I know who my father is, says Zairil

The DAP central executive committee member is upset that former party leader, Tunku Abdul Aziz, has restorted to personal attacks.

PETALING JAYA: DAP central executive committee member Zairil Khir Johari said he is aware of who his father is.

He was responding to a New Straits Times report quoting former DAP vice chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz as saying that Zairil was not a Malay as his biological parents were Chinese.

Tunku also claimed that Zairil’s father, former Umno minister, the late Mohd Khir Johari, had adopted him from a Chinese family.

Zairil said that not only was he proud of his lineage, he was also proud of the good qualities he had inherited from his father.

“I have inherited my father’s integrity, tenacity and principles. Just as the qualities have guided my father’s unblemished political career, I hope it will guide mine too,” he said.

Zairil added that the attacks against him were an attempt to subvert his political struggles but vowed not to be wavered by them.

“If I give in to these bullies, I will be doing a great disservice not only to myself, but also to the memory of my father,” he said.

On Tunku, Zairil said that he was disappointed that the former had resorted to attack his lineage and his family.

“And I feel sorry that someone of Tunku’s stature had made such a statement. I believe this sort of politics has no place in modern Malaysia,” he said.