Defiant Isma chief says he was only reminding Chinese of their history

Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman today slammed the DAP for lodging police reports against him, over what he claimed were "historical facts" about the ‎Chinese in Malaysia.

"The DAP should be more democratic. Why am I not allowed to say what I wish? They claim they fight for freedom of speech, but clearly they don't.

"Their actions show they are not gentlemen," a defiant Abdullah Zaik (pic) told The Malaysian Insider today.

He was responding to DAP National Organising Secretary Anthony Loke's remarks that the party would lodge police reports against him nationwide over his statement on the Chinese community.

Earlier today, both the DAP and MCA lodged separate reports against Isma at the Dangi Wangi district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Abdullah Zaik said yesterday the Chinese who came to Malaya were “trespassers” and questioned the citizenship and wealth given to them but did not specify how it proposed to correct this purported wrong.

His remarks sparked outrage among the Chinese community, with politicians across the divide demanding that action be taken against him.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed today that police were probing Abdullah's remarks under the Sedition Act.

Khalid also warned all quarters against making inflammatory remarks.

But Abdullah Zaik today insisted there was no harm in his statement as he was just stating "a historical fact".

"Why should I apologise for what I said? It was a historical fact; the Chinese have forgotten their origins, so I must remind them.

"I refuse to apologise; it is they (the Chinese) who should be mindful of our (the Malays') feelings.

"They shouldn't just count on us Malays to care for their feelings," said Abdullah.

He added that he was unperturbed by the probe initiated against him, and would provide full cooperation to the police.

Yesterday, Abdullah had asked on Isma's website: ‎"Who gave them (the Chinese) citizenship and wealth until the results of their trespassing are protected until this day?

"This was all the doing of the British, who were in cohorts with the Chinese to oppress and bully the Malays."

Abdullah also said this was a mistake which had to be corrected but he did not say how.

"Nobody has the right to mortgage the sovereignty of Islam and the Malays on this land,” he said in a statement posted on Isma’s website yesterday.