DPM may have had 'slip of the tongue' moment when rebutting, says cleric

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi may have had a "slip of the tongue" moment when disputing the controversial statement by Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah defenders movement) chairperson Ismail Mina Ahmad that only Malays had resisted the Japanese occupation and the Communist Party of Malaya.

Speaking to a press conference today, Ismail said he and Zahid "go way back".

"Zahid Hamidi was my friend in university, he was my junior. But it's okay.

"Maybe because we have not met for a very long time, he had a slip of the tongue and 'wronged'," Ismail said.

In fact, Zahid should have referred to him first before the issuing the rebuttal, added Ismail.

"He should have checked with me, did I really say it, that is called 'tabayyun' (clarification)."

Ismail came under fire from various quarters when he was quoted saying during an Ummah convention that only the Malays had resisted the Japanese occupation and the Communist Party of Malaya, which he referred to as Bintang Tiga.

"During the Bintang Tiga rule, the Malays were killed. I am reading history.

"Who were the members of Bintang Tiga I will not say because I fear getting sued. Just read history," he had said.

Yesterday, Zahid, who is also the home minister, disputed such notion, saying that history has recorded the contributions of multiple races in fighting the Japanese during World War II and the communists during the Emergency.

Today, Ismail also maintained that he had quoted "history" when saying only the Malays were killed by Bintang Tiga but claimed that his remark that only the Malays the fought the insurgency, had been taken out of context.- Mkini