YOURSAY ‘Will Umno’s Zaidi say he was misquoted or did he say it out of love?’
Police reports to be filed over 'keling' remark
Pemerhati: The words ‘keling’ and ‘bai’ are used in Malaysia for the people whose ancestors come from India.
Just before a budget speech, which was telecast live several years ago during Dr Mahathir Mohamad's premiership, the late Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh got up to speak on a certain matter.
The Umno parliamentarians repeatedly and angrily shouted at him by saying, “Hey bai, duduk!” (Hey bai, sit down!).
When you ask the people why they use such derogatory remarks, some of them will reply that the word ‘bai’ means brother in Punjabi and hence they are using it because they consider you as a brother.
As to the word ‘keling’, they will say that they use the term on the people who come from the famous kingdom of Kalinga in India and hence no offence should be taken.
But the reality is these words are considered as derogatory and both the users and their victims know it. The nearest equivalent derogatory term for the Chinese would be ‘chink’.
Tholu: The word ‘celaka’ used along with the noun Umno is to modify the noun to make it suit the utterer’s temperament at the moment.
An individual uses the ‘celaka’ adjective to describe Umno to show one’s gross dislike for the party. I don't see anything wrong in it. Umno will remain forever that in the eyes off everyone else.
But the utterance of the word ‘keling’ targeted towards a specific community pierces through their souls of that community like a spear that passes through the heart.
It effectively ends their spirit to toddle on in life and they will slump and declare the site they slump on their grave.
Gotcha: ‘ Celaka ’ or ‘keling’, which is more sensitive? Definitely ‘keling’. So charge Permatang Pauh Umno chief Zaidi Mohd Said. Why wait?
Malaysians of all races are waiting for the charge. The police must take action.
Not Smart: If action is being taken against people who had used the word ‘celaka’ against Umno, then the mention of the word 'keling' should also be treated the same.
If the prime minister is serious on clamping down on seditious comments, he should take action on Umno members just like how Gerakan went after a delegate for saying that Malays are also ‘pendatang’ (migrants).
RCZ: This is the quality of Umno members. They are sick, racist and arrogant sods who think that the whole world owes them a favour for ripping the wonderful fabric of our country.
I think it is despicable for ‘keling’ to be used and this uneducated, or shall I say Umno-educated man, should face the consequences.
As for the rest of the members who lapped up this Zaidi's rudeness, including Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, you are all the same.
Where are you, Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor? Why no statement on this?
Survivor: Umno and those pro-Umno NGOs persistently say that other communities do not respect the Malay sensitivities. Really? Do Umno and those NGOs respect the sensitivities of the other communities?
Does it also mean that we need more of Zaidi's type of characters to ensure the demise of Umno? That would be good, if it helps.
Azhar: It’s the same old story. They will make all these racist remarks and say anything and everything that threatens harmony among Malaysians. The reason? They know that they will get away with it.
These people are protected. The escape clause - “I was misquoted” or “That’s not what I meant. Keling? I said it lovingly!”
Kangkung: You can file a million police reports but nothing will be done as the Sedition Act and Section 504 of the Penal Code is solely for the opposition leaders and supporters.
The Mask: Well Mr PM, this is the test to determine how serious you are in carrying out your promise that everyone raising sensitive and racial issue will have to face the full force of the sedition law.
To all those who support the Sedition Act, where are your voices? You want the Act but are silent to force the authority to implement it strictly and fairly.
You people just don’t get it. It is the fact that the law is executed selectively that is the issue, not the Act itself.
See how the attorney-general gave excuses for not charging Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali for threatening to burn bibles and that Wanita Umno delegate Mashitah is still walking free after falsely accusing the Chinese community of burning the Quran?
Anon1: If the word ‘keling’ was uttered during the Umno general assembly and none of the party leaders chided or rebuked him, then what good is the police report going to do? The top folks of Umno tacitly encourage him.
Apart from being on record that a report was made, nothing else will happen.
Notice that these people who have nothing intelligent to say can only resort to this type of theatrics to motivate their mob of even clueless members?
FairMind: Just the utterance of the word ‘keling’ alone has brought a slew of police reports nationwide. Zaidi made worst denigrating remarks on the Penang Chinese and no Chinese made any police report?
Baling Wanita Umno chief Mashitah made an even more serious accusation that the Kedah Chinese burned the Quran page by page and yet no Chinese made any police report . The Chinese in the northern state are either lethargic or saints.
Dizzer: I don't agree that name-calling should be considered seditious, no matter how offensive or uncouth it is. Don't make a martyr out of this thug - just look at him, clearly as thick as two short planks.
However, Mashitah is another matter altogether - an outright lie designed to inflame the impressionable Malays against another race. That seems to be malicious slander at best, seditious at worst.
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