Former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik has described deputy minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman's statement that the Chinese community may be slapped ( lempang ) if they seek help from outsiders over their grouses as " kurang ajar " (insolent).

Ling, who was transport minister for 17 years, said he would never think of saying the same to the Malay community.

"That was a 'kurang ajar' speech. I have never dreamt or thought about slapping Malays.

"That is wrong. Even saying it is wrong, what more (wanting) to do it. This is kurang ajar," Ling told a press conference after attending the 11th Festival of Minds at Tunku Abdul Rahman University College in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, today.

Ling also demanded that Tajuddin, the Pasir Salak MP, to apologise to the Chinese community in Malaysia.

"He should apologise if he had said it," said Ling.

Tajuddin made the disparaging comment on Thursday in response to Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang's visit to Petaling Street ahead of the planned red shirts protest there led by Umno leaders.

Huang's walkabout on Sept 25 raised eyebrows after he said China was against extremism and racism against any particular race on the eve of the racially-charged rally, which was subsequently aborted.

Following national uproar from the "slap" comment, Tajuddin has in a period of under 24 hours juggled varying explanations ranging from outright denial to being misquoted or that he was joking.

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