Meh event emcee cries '1Malaysia!'

The recent Chap Goh Meh quarter-marathon in Jawi on mainland Penang organised by PKR started off on the wrong foot, with the BN questioning its timing for clashing with a tradition dubbed as the ‘Chinese Valentine's Day'.

But worse still, during the run last Sunday, all those present were shocked to hear the emcee shouted "1Malaysia", the slogan coined by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to promote his concept of unity among the various races in the country.

Pakatan Rakyat has avoided using the slogan as the opposition coalition does not want to be seen endorsing BN's version of superficial unity.

"How can a state event overseen by Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman (right) be organised in such a careless manner?" asked a source who told Malaysiakini about the incident.

"The organisers of the event headed by Mansor's personal aide Izad Buqhary Mohd Kamri did not even bother to hold a rehearsal to prepare for the event," the source claimed.

The source said the incident appeared to have been planned to "sabotage" PKR and Mansor, who is the party's Penang chief, and this has brought "embarrassment and shame" to the latter.

'Emcee is our man'

Malaysiakini yesterday contacted Mansor, who was in Shah Alam for the Pakatan convention, but has yet to obtain a response from him.

Izad when contacted yesterday denied that the emcee uttered the "1Malaysia" slogan, arguing that "it did not happen like that as he is our man".

He declined to comment further, only adding that his team was awaiting Mansor's return from Shah Alam to deal with the matter. A statement would be issued then.

Asked about the lack of planning, including not having held a rehearsal before the event, Izad said, "I admit, that is true."

It is learnt that an internal investigation may be carried out after a post-mortem on the event when Mansor is back from Selangor.

According to a report in Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau yesterday, the incident was "a trap" set by pro-BN supporters to embarrass Penang PKR.
The daily said the emcee shouted "Salam 1Malaysia" and played the 1Malaysia song, drawing ironic laughter from the run participants and others who were present.

Nanyang added that Mansor, who was present at the event, was visibly angered by the incident and had ordered an internal probe.

Izad was also quoted by Nanyang as saying that PKR would not rule out that it had unwittingly fallen into a "trap" set by pro-BN supporters.