Teresa Kok blasts Hisham over 'dirty' Teo remark

Seputeh MP and DAP publicity secretary Teresa Kok has lashed out at Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein for describing fellow DAP parliamentarian Teo Nie Ching as “dirty” and her visit to surau as a “disaster” for the Muslim community.

In a statement issued today, the senior Selangor exco (right) said Hishammuddin has sunk to “a new low” and displayed the hypocrisy of his character in the terms he used to describe Teo, who is Serdang member of parliament.

“I question where Hishamuddin received the knowledge and moral authority to judge anyone to be dirty, least of all Teo Nie Ching, who entered the surau in sincerity and with an open heart, and only because the surau leaders invited her in.

“She has already issued a humble public apology to all concerned. I shudder to think (whether) Hishammuddin considers Teo Nie Ching dirty because she is non-Muslim, or simply because she is female.

“Hishamuddin should look in the mirror to check if he himself is spotless and clean before judgement on others,” said Kok.

Hishammuddin was reported yesterday as having said he was shocked that Teo had the support of PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat over her visit to a surau, voicing concern that the incident could confuse Muslims.

“Teo had no business to be inside Surau Al-Huda as she was deemed dirty but Nik Aziz said its alright, we are modern now. What disaster can we expect next?” said the Umno vice-president.

Hishammuddin also said it was clear that DAP was adopting an extreme approach by questioning the rights and privileges defended by Malay leaders and the rulers.

First-term MP Teo drew a firestorm of criticism from Umno politicians, pro-Umno blogs and Malay dailies over her visit to the Al Huda surau in Serdang on Aug 22.

Her critics claimed that she had committed a grave insult to Muslims for speaking in the prayer hall, which is considered off-limits to non-Muslims.

The Selangor Religious Council said it will issue Teo a written reprimand, while Teo said she plans to write to the Selangor sultan to apologise and explain her action.

Kok said the minister's remarks has not only betrayed his holier-than-thou attitude towards Teo and the 1Malaysia concept of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, but was fanning the flames of discount among non-Muslims.

“Hishamuddin's statement smacks of a holier-than-thou hypocrisy and is truly shameful for a cabinet minister who propagates this 1Malaysia concept which supposedly espouses unity among all Malaysians.

“With that disparaging statement, Hishammuddin is once again fanning the flames of racial discontent like how he openly supported the Shah Alam cow-head protestors last September. He backtracked later only upon public uproar,” said Kok.

She called for the minister to retract immediately his statement and issue a public apology to Teo.

Failing this, said Kok, he and 1Malaysia will forever have no credibility in the eyes of the public.

courtesy of Malaysiakini