Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi took a swipe at opposition parliamentarian M Kulasegaran by citing his defeat at the Perak DAP's internal polls when debating the motion to dock RM10 from his salary.

Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) tabled the motion in November over Ahmad Zahid's theories on why non-Malays armed forces recruits were low, were baseless and needs to be explained.

On Nov 9, Ahmad Zahid kicked up a storm when he said that there is a possibility that non-Malays lacked a sense of patriotism .

"My statement (in the House) has been twisted by Ipoh Barat. He needed an issues when he was contesting in Perak DAP elections," charged Ahmad Zaid when debating the motion.

Kulasegaran, who is also the DAP deputy secretary-general, had virtually his entire team vanquished during the state party leadership election last month.

During the debate, Ahmad Zahid accused Kulasegaran of being "spin doctor" by taking what he said out of context.

"I have never said lack of patriotism. I only said maybe the spirit of patriotism is not high enough but that does not mean there is no patriotism," he lashed out.

"Maybe you don't understand Bahasa Malaysia and didn't get A-plus for the subject."

Will the ministry resolve the 'problem'?

In arguing for the motion, Kulasegaran said that the minister must be censured for his "unfair, baseless, irresponsible and insensitive" parliamentary answer which had slighted the feelings of non-Malays.

"In fact, many non-Malays have given their limbs and lives for this beloved country.

"During the early 50s to 70s, thousands of non-Malays served the armed forces when our country was going through various insurgencies, namely the emergency period and the Indonesian confrontation."

azlan Kulasegaran also cited a report by Malaysiakini where Rear Admiral (Rtd) K Thanabalasingam, the nation's first ever navy chief and Brig Gen (Rtd) Goh Seng Toh, who expressed their disappointments over the minister's remark.

"Ahmad Zahid should explain how many non-Malays are in the top echelon of the armed forces, whether this problem be addressed, if so, what is the time frame for non-Malay to head the armed forces? Can this ever happen?" he asked.

Kulasegaran reiterated that Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had also said that the minister should apologise if there was a mistake.

Yesterday, Ahmad Zahid gave a qualified statement on the matter, saying that he did not intend to hurt the feeling of the non-bumiputeras.

'I'm not race prejudice'

Ahmad Zahid insisted that there was no need for him to apologise as he did not doubt the patriotism of non-Malays.

Citing a British research on the participation of minorities in British military stated that: "Twenty-six percent are concerned over the issue of race and equality, 20 percent lack information on army, 13 percent find the tight discipline unatrractive, 13 percent believe it's a career that will affect their family life, 8 percent don't like it while 7 percent lack patriotism".

At one point, Ahmad Zahid had to shout at the top of his lungs that he was not "race prejudice" due to the din from the opposition bench.

"I have many Indian and Chinese friends and voters in my area who are non-Malays. Did you ever have friend in university who are not of your race?

"I used to share a room in the dorm with an Indian, in my final year in University Malaya. I shared a room with an Indian," said Ahmad Zahid, drawing laughter from the opposition.

"What does that have to do with anything? That does not explain the statement you made as a minister," retorted Kulasegaran.

Deputy Speaker Ronald Kiandee then called for a voice vote but although the 'nays' were louder than the 'ayes', Kulasegaran insisted on a bloc division.

After a vote was called, the motion was defeated by 69 votes to 33.

Another Umno leader who refuses to apologise