‘Cina babi’ not racial slur, says ‘red shirt’ rally organiser

One of the 'red shirt' organiser, Datuk Jamal Md Yunos (centre), says 'cina babi' is not a racial insult. – The Malaysian Insider filepic, September 17, 2015.There is nothing wrong with the words “Cina babi” hurled at some members of the media at yesterday's 'red shirt' rally, said one of the organisers, Datuk Jamal Md Yunos, adding that the word “babi” was not a slur as Chinese consume pork.

Jamal, the Sungai Besar Umno division chief, said the word “babi” was not a sensitive word for the Chinese.

"For Malays to say 'babi' we are sensitive because 'babi' (pork) is forbidden but for the Chinese, it is their food, no problem," he told reporters in a press conference today.

He was answering questions from the media on the words used by rally goers against some non-Malay journalists at the gathering that was marred by incendiary remarks and racially-charged banners and placards.

Jamal said the message of the 'red shirt' rally was distorted through social media, and blamed actions of participants of the Bersih 4 rally for the banners that were carried by yesterday's rally-goers.

"It was because of excessive provocation on social media.

"Yesterday's rally 916 was ignited when the illegal Bersih 4 rally was held," he said, adding that the 'red shirt' rally would not have taken place if not for Bersih 4.

"Because of the rudeness of the rally participants, organisers who insulted our leaders, stepped on photos of Najib and Hadi Awang, that's why banners with bad words were seen yesterday," he said, referring to footage of Bersih 4 participants stomping on pictures of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Jamal said it was proven since independence that Malays were willing to share everything and could live peacefully as long as they were not pushed.

"So don't start it. Bersih 4 is the cause," he said.

According to media group Gerakan Media Marah, five journalists were subjected to racial slurs and harassed by the ‘red shirt’ rally participants.

A female reporter from Malaysiakini was reportedly called “Cina gila babi” after she attempted to put questions to the crowd at Petaling Street while two female reporters from The Star were harassed, called “Keling bangsat” and “bangsat Cina” when covering the standoff between protesters and police in the same area.

Two media personnel from Astro’s Chinese-language AEC channel were also heckled by a group of protesters after they asked a Malay demonstrator: “Apa contoh Melayu dihina?” (Give an example how the Malays were insulted).

They were later escorted off by police.

- TMI