Bukit Bendera UMNO division head Datuk Ahmad Ismail not only refused to apologise for his allegation, he is also pointing an accusing finger at the reporter from Sin Chew Daily for misreporting his comment, and Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon as well as other Chinese community leaders for turning his allegation into racial issue.
Ahmad said that he did mention Chinese were "squatters", but he was referring to the situation before the acquisition of national independence. He insisted that he did not do anything wrong as what he said was based on historical facts. Meanwhile, he accused the reporter from Sin Chew Daily for misreporting his speech. He said that the particular reporter possesses a personal agenda and she does not specialise in political news coverage.
I am wondering why Ahmad did not come out immediately in the early stage to clear his name as he did not mean it. He held a press conference to explain his allegation only after 10 days the report was published. Meanwhile, the report did not sensationalise Ahmad's words. It only contains 144 words and it merely occupied 1.89% of the total layout of that page. In addition, it was published on page 8.
Moreover, since Ahmad said that he did not mean it, but why Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Tun Razak who was at the scene during the speech has offered an apology to the people a few days ago for Ahmad's allegation? Could it be said that Najib felt Ahmad's allegation did mean it therefore Najib apologised to those who have been hurt by Ahmad's words? It seems that the reporter was not the only one who "misunderstood" Ahmad's words.
On the other hand, Ahmad blamed Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon for using his "squatter" allegation to mount racial tension. Ahmad held a press conference yesterday to defend his position and urged Gerakan to leave the Barisan National ruling coalition for creating chaos among the component parties. He said Koh should apologise to the Malays, Muslims and Chinese in the country for mounting so much tension.
After Ahmad finishing his statement, his supporters tore a photo of Koh in the conference room. This action has angered Gerakan members. Chief of Wanita Gerakan Datuk Tan Lian Hoe urged Prime Minister to sack Ahmad from the party immediately and asked for Ahmad to be charged under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for threatening national security and playing up racial sentiments. Tan was quoted in a news report in Malaysiakini that "How would UMNO members nationwide react if a photo of their president was torn in that manner?"
Ahmad's supporters tear Koh's photo. (Picture: The Malaysian Bar)
This incident becomes chaos when other political party and media practitioner have been pulling into the dispute. Well, this is not the first time that politicians accuse the media for "misreporting" or "misinterpreting" their words, and it won't be the last as well. They often do that to divert people's attention and avoid to be responsible for their words.
I think even if Ahmad willing to apologise in the near future, but his apology already means nothing as people can see his arrogance at his press conference in television news.
I wish our politicians could stop playing outdated racial politics and focus on important national issues.
Ahmad said that he did mention Chinese were "squatters", but he was referring to the situation before the acquisition of national independence. He insisted that he did not do anything wrong as what he said was based on historical facts. Meanwhile, he accused the reporter from Sin Chew Daily for misreporting his speech. He said that the particular reporter possesses a personal agenda and she does not specialise in political news coverage.
I am wondering why Ahmad did not come out immediately in the early stage to clear his name as he did not mean it. He held a press conference to explain his allegation only after 10 days the report was published. Meanwhile, the report did not sensationalise Ahmad's words. It only contains 144 words and it merely occupied 1.89% of the total layout of that page. In addition, it was published on page 8.
Moreover, since Ahmad said that he did not mean it, but why Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Tun Razak who was at the scene during the speech has offered an apology to the people a few days ago for Ahmad's allegation? Could it be said that Najib felt Ahmad's allegation did mean it therefore Najib apologised to those who have been hurt by Ahmad's words? It seems that the reporter was not the only one who "misunderstood" Ahmad's words.
On the other hand, Ahmad blamed Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon for using his "squatter" allegation to mount racial tension. Ahmad held a press conference yesterday to defend his position and urged Gerakan to leave the Barisan National ruling coalition for creating chaos among the component parties. He said Koh should apologise to the Malays, Muslims and Chinese in the country for mounting so much tension.
After Ahmad finishing his statement, his supporters tore a photo of Koh in the conference room. This action has angered Gerakan members. Chief of Wanita Gerakan Datuk Tan Lian Hoe urged Prime Minister to sack Ahmad from the party immediately and asked for Ahmad to be charged under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for threatening national security and playing up racial sentiments. Tan was quoted in a news report in Malaysiakini that "How would UMNO members nationwide react if a photo of their president was torn in that manner?"
Ahmad's supporters tear Koh's photo. (Picture: The Malaysian Bar)This incident becomes chaos when other political party and media practitioner have been pulling into the dispute. Well, this is not the first time that politicians accuse the media for "misreporting" or "misinterpreting" their words, and it won't be the last as well. They often do that to divert people's attention and avoid to be responsible for their words.
I think even if Ahmad willing to apologise in the near future, but his apology already means nothing as people can see his arrogance at his press conference in television news.
I wish our politicians could stop playing outdated racial politics and focus on important national issues.
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