Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan yesterday defended the suspension of Johor delegate Tan Lai Soon who said Malays were immigrants, saying the party had to set an example for other political parties to follow.

Party secretary-general Liang Teck Meng said they did not want leaders of other parties to make racist or extremist statements in the future.

“We have to show that we are a party of principles, hence we have to set an example for others to follow,” Liang told a press conference at Menara PGRM in Cheras here.

“Gerakan wants all of its members to have principles, and to remember the events of 2008,” he said, referring to the case of Datuk Ahmad Ismail.

In 2008, Ahmad, then the Umno Bukit Bendera chief, caused an uproar over race-related statements he made in a ceramah (political address) in Permatang Pauh, Penang.Ahmad had described Malaysian citizens of Chinese descent as “pendatang” (immigrants), which led to an immediate three-year suspension from Umno.

“Gerakan does not want political leaders of other parties to issue similar statements at their respective general assemblies or conferences. “If that should happen, Gerakan will strongly urge the party leaders to take immediate action against these individuals,” Liang said.

He said in order for this to be practised, Gerakan had to show that it would not hesitate to take action against its own members who crossed the line.

“Even in Parliament there are rules and regulations for MPs to follow, we are not allowed to make statements which are racist in nature or hurt the feelings of other races.”

“Therefore, I appeal to all Gerakan members to be principled and understand the reasons for Tan’s suspension by the central working committee.”

Liang, the Simpang Renggam MP, stressed that none of the different races in Malaysia were “pendatang” nor should they be labelled as such. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on October 23, 2014.

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