DAP’s ‘Superman’ Hew Kuan Yau has sparked a controversy for attacking columnist Josh Hong for being gay.

This led to criticisms against the influential grassroots leader and firebrand speaker.

Hew, who is known on the ceramah circuit as 'Superman' for his penchant for wearing T-shirts bearing the comic superhero's logo, was eventually forced to make an apology.

Diversity, an NGO advocating on gender and sexuality issues, was among those that took Hew to task for the barrage of attacks on Hong that he posted on social media.

In a statement issued yesterday, Diversity pointed out that this was not the first time that Hew has verbally assaulted others using language considered derogatory to the lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual (LGBT) community.

This was no different from the sodomy conviction, which Diversity said was used by Umno and BN against PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The NGO said public figures must be more responsible in their actions and be mindful of the fundamental rights of all community members.

“If we are opposing the government for using the sodomy trial to punish Anwar, we should not insult other people’s sexuality.

“This will only deepen the prejudice against the LGBT community and encourage more politicians to attack their opponents with the negative label of the LGBT community.

“Even you disagree with the view of others, you should respond to their statement and action with decorum and not insult or mock their personalities,” Diversity said.

'Gay Lou Fat'

The public row between Hew and Hong, which has lasted for months, escalated when Hew made a Facebook posting on Sunday declaring that he has removed someone he referred to 'Gay Lou Fat'.

He added that he would shake Gay Lou Fat’s limp hand with the “strength of a genuine man” if he had the chance to bump into 'Gay Lou Fat' on the streets.

‘Gay Lou’ is a derogatory Cantonese slang referring to a gay person.

Although Hew ( photo ) did not name anyone, the statement was clearly referring to Hong, who is a Malaysiakini columnist and consultant for the United Nations.

Hew’s remarks drew flak from his Facebook followers, including some who demanded that DAP leaders take a stand on such homophobic remarks.

Even DAP Senai assemblyperson Wong Shu Qi raised her concern on this matter.

“If you truly uphold the idea of social democracy, you definitely will not and should not discriminate others based on their sexuality and verbally abuse someone.

“A public figure with good manners should apologise after he realises that he made a mistake,” Wong said in a Facebook post, without naming Hew.

Hong: I'm gay, so what?

Responding to Hew, Hong said that he is indeed gay but this has no impact on his quest to always do the right thing.

"Josh Hong is homosexual. That is a fact, but I am open and at ease about it. I don't ask for help from others. Society can have different opinions on sexual orientation, the church can disagree with my choice, but I am what I am.

"As long as it's a thing that I confirm it to be right, just, legitimate, I will do it," Hong said, stressing that he would not be cowed by Hew's offensive language.

He then challenged DAP leaders to make clear their stand on this matter.

"The younger faction of DAP - be they democratic, open-minded, multicultural, whether you believe in God or Buddha - what is your stand on Hew's behaviour that is hitting below the belt and becoming the evil that he despises? Is this just his personal opinion?

"Don't forget, (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) also likes to claim that (the remarks from) Perkasa and Isma are their personal opinions!

“If you can tolerate a senior party member who keeps attacking people's appearance, body figure, gender and sexual orientation, are you still qualified to criticise the Hadi-led PAS?” Hong asked.

He added that he would not resort to personal attacks, even though he personally does not agree with the political route DAP is taking.

Apologising for the issue, Hew, however, stressed that it has nothing to do with DAP.

“I apologise to all, including Hong who is offended, for my unfortunate remark. I am unsympathetic, uninclusive and I am sorry,” he wrote.

Hew also posted a photo of him with DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang.

He thanked Lim, saying that all the glory and honour goes to Lim and he will assume all the guilt.

‘This is nothing to do with DAP’

But this failed to satisfy Diversity.

“Despite apologising this morning, Hew did not rectify the sexist remark made by him or his supporters. As a public figure, Hew had set a very bad example,” the group said.

When contacted by Malaysiakini , Hew reiterated that he had apologised and distanced his action from his party.

“This has nothing to do with DAP. This is my personal mistake. I say sorry for my prejudice. I apologise to Hong and the others,” Hew said.

Sexist remarks have been a staple in Malaysian politics.

BN's Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim received brickbats for describing DAP's Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto as “ worse than a pondan (transvestite)” in the Dewan Rakyat last year while cabinet minister Azalina Othman Said is often called names due to her short hair and attire.

BN's Ketereh MP Annuar Musa has several times called PKR's Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli “pondan” while International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed recently apologised for quipping that a new building was like a “inexperienced virgin” .

Rights groups have responded by saying that such derogatory insults are always uncalled for, and that members of the public should respect diverse forms of gender expressions.

The NGOs also say that forcing someone to conform to the feminine and masculine binary is tantamount to violence.

 

 
 

 

Contrary to what some may perceive, what happened between me and Hew Kuan Yew aka Superman of DAP over the past two days...

Posted by Josh Hong on Tuesday, January 26, 2016