Under fire for calling the state opposition leader a “racist grandmother", Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has apologised, however, only for use of the word “grandmother”.
Lim (left) said he is maintaining his description of Jahara Hamid as “racist” as he said the former had been playing with the "fires of hatred in race and religion".
Jahara, he said, had lied when she claimed he had approved the name change of Pulau Jerejak to Mazhu Island, after a Chinese deity, because he approved the temple.
“If Jahara feels personally offended for my calling her a racist grandmother because it relates to her gender, then I will simply call her a racist. I will apologise for the word grandmother.
“These lies (allegedly by Jahara) plays up religious sentiments of a non-existent Mazhu Island," he said in a statement today.
The DAP secretary-general claimed another lie told by Jahara was when she had questioned the state’s inaction against four illegal Chinese stalls in Pantai Bersih, near Butterworth.
He claimed she had deliberately failed to mention the fact that no action was also take against several illegal Malay stalls in the same area.
“Clearly there was no double standard as claimed (by Jahara). The Penang government will not keep quiet against these lies intended to create hatred between our multireligious and multiracial society,” Lim said.
Will wait at state assembly for apology
He was responding to Jahara's demand for him to apologise to her and all grandmothers as his remark had “elements of sexism” and had “lowered her dignity”.
Jahara also said she was "upset and angry" over the remark as Lim had also undermined the dignity of the CM's chair.
She continued to lament that she was being stopped from raising the grievances of the rakyat in the state assembly.
In an immediate response, Jahara said she will wait for Lim to enter the state assembly hall to seek his apology in person.
Asked if she accepts the apology, she said she will issue a statement during assembly proceedings.
"I did not say Lim approved the change name of Pulau Jerejak to Mazhu Island. I only asked if the name was changed," she added.
Several women’s groups have today ticked off Lim for his choice of words, which they deemed “disrespectful” and “sexist”.
Joining Lim in receiving the tongue lashings is Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) lecturer Ridhuan Tee, who had yesterday called Seputeh MP Teresa Kok an “ultra-kiasu spinster” after she questioned why he alleged teaches “ethnic cleansing”.
Lim (left) said he is maintaining his description of Jahara Hamid as “racist” as he said the former had been playing with the "fires of hatred in race and religion".Jahara, he said, had lied when she claimed he had approved the name change of Pulau Jerejak to Mazhu Island, after a Chinese deity, because he approved the temple.
“If Jahara feels personally offended for my calling her a racist grandmother because it relates to her gender, then I will simply call her a racist. I will apologise for the word grandmother.
“These lies (allegedly by Jahara) plays up religious sentiments of a non-existent Mazhu Island," he said in a statement today.
The DAP secretary-general claimed another lie told by Jahara was when she had questioned the state’s inaction against four illegal Chinese stalls in Pantai Bersih, near Butterworth.
He claimed she had deliberately failed to mention the fact that no action was also take against several illegal Malay stalls in the same area.
“Clearly there was no double standard as claimed (by Jahara). The Penang government will not keep quiet against these lies intended to create hatred between our multireligious and multiracial society,” Lim said.
Will wait at state assembly for apology
He was responding to Jahara's demand for him to apologise to her and all grandmothers as his remark had “elements of sexism” and had “lowered her dignity”.
Jahara also said she was "upset and angry" over the remark as Lim had also undermined the dignity of the CM's chair.
She continued to lament that she was being stopped from raising the grievances of the rakyat in the state assembly.
In an immediate response, Jahara said she will wait for Lim to enter the state assembly hall to seek his apology in person.
Asked if she accepts the apology, she said she will issue a statement during assembly proceedings.
"I did not say Lim approved the change name of Pulau Jerejak to Mazhu Island. I only asked if the name was changed," she added.
Several women’s groups have today ticked off Lim for his choice of words, which they deemed “disrespectful” and “sexist”.
Joining Lim in receiving the tongue lashings is Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) lecturer Ridhuan Tee, who had yesterday called Seputeh MP Teresa Kok an “ultra-kiasu spinster” after she questioned why he alleged teaches “ethnic cleansing”.
Inside the assembly hall, Jahara expressed dissatisfaction with Lim’s apology, saying that the remark was “extreme and humiliating”.
She added that Lim acted “unprofessionally” and the remark was a personal attack against her.
“I am proud to be a grandmother, an active politician, and a five-term assemblywoman,” said Jahara,62, who has seven grandchildren.
Jahara denied being racist or a liar, saying that her questions about the alleged renaming of Pulau Jerejak and the selective action against illegal businesses were based on truth and written statements issued by the state government.
“It is not something that I created. So I want him to apologise and retract his remark that I am a racist.”
She added that Lim acted “unprofessionally” and the remark was a personal attack against her.
“I am proud to be a grandmother, an active politician, and a five-term assemblywoman,” said Jahara,62, who has seven grandchildren.
Jahara denied being racist or a liar, saying that her questions about the alleged renaming of Pulau Jerejak and the selective action against illegal businesses were based on truth and written statements issued by the state government.
“It is not something that I created. So I want him to apologise and retract his remark that I am a racist.”
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