Sorry seems to be the hardest word for Umno Youth leader Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, who is refusing to apologise to Nga Kor Ming for offering to school the latter on Malayan history.
This is concerning the housing and local government minister’s proposal for Chinese new villages to be recognised as Unesco World Heritage Sites.
Akmal (above, left) said he would never apologise over the matter, adding that Umno Youth will oppose anyone who touches on issues sensitive to Malays and bumiputera.
“Do you want me to apologise?? Keep dreaming, because it won’t happen!!!
“Once again I say, if anyone touches on things that are sensitive to Malays and bumiputera, we will not hesitate to oppose it as hard as possible no matter who you are!!!” he said in a Facebook post.
He was referring to Raub MP Chow Yu Hui’s suggestion that Akmal should apologise to Nga.
‘Baseless and irresponsible’
Chow also suggested that the party’s supreme council take action against Akmal over his offer to school Nga on Malay history.
He said the party’s accusation - that the proposal would challenge the status of bumiputera - was baseless and irresponsible.
He added that Akmal’s action has harmed the relationship between Umno and DAP in the coalition government.
On Feb 1, Nga said plans were being drawn up to recognise Chinese new villages for their cultural and historical value.
This was met with objections, including from Bersatu’s Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who questioned the proposal.
Umno joined in the criticism with its party secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki alleging that the Unesco status would give those who lived in Chinese new villages recognition as “original inhabitants” of the land and therefore touches on the status of the Malays.
Gerakan president Dominic Lau also chided Nga for poor communication on the issue and added that a thorough explanation is needed while respecting the views of stakeholders, particularly the Malays and the Chinese.
Nga in turn brushed off the claim that the Unesco status proposal will challenge the rights of bumiputera and Malay.
Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari also cautioned against turning the matter into a racial issue.
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