Kedah MB tells critics to take BM classes after racial slur accusations

 

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has reportedly rejected criticism that he had made racially insensitive remarks regarding the Indian Malaysian community in the dispute over the demolition of a Hindu temple in Kuala Kedah.

Instead, he accused his critics of 'twisting' his statement and told them to take Bahasa Malaysia classes.

"If they don't understand what was said, I think they need to re-enrol for Bahasa Melayu classes. Because Bahasa Melayu is full of metaphors (kiasan) and proverbs (bidalan).

"These metaphors and proverbs are not meant to have a direct meaning, but instead the meaning is hidden between the lines.

"For example, if someone is mabuk cinta (drunk with love), it doesn't mean he is drunk and in love, but merely means that he is syok (ecstatic) with love, and that is what I meant when I said mabuk populariti (drunk with popularity)," Utusan Malaysia quoted him as saying today.

Sanusi said this after several politicians on both sides of the political divide, and religious leaders, accused him of playing up certain racial stereotypes.

Last Saturday, Sanusi had told his critics not to appear "drunk on two to three bottles after only consuming one" and suggested that his critics were "drunk on the toddy of popularity" (mabuk todi populariti).

This came amid a dispute over the demolition of the Hindu temple at Taman Bersatu, Kuala Kedah, last Tuesday to pave the way for construction of a futsal court. The temple had been erected on state land.

Meanwhile, the human rights group Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (Komas) urged both Sanusi and Jeram assemblyperson Mohd Shaid Rosli to be mindful that they were elected to serve the people regardless of their personal biases and prejudices.

"If they are unable to do so, these representatives must resign and let people-minded candidates fill their shoes in the future," Pusat Komas said in a statement today.

It said Sanusi had 'regurgitated' long-standing ethnic stereotypes and once again proved himself unfit to lead a state and its people.

As for Shaid, Pusat Komas asked whether it was politically motivated to close down a supermarket's non-halal section if it adhered to proper procedures, even if the area has a Muslim majority.

It urged Shaid and other politicians in similar situations to instead educate and raise awareness on the importance of respecting the rights of the minorities in Malaysia, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

"Pusat Komas strongly condemns both parties for lacking sensitivity – and worst of all – common sense in championing a harmonious inter-ethnic relationship...

"Both accounts exhibit to us that the elected representatives have forgotten that their victory in the previous election was a collective contribution of people from all walks of life.

"And, as a responsible person living in a multi-ethnic society, they must be accountable for their actions and speeches, without any traces or inclinations to discriminate against any Malaysians regardless of their ethnicity and religious beliefs," it said.

Shaid had protested the sale of alcoholic beverages at the Jaya Grocer outlet in Eco Grandeur, Puncak Alam, which led to the closure of its entire non-halal section.

The Pejuang-aligned assemblyperson later clarified that he and local residents were merely objecting to the sale of alcoholic beverages, and claimed the non-halal section would reopen once the beverages were removed. - Mkini