Nothing wrong with word 'pendatang', says BTN chief

National Civics Bureau (BTN) director Raja Arif Raja Ali said there is nothing wrong with the word 'pendatang' (immigrant), often used to label the country's minorities.

"There is nothing wrong with the word, the issue is on how it is used," he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was responding to MIC president S Subramaniam who yesterday called for the word to be banned as it had often been used as a slur against the country's minorities.

However, Arif said the historical origin of the various races in Malaysia should not be denied.

"Chinese (and) Indian Malaysians, Iban, Kadazan are Malaysian citizens, but when we learn about their origin, it cannot be denied that their countries were from there (elsewhere).

"Even Bangladeshis who come here also have their history. Don't deny history," he said.

Yesterday, Subramaniam speaking at the 67th MIC annual general assembly officiated by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, said the word 'pendatang' should not be used as it hurts the feelings of the Chinese and Indians when they are labelled as such.

"This has to be studied properly by the BN leadership and they should agree this cannot be allowed to continue.

"This word should be banned. Indians and Chinese are labelled as foreigners even though they have been here for six generations," he was reported saying.