Machang Bubuk state assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon has rejected suggestions to apologise for organising a flash mob which mocked Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak over his kangkung remark.
 
In a press release today, he thanked DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang for suggesting the apology, but insisted that his actions were justified.
 
He said that the Jan 15 flash mob - which saw a handful of protesters placing about 10kg of kangkung in the mouth of a styrofoam cutout in Najib's likeness - was designed to raise public awareness on government policies which led to an increase in the prices of many essential goods.
 
However, this was turned into a racial issue by Umno leaders and their supporters during two protests in Penang over the weekend, he said.
 
During the protest on Sunday, two passers-by who were engaged in an argument with the protesters were assaulted . The protesters also claimed that the flash mob had insulted the Malay race.
 
In view of this, Lee said he will not bow down to racist statements and violence perpetuated by such people.
 
"I want to stress that the most important thing now is to mobilise the masses to protest against (government policies causing) price hikes and the impending implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST)," he said.
 
Lee said that amidst the brickbats, he was thankful for the support that he has received from Pakatan Rakyat leaders, apart from Lim, voters, the Penang backbenchers club and NGOs.
 
Earlier today, Lim had suggested that Lee apologise in order to prevent unscrupulous groups from turning the flashmob into a racial and religious issue.
 
The flash mob was held in response to Najib's speech in Kemaman on Jan 12 where he claimed that costlier price of fish and vegetables on the weather and that it was unfair to blame the government.
 
But it was the following quote which led to various kangkung related jokes : "I read in the newspaper that some prices have come down. Kangkung price once went up and now it is down. When the prices come down, why are there no praises for the government?"

However, not all Pakatan leaders are in agreement with Lim. 

In a Twitter posting, former PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali said that apologising to samseng  (thugs) will not change their ways.

"They have thousands of excuses for their violence," he wrote.