'I won't apologise even with a gun to my head'

In response to the demand by an MCA central committee member for an apology, a combative Ibrahim Ali said saying sorry to the MCA or its president would be the last thing for him to do while alive over the matter.

“I don’t need to apologise to anybody. Even if the guy puts a gun to my head, I would not do so,” the head of Malay rights group Perkasa told Malaysiakini when contacted today.

In a statement, MCA’s Koh Nai Kwong had called for the Pasir Mas member of Parliament ( left ) to apologise over his attacks against MCA and its president Dr Chua Soi Lek for his backing of the cancelled Malay 13 gathering that was to have taken place on Thursday this week.

Koh ( right ) had also said Ibrahim should apologise for slandering and provoking Chua in an “utmost distasteful” manner by citing the latter’s involvement in a sex scandal.

Responding today to Koh, who is also the deputy chief of the MCA’s Chinese guilds and association bureau, Ibrahim questioned who Chua was to deserve his apology.  

“Who is he? It is Chua Soi Leck who has blown this out of proportion,” thundered the veteran Kelantan politician.

“The May 13 rally was a gathering that Perkasa was not involved (in organising) but (which) it supported.

“If they don’t want Malays to gather, then the Chinese also should not hold gatherings,” he said.

Malay interests group Gertak had planned a mammoth gathering in Kuala Terengganu that - coinciding with the 41th anniversary of the worst racial violence in the country's history - purported to motivate Malays to unite and improve their socio-economic.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, however, ordered its postponement following public criticisims of the planned event.

'Leave the country'

Citing former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s defense of his participation in the gathering, Ibrahim also asserted his position on Malay rights as being based on his knowledge of the country’s history.

Those who disagreed with such gatherings by Malays as the ‘Melayu Bangkit’ ('Malays Rise') assembly by Gertak, should find another place of sojourn, he added.

“This is my country, this is Malaysia and I know the history of Malaysia.

"Before it became Malaysia (in 1963), it was known as Persekutuan Tanah Melayu (Federation of Malaya)," he stressed.

“Even Tun Mahathir himself had explained that the gathering was meant to inform, and that the gathering was peaceful, just as the Chinese also organise their own gatherings.

“If they do not feel safe with Malays having such gatherings, they can leave the country,” he quipped.