Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer says ‘celaka’ is a common word and should be taken in jest. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, May 22, 2014.Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer, who sparked a massive protest by saying "celaka Umno" which saw the Penang legislative assembly being intruded for the first time in history yesterday, said "celaka" is a common word and should be taken in jest.
The lawyer from DAP said when he uttered the remark in the assembly on Tuesday, he wanted to say "damn it" but he could not use the expression in English.
He could only speak in Bahasa in the House so he used the Malay translation for it, which is "celaka".
"Next time, I will just say 'damn it'," he told reporters.
His remark, however, caused a storm among Umno members who threatened to disrupt the assembly again today but was stopped by police.
The spillover effect from Rayer's statement almost saw the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur being set ablaze by an angry mob of about 50 Umno members.
Malaysiakini reported that Federal Territory Umno Youth members staged a protest outside the DAP headquarters and threatened to burn the building but were stopped by the light strike force and the police.
The police also prevented the protesters from tearing down a billboard featuring the DAP's Rocket logo.
The protesters came armed with banners, which among others, described Rayer as "anak haram" (illegitimate child) and an "idiot".
Another banner read: "Jangan biarkan celaka bertukar menjadi malapetaka" (Don't let the celaka insult turn into a catastrophe).
Rayer, who is the most vocal assemblyman in the house, said worst words had been uttered in the house before, even during the previous term when he had arguments with former opposition leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim.
"But we never got into the stage of fighting. Take it in jest la," he said, adding that he was called “anak haram” and “pariah” which were even more demeaning.
During a state assembly sitting, BN's Sungai Acheh rep Datuk Mahmud Zakaria also called Rayer “haram jadah” out of anger over the issue. He later said he was sorry about it.
Rayer said he never “damned” the entire Umno party but only used the word at three particular Umno reps, who were part of a rally in Seberang Jaya on January 18 organised to protest against Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon who did the “I love Kangkung” flash mob that allegedly insulted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The three leaders were Kepala Batas MP Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahya and Penang Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir, who all made fiery speeches at the rally attended by hundreds of people.
At the rally, protestors also condemned the DAP, and held up a banner that read “Because of DAP's leaders’ mouth, May 13, 1969 happened... Want some more?”
Rayer said he never insulted Malays although his remark had been twisted by some people to make it seem that way.
He also maintained that he would not apologise or retract his remark because what he said was based on facts and he felt strongly about it.
"I brought up the issue because of the hurtful sentiments raised in that rally. I would not simply say a thing like that. Otherwise, you can send me to Tanjung Rambutan," he said, referring to a Perak town known for its psychiatric institution, Hospital Bahagia.
He added that his detractors would not debate with him, but preferred to keep on attacking him so that he would retract the remark.
The two-term rep said he was shocked with what had happened yesterday when the mob stormed the assembly building, slipped past security and the police, entered the House and caused a ruckus while looking for him.
Rayer was out of the assembly building at the time. He said he was informed by state exco and Datuk Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo's aide of what had happened and warned him not to attend the afternoon sitting.
Rayer said there was no way he could have confronted the mob in such a situation.
"I really feared for my life. It was the first time something like this has happened to me," he said, adding that he had also lodged a police report.
He also said he believed the whole episode was also planned because of the ongoing Bukit Gelugor and Teluk Intan by-elections because Pakatan Rakyat has been making inroads into Malay areas.
"Like Dyana for example. She is gaining Malay support so I believe they are trying to influence Malays there by doing this," he said, referring to DAP's candidate in Teluk Intan Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud.
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