It's not your father's country either, retorts Zahid
The home minister has aped PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s “this is not your father’s country” jibe with a tit-for-tat response.
The home minister has aped PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s “this is not your father’s country” jibe with a tit-for-tat response.
“This country is also not (Anwar’s) father's. It is neither my father’s country nor his father’s country,” said Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, defending his earlier urging for those unhappy with the electoral process to migrate.
“You have to write this down,
Malaysiakini
,” he said during a press conference today.
“You ( Malaysiakini ) always spin. Please write according to journalistic ethics,” he said, pointing at the Malaysiakini journalist.
Zahid was referring to Anwar’s speech during the Negri Sembilan leg of the Black 505 rally the latter slammed the newly minted minister’s commentary on Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia that those not happy with Malaysia’s electroral system should migrate elsewhere .
Anwar had said, "So you think this is your father's country? This is an insult to the people."
Earlier, the minister appeared angry with Malaysiakini’s question on whether he would heed DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s call for an apology over his call for critics to leave the country.
“It is Lim who should apologise to me, because he misquoted my statement. I should not be apologising to him,” he said in a serious tone.
He then slammed the journalist, asking, “Where are you from?”
“That’s it lah , you ( Malaysiakini ) always twist my statements. It happens too often.
“When there is no issue, you create one. Write properly. It is he (Lim) who needs to apologise, not me, okay,” he repeated.
Unending scorn poured on Malaysiakini
Asked why the authorities have detained student activist Adam Adli over demands for electoral reform, but not opposition leaders, Zahid passed the buck to the inspector-general of police (IGP).
“If I answer, they (the opposition) would say the action was political. Let’s be professional. Perhaps Khalid Abu Bakar would like to answer,” said Zahid.
When the IGP - who was present - said he would answer later, the minister turned his attention back to attacking
Malaysiakini
.
“What else does Malaysiakini want to ask? Please don’t spin. I will scrutinise every statement, every sentence, every paragraph of Malaysiakini ’s news. Don’t play with fire with me,” he warned.
The IGP said the action taken against opposition leaders - for rallies protesting alleged electoral fraud - is in accordance with the law.
Also at the press conference was Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
Related stories
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.