DAP's Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has been urged to apologise for holding a demonstration at Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur last week, which allegedly disrupted a wedding held nearby.
The bridal party said the shouting match happened after the demonstrators refused to budge, despite knowing a wedding was being held, but Kok said the incident flared up after Umno members joined the fray.
"As a local resident, I urge Kok apologise to the bride's family for her rudeness and that of the DAP supporters who do not understand the sensitivity of others.
"It is not difficult for a Malaysian to understand how to respect the customs of others. As an elected representative, Kok must apologise to the family and vow never to disrupt someone else's event or customs," Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Razlan Rafii said in a statement.
However, Kok said she was not there to disrupt a wedding.
“Why would anyone accuse me of disturbing a wedding ceremony? I’m not crazy, I know what I’m doing,” Kok told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.
She said the demonstration was held there because the high-rise development the residents were opposing was to be located at the community centre.
The protest was held across the street, opposite the entrance to the smaller building of the community centre, next to the community centre hall where the wedding was taking place.
Shouting match
In the footage of the incident circulating online, the demonstrators were seen carrying a banner to protest development in the area.
However, a woman who claimed to be the bride's aunt, told the demonstrators to stop as a wedding was proceeding nearby.
"Please do it tomorrow, there is a wedding there, please respect us," the woman said in a high pitch, while pointing to the wedding.
The woman also said it was embarrassing for the hosts because guests were all asking about the demonstration.
A protestor, however, told her that the group had already called the press to cover the protest and could not postpone the event.
The protestor also reassured the woman, who appeared distressed, that they did not intend to cause trouble.
Another man is also heard, shouting: "We are 1Malaysia. Don't do this. This is our country; one country, one heart, one blood. But don't look for trouble!"
The man also questioned why a protestor was carrying a placard with the American flag on it, only to be told it was an underside of a recycled placard.
The front of the placard read: "Bersama melestarikan Kuala Lumpur" (Let's together make Kuala Lumpur sustainable).
'Distressed wedding guests'
In another video, a woman believed to be the mother of the bride, said the demonstration had distressed wedding guests.
Copies of the videos had gone viral online, with titles accusing Kok of being insolent and disrespecting the Malays.
Meanwhile, Razlan said Kok could have better used her position as an MP to lodge a complaint with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall or raise the matter during parliamentary debate.
"But it is not strange that she continues with her anti-development and anti-Malay attitude to gain cheap publicity," he said.
He also claimed that the mother of the bride had pleaded with the demonstrators to postpone the plans so as not to disrupt the wedding, but to no avail.
"Malaysia will be shrouded by racism and chauvinism with the likes of Teresa Kok and DAP," he said.- Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.