Bersatu associates demand Tok Mat's apology over 'big kavadi' remark

 

Bersatu’s associate member wing has demanded an apology from Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan for allegedly insulting Hindus.

In a statement, wing information chief S Gobi Krishnan (above) said Mohamad had referred to ‘kavadi’ in an insulting manner during the latter’s recent interview with Asia Times.

“I strongly condemn (Mohamad) for referring to kavadi as a burden. This is clearly an insult to Hindus and displays his ignorance of Hindu practices, culture and religion.

“It is clear (Mohamad) does not respect the sensitivities of the Indian Hindu community,” said Gobi Krisnan in a statement.

Gobi Krishnan said during Thaipusam, penance is observed through fasting and the bearing of the kavadi as a form of gratitude to Murugan.

He said should Mohamad fail to apologise for his remarks, then Hindu NGOs will lodge reports against him.

Umno’s big baggage

In a recent interview with Asia Times, Mohamad had used the phrase “big kavadi” to explain Umno’s defeat during the 2018 general election.

Mohamad also appeared to have confused Deepavali for Thaipusam.

“Umno was defeated in 2018 general election not because Umno didn’t take care of the people but Umno had a big kavadi, you know kavadi?

“When the Hindus have they have this Deepavali. They carry all these big kavadi. This big baggage,” said Mohamad.

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan

The “big kavadi” remark appeared to be a reference to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and the 1MDB affair.

Mohamad went on to say that Dr Mahathir Mohamad exploited these issues for the 2018 elections.

“(For Mahathir) the campaign was only this - one or two persons (were his targets). If Umno took a bold step (or) if that person was magnanimous that time and stepped aside for a while, Umno would not have lost the government in 2018.

“But that is all history. So we have to learn from that. (We have to) take action (based) on what people said and want, because the problem is on one or two persons,” he said.

Mohamad’s “big kavadi” remark did not appear in the Asia Times article but instead can be heard in the recording of the interview.

The recording was released after Mohamad accused Asia Times of taking his remarks out of context. The publication and its authors have stood by the article. - Mkini