KAJANG  Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Joseph Kurup has denied using the word "race" during his by-election campaign speech in Kajang yesterday .

 
"I categorically deny using the word 'race' in my speech at the Sayang Komuniti Programme at Sungai Chuah, Kajang, as reported by Malaysiakini ," Kurup said in a one paragraph press release late this evening.
 
Yesterday, Malaysiakini attributed this quote to Kurup: "Vote for BN's candidate for peace and unity of the country. Vote for BN's candidate that is one from your own race."
 
However, upon re-checking, we have determined that this quote was subject to a translation error from the original article in Bahasa Malaysia.
 
" Undilah calon BN untuk kesejahteraan rakyat dan perpaduan negara. Undilah calon BN yang merupakan orang kamu sendiri (Vote for BN's candidate for peace and unity of the country. Vote for BN's candidate that is one of your own)," Kurup was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini's Bahasa Malaysia edition.
 
The event in question saw the distribution of rice, wheelchairs, basic necessities and shopping vouchers for senior citizens, single mothers and persons with disabilities in the constituency.
 
It was organised by the Kajang zone Rukun Tetangga, which is a programme under the National Unity and Integration Department, which is part of Kurup's portfolio.
 
It was attended by 80 participants who were mostly ethnic Chinese. Kurup's speech in Bahasa Malaysia was translated into Mandarin.
 
Earlier today, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok issued a press statement criticising Kurup for invoking the "race card" based on the article that contained the translation problem.
 
Kok had questioned if Kurup for fit to hold his portfolio for doing so.
 
Editor's note: The original headline for this article, "MP: Joseph Kurup the 'minister of disunity'?", has been amended after it was pointed out that Teresa Kok issued her press statement in response to our earlier article that contained a translation error. The inaccuracy has been corrected .