I was citing a book, Anwar says over use of ‘K’ word

 

Anwar Ibrahim said he used the term when talking about a book titled ‘Hikayat Hang Tuah’, narrating Hang Tuah’s ability to master languages. (Bernama pic)

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has clarified that a term — which is considered a racial slur — he used during a dialogue with university students recently was a citation from a book.

He however apologised if any misunderstanding had arisen from uttering the term, Bernama reported.

Anwar said he was not intending to insult anyone when he used the term, adding that “k****g” was taken from a book titled ‘Hikayat Hang Tuah’.

The book tells the story of Hang Tuah — a famous Malay hero — who was fluent in various languages, including Malay, Arabic, Siamese and a language derived from Kalinga, he said.

Kalinga was an ancient Indian kingdom.

“Now, the term is disliked by many, so I don’t use it. I only quoted from the book.

“If there is any misunderstanding, I apologise. It was not my intention (to insult). I’m the last person to cast aspersions, or insult any ethnicity or religion,” he said at a dialogue session with editors-in-chief and senior editors in Putrajaya earlier today.

Two years ago, politicians questioned why an outdated definition of the said term remains on an online dictionary run by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had previously stirred controversy when he used the term to condemn the Election Commission in 2018, but subsequently apologised. - FMT