Penang Umno Youth's action of portraying a kangkung-themed flash mob against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as Chinese insulting Malay leaders is tantamount to belittling the country's top leader, said MCA vice-president Chew Mei Fun.

 

She was referring to two Umno-backed demonstrations over the weekend to protest against the flash mob which was organised by PKR's Machang Bubuk state assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon on Jan 15.

 

"Umno Youth interpreting the flash mob as an act to humiliate Malay leaders has actually relegated Najib who is the prime minister of all Malaysians to being just a Malay leader. 

 

"Such an interpretation has turned the protest into a racist activity. In this case, Umno Youth has not only belittled the prime minister but also the youth wing itself," she said in a statement today.

 

She added that although Lee's flash mob was "rude and uncultured", Penang Umno Youth had "overreacted" as it did not warrant threats of a May 13 riot or assaulting bystanders.

"Both parties were wrong in their actions. Rude behavior and overreactions are dangerous in a multiracial country. This can lead to the destruction of national harmony," she said.

 

'Excessive politicking of kangkung'

 

Umno had on Jan 18 organised a protest against Lee where a banner  threatening  riots was put up and  another protest  was held the following day at his office which turned violent when two protesters were beaten up.

 

Lee had defended the flash mob as a stunt to highlight the rakyat's concern over rising cost of living.

 

Kangkung-themed jokes mocking the prime minister had gone viral after he lamented that the people were critical of price hikes but did not thank the government when the price of kangkung, a wild vegetable, went down.

 

The statement had been condemned for being insensitive as the people grapple with a series of price hikes ranging from electricity to sugar and petrol to school bus fares.

 

In a separate statement, Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong ( left ) condemned both the PKR's flash mob and Umno's protests which he said came about after "excessive politicking of the kangkung issue by the opposition".

 

He also condemned the threat of riots at the Umno protest.

 

“I resolutely denounce the fear mongering tactic as it only serves to add to the vicious circle of faulty and degrading politics. 

 

"I sincerely urge all parties to embrace political integrity and be more responsible to the public in a bona fide manner," he said.