National Human Rights Society (Hakam) chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan has urged Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad to refrain from using the term ‘keling.’
“The word is indeed derogatory of the Indians. No doubt it has its roots in the historical Kalinga region in India but today in Malaysia, it is widely considered to be derogatory of Indian Malaysians.
“I would, therefore, urge Mahathir to refrain from using the term altogether (particularly since the aim was not to insult anyone).
“While it might have been commonly used in Kedah and not considered derogatory there, I think in today’s Malaysia it is unacceptable and hurtful to the Indian Malaysian community,” Ambiga told Malaysiakini.
Last Friday, Mahathir, in criticising the Election Commission, had said: “I want to use a ‘keling’ word. The ‘keling’ say podah (get lost).”
This prompted MIC treasurer-general S Vell Paari to accuse the former prime minister of being a racist and cited a story about a girl and a snake to drive home his point.
However, Mahathir (photo) remained unapologetic.
“It’s our language (in Kedah) and I’ve used the word ‘keling’ since I was small, there is no problem.
“My ‘keling’ friends have never scolded me. So why is MIC angry over this,” he told reporters yesterday when quizzed on Vell Paari’s criticism.
When Mahathir had made a similar remark in 2016, it had courted the wrath of Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy.
As a former prime minister, the DAP leader said, Mahathir should have known that the word is derogatory and disparaging to Indian Malaysians.
‘Who are these Indian friends who never scolded you?’
Meanwhile, Vell Paari (photo) claimed that the Harapan chairperson’s response to his criticism was an admission that he had always been a racist.
“Yes, Mahathir, for those who conceived it, it wasn’t considered racist in the 15th century up to early last century when you were born.
“For they were not at the receiving end of the insulting and derogatory word.
“It was my community that is the victim of the ‘keling’ word. Just like how the Caucasians in America, South Africa, Australia and Europe conceived words and laws against Africans, Asians, and Aborigines. For the Caucasians, it was not considered offensive. But ask those on the receiving end.
“But Mahathir, it is now an offence in Malaysia and other countries who practised your ideology. So please stop partying as if it is still 1929,” he added in a statement.
Vell Paari also called on Mahathir to reveal the names of his Indian friends who were not slighted with his use of the term ‘keling.’
“The Indian community is eager to know these Indian friends of yours. Could it be Ramasamy and the other Indian leaders in DAP and PKR? Maybe P Waythamoorthy or the Indian leaders of new political parties that have pledged support to Mahathir?
“It’s only fair that these leaders disclose if it’s all right for Mahathir to use the word ‘keling’,” he added.
Zam: Mahathir is also of ‘keling’ descent
Zainuddin Maidin has come out in defence of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad for using the term “keling”, which is considered derogatory to Indians.
In a Twitter posting, the former information minister said that his father was a Malabar and he too was called “anak keling” (son of a keling) during school.
“I never considered this as an insult until it was raised in Parliament and now MIC is using it as fodder for racial politics because Mahathir used the term.
“Mahathir is also of ‘keling’ descent,” he added.
Apart from MIC treasurer-general S Vell Paari, National Human Rights Society (Hakam) chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan also urged the former premier to stop using the term.
She argued that while its origins were not derogatory, it is now considered disparaging and hurtful to the Indian community in Malaysia.
Vell Paari, on the other hand, accused the former premier of being a racist.
Last Friday, Mahathir, in criticising the Election Commission, had said: “I want to use a ‘keling’ word. The ‘keling’ say podah (get lost).”
Quizzed on MIC’s criticism, the former premier remained unapologetic.
“It’s our language (in Kedah) and I’ve used the word ‘keling’ since I was small, there is no problem.
“My ‘keling’ friends have never scolded me. So why is MIC angry over this,” he told reporters yesterday.
Previously, when a video of Mahathir uttering the word went viral on social media in 2016, it drew flak from both PKR and DAP.
PKR vice-president Prof Shaharuddin Badaruddin said words which have a negative racial connotation must be discarded and urged Mahathir to reconsider using such terms in future.
Whereas, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said as a former premier, Mahathir should know that the term is derogatory.
Although Zainuddin, who is better known as Zam, pointed to Mahathir’s Indian roots, the former premier is said to be uncomfortable about this issue.
Last August, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi took a dig at Mahathir’s ancestry, claiming the veteran politician’s identity card (IC) showed he was Indian because his name was stated as Mahathir a/l Iskandar Kutty.
He also read out the full IC number of Mahathir.
However, Mahathir labelled Zahid a liar and claimed that there was no such IC.
“This is good enough to show that Zahid is a big liar. A big liar because he cannot show the blue-coloured identity card.
“I can still remember the first identity card I received. I was still in university at the time,” he added.
MKINI
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