BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak today attempted to douse the anger over Perkasa vice-president Zulkifli Noordin's disparaging remarks about Hindus, claiming that Indians have now warmed up to him.

NONE "There are Indians who have even kissed him already," Najib said, adding that he endorsed Zulkifli's ( right ) candidacy for the Shah Alam parliamentary seat.

"Forget about the remarks he has made. He has apologised. Let it be," the caretaker prime minister said in Shah Alam as he stressed that the statements were made when Zulkifli was part of a "backward" party.

He claimed that Zulkifli has vowed to take care of the welfare of Indians in the constituency.

"Indians want temples, schools. He told me he wants to get them what they want," Najib added.

He was speaking during a walkabout campaign in Kota Raja and Shah Alam earlier today.

At a press conference in a hotel in Shah Alam later, Najib went on to say that the Selangor government's demolition of an altar in Sepang recently was more serious than Zulkifli's remarks.

"That's 1,000 times more serious than what Zulkifli said ten years ago. That (demolition) is a bigger slap for the Indians," he said.

He said the matter of Zulkifli's qualification to be fielded as a candidate under BN should not be raised further.

"It's history. In fact he is already championing Indian issues," he said.

He also said that Zulkifli left Pakatan Rakyat in 2010 because the former was asked to "slander" Najib by his party.

"But he is a man of principles. That is why he left them," he added.

Najib also rebutted allegations that former Umno Wanita deputy chief Kamilia Ibrahim was never offered a seat to contest in the elections.

"Ask the (Perak) menteri besar. We have offered the Bukit Chandan state seat to her," he said.

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