MIC accepts PM's apology, but says let this be a lesson

 

MIC has welcomed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's apology for using a racial slur during a programme at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Upsi) on Thursday.

However, its deputy president M Saravanan stressed that the incident should be a lesson to all leaders.

"This should serve as a lesson to all leaders not to trample on the sensitivities of other races in the country.

"I have been receiving queries from the media, party members, and Indian Malaysians at large over the prime minister using the word 'keling' at a forum.

"The video of the prime minister referring to the Tamil language as 'Bahasa Keling' has been widely circulated and has caused a furore among the Indian community," he said in a statement today.

While Anwar claimed that he was speaking from a historical context, Saravanan said the word is considered derogatory and therefore should be avoided.

"While our prime minister might not have any malice in uttering the word, it had certainly hurt the feelings of the community which had supported the government coming to power at the last general election.

"I have personally texted the prime minister over the issue expressing Indian Malaysians' displeasure over the last incident and hope that such an incident will not recur especially from our prime minister," he added.

PM’s explanation

During that dialogue session at Upsi, the prime minister was telling his audience about Hang Tuah, whom Anwar described as a great leader during the Malacca sultanate era - who was highly knowledgeable and multilingual.

The Malay warrior, Anwar said, could converse well not only in the Malay language but also in "Bahasa Jawa, Bahasa Siam and what was then described as 'Bahasa Keling' or Tamil".

PM Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar later clarified during a dialogue session with editors-in-chief and senior editors of the print and online media yesterday that he did not mean to insult any party.

Instead, he stressed his use of the word was only intended as a citation from the book "Hikayat Hang Tuah".

He also apologised for any misunderstanding from his use of the word. - Mkini