Chinese, the immigrants of Malaysia

After helping built this country, born in this country, lived in this country for 51 years, some Malays still consider the Chinese as “pendatang” (immigrants). We thanked the Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Ahmad Ismail for letting us know their true feelings about our presence in Malaysia. We will always remember his outburst “as the Chinese were only immigrants it was impossible to achieve equal rights amongst races” made during his speech at the Permatang Puah parliamentary by-election campaign on August 25.

After sensing our anger and hurt, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (who was with him at the time) was quick to clarify that Ahmad Ismail’s statement was wholly his alone and not that of Umno or the Government. He further came up with an apology which he hoped will cement the rift already caused by a racist like Ahmad Ismail.

“We hope that the non-Malays will not be too disturbed with the statement and we apologize if it has incurred the sensitivities or unhappiness over the statement.

We apologize, Umno apologizes although it is not our statement but it is a statement made by one of our division leaders. It is totally unwarranted and does not reflect the position and the attitude of Umno or the leadership of Umno. We regret it very much.

The statement is his personal statement and is not the stand of Umno and the Government. We do not regard Malaysian citizens of Chinese, Indian or other descent as “passengers”.

They are Malaysian citizens who have full rights and we will definitely safeguard their interests and their dignity and I describe the statement as something the Umno and the Government very much regret.”

As for Ahmad Ismail, an ungrateful coward who blurted out senselessly but afraid of the consequences, is no where to be found. He has withdrawn his head and is obviously hiding inside his tortoise shell.

We have a Chinese proverb. If you are a man and capable enough, stay inside your tortoise shell and never come out again.

Note: Najib’s statement is sourced from The Star.