'Racist speeches' led to bigger Pakatan win in Johor

JOHOR ASSEMBLY Chaos erupted in the Johor state assembly sitting today when representatives from both sides of the divide began calling each other racist.

This happened after Rasman Ithnain (Umno-Sedili) alleged that the opposition's historical breakthrough in Johor during the May 5 general election was because it was able to sell its “racist speeches”.

He was responding to Liow Cai Tung (DAP-Johor Jaya), who had complimented Pakatan Rakyat yesterday for winning more popular votes than BN in the recently-concluded general election.

“I would like to suggest to Johor Jaya, since she talked about popular votes, to please check how many votes PKR had lost in Sedili. I want to challenge DAP to contest in my area,” Rasman said when debating the motion of thanks on the royal address this afternoon.

He said it is very important to take care of the feeling of Malays, Chinese and Indians as Malaysia is a multiracial country.

“If my wife allows, I would like to marry one Chinese, (and) one Indian. Altogether three people, this is 1Malaysia.

“But because of the attitude of the opposition, when they say such things, it is not racist. But if we say it, it is racist.

“This is what had happened and how they won 14 seats because they sell their racist speeches,” he said, although in actual fact, Pakatan had won five parliamentary and eighteen state seats in Johor.

'Chinese richer than Malays'

Citing the list of top ten richest people in Malaysia, Rasman also said Malaysian Chinese are richer than the Malays in the country.

At this point, Tan Hong Pin (DAP-Mengkibol, left) stood up to argue that Rasman has violated the standing order.

“It says that a member of this house cannot negatively paint another member. But what Sedili alleged, (it is) as if he is saying Johor Jaya is racist,” said the state DAP Socialist Youth chief.

Joining the fray was Johor DAP chairperson Dr Boo Cheng Hau (DAP-Skudai) who criticised Rasman's remarks on rich Chinese, deeming it racist.

This prompted another round of arguments between the two sides.

Boo: He (Rasman) was insinuating the Chinese. Our country had gained independence for more than 50 years, and we still have people like this.

Rasman: You are the racist one, and don't accuse people (of being) racist.

Tan: You (Rasman) don't accuse other people.

Rasman: This is a fact.

This prompted Johor deputy speaker Baderi Dasuki to interject, upon which he said that the issue of the top ten richest people in Malaysia, as cited by Rasman, was a fact that had been announced before.

The 10-minute episode ended with Rasman and Boo challenging each other to contest in their constituencies.