Why must Lee apologise to ultra-racists?

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YOURSAY ‘Once you start apologising, you'll have to keep apologising for eternity.’

DAP to flash mob leader: Consider apologising

Appum: It will take a lot of courage for young PKR politician state assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon to do as DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has advised.

It is not an easy thing to do. As argued by the commentators, there are pros and cons to this. Perhaps Lee has to look at the bigger picture.

Apologising to the PM will diffuse a volatile situation. There is a difference between pride and ego. When you extend an apology, your ego may take a tumble but you should feel proud that you are doing it for the sake of peace.

Mature and peace-loving people will praise you for it. Honestly, it really takes a man, and a courageous one, to apologise.

Just remember, Lee, some people don't like the idea of kangkung being stuffed down their throats.

Haveagreatday: "Lee should consider an apology especially as there are those who regard such protest action as excessive, offensive and insensitive," so says Kit Siang. I beg to differ but I respect him for his political acumen so I'll submit to his wisdom.

But the point also is will the Umno leaders rein in their followers in the provocative and violent protests against Lee? I doubt so. So again, we see the rakyat being browbeaten into submission.

Anonymous #07688157: What? Apologise? Don't. Umno leader have done worse things - like the protest at the church. Don't be compliant like how former Singapore premier Lee Kuan Yew has categorised us.

Premier Najib Abdul Razak deserved what he got. Look at him. He is not fit to be a leader. He has broken all his promises. Don't apologise. Keep quiet like Najib is doing.

Fair Play!: Kit Siang has lost his mind. Apologising will be interpreted by the ignorant and the Umno goons as admission of wrongdoing.

Therefore if and when the next May 13 happens (God forbid), PKR and Lee will be blamed for it just like the last May 13 was alleged to be led by DAP.

Kit Siang is only interested in protecting DAP turf. He should get his son, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, to give up the new Mercedes before getting Lee to apologise for pointing out the PM's lack of sympathy for the common workingman's problems.

Spinnot: Umno Baru has an agenda. They are turning a protest against the PM/Putrajaya into an insult against the Malays, and they are blaming DAP when they know that the protest was organised by PKR.

Dex: Lee should say sorry and let us see if BN leaders are capable of doing the same thing.

Cry, My Beloved Country: Kit Siang's call is most timely. The Office of Prime Minister cannot be demeaned under any circumstances, however much we may disagree with the incumbent.

I implore respected leaders of Pakatan Rakyat, such Tony Pua, N Surendran, Teresa Kok, Khalid Samad, Anwar Ibrahim and others to not only distance themselves from this puerile, unacceptable behaviour, but publicly support the call for an apology.

Surely we are collectively very much a cut above the butt-wagging and burning of effigies.

ThisLandIsMine: Yes. The apology does not mean weakness but shows you as a magnanimous leader.

Supercession: Please, once you start apologising to placate the ultra-racists, you'll have to keep apologising for eternity, which can't be good if the idea is to create a New Malaysia purged of Umno's toxins.

Quek: Umno has forfeited the right to ask for any apology when they have carried out acts that were many times more offensive and even criminal with complete immunity - not once, but many times.

Khai Loon has done nothing criminal; he has only expressed the frustration and anger of the masses over the callous insensitivity of the PM to their economic suffering.

Never submit to intimidation of violent mobs. It is they who must be legally punished and apologise.

Anonymous #039163649: Lee, Kit Siang is an experienced politician, he has been there and done everything, you would do good if you apologise. Even Guan Eng apologised when he called Penang opposition leader Jaharah Hamid a racist grandmother.

So, an apology is no big deal, don't give that Umno man Reezal Merican Naina Merica cause to incite.

Never mind if they consider your apology insincere or what, who cares. Just apologise. Lee, listen to old-timer Kit Siang, please.

Onyourtoes: Apologising may take the wind of out racists’ sail, but it will also embolden those bent at creating trouble to turn every protest or event into a racial issue in the future.

Where was it stated that the protest against the PM was a protest again the Malays?

If ever Lee agrees to apologise, Pakatan must capitalise on the opportunity to explain to as many as possible it was the protest against price hike which the government fears most.

Gen2indian: What about that leader in Penang who presented Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng with faeces-shaped cakes and another Umno wannabe "leader" who stomped on the CM's picture?

Don't they need to apologise too? It's always the non-Malays who can be trampled on. Why?

SimonTi: Kit Siang, next call The Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew to apologise to Perkasa for threatening to burn the Alkitab and spewing hatred against Christians.

Or call the Damansara Utama Methodist Church to apologise for inviting Jais (Selangor Islamic Religious Department) to raid the church for being nice to Muslims.

Or call the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes to apologise to Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria for almost creating a riot in Ipoh.

Or call the suffering rakyat who rallied against unjust taxes to apologise to the mufti for promoting bloodshed against the people.


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