Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy said anyone, including Pakatan Harapan leaders, should be admonished if they used derogatory terms or racial slurs against a person.

He said Pakatan Harapan's working relationship with Dr Mahathir Mohamad does not mean the former prime minister can get away with using the word 'keling' to describe Indians.

“If a Harapan leader also came out with something like that, we should admonish him; if I say something bad like that about others, people have the right to admonish me,” Ramasamy told Malaysiakini.

Ramasamy said his criticism towards Mahathir is not in conflict with DAP’s working relationship with Mahathir, who recently announced he would form a new party with former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said the DAP leadership felt it was important to regroup with other like-minded forces and make sure the opposition wins Putrajaya in the coming 14th general election.

“We must provide that kind of hope for Malaysians, but at the same time, I admit that Mahathir had created the kind of racial and religious system in the country inherited by Prime Minister Najib Razak,” he said.

“It is better we face it now rather than sweep it under the carpet for some immediate political convenience,” Ramasamy added.

He was referring to a video clip of Mahathir uttering the word 'keling', which went viral on social media.

Ramasamy had expressed disappointment that it came from a man who is setting up a new party.

“Do you think Indians in Malaysia will support him when he does things like this? Anyway, he doesn’t care about the Indians, and the Indians don’t care about him,” Ramasamy had said yesterday.

Relevant work arrangement

Ramasamy noted DAP is trying to form a broad coalition to unseat Najib and bring reform in the country.

But he acknowledged that Harapan's vision of a Malaysian society may not be the same as Mahathir's.

However, both quarters want Najib to step down over his alleged involvement in 1MDB's multi-billion ringgit scandal.

This is especially so after the United States Department of Justice’s civil forfeiture case to seize assets allegedly purchased with money siphoned from 1MDB.

The relationship between Harapan and Mahathir was also forged to win over Malay support, as the former premier has a certain appeal among the community, especially elements in Umno.

“When focused on a common issue, this kind of work arrangement is relevant.

“I have no problem with Mahathir if he feels something is seriously wrong and that Najib has to leave as the matter is too colossal and we cannot ignore it,” said Ramasamy.

Ramasamy said his problem was only with the word 'keling', adding that he could not tolerate any racial slurs, regardless whom the target is.

“Whether that person is in DAP or not, is not an issue to me,” said Ramasamy.

Ramasamy said ‘keling’ on its own is not a derogatory word. But when used against others, it is meant to irritate and insult the person, he said.

He cited as an example Mahatma Gandhi's use of the word 'Harrijan' to refer to Indians from low castes, although the word meant 'Children of God'.

“As far I am concerned, it is laudable that Mahathir at this stage in his life wants to work with the opposition to get rid of Najib, but for us there is a bigger agenda at work.

“We want to create an environment that is open to all, across the board, so I was offended that Mahathir would use the term.

“After all, he himself has this pathological drive to deny his past so that he can be accepted as a true Malay,” said Ramasamy.

“His version of Malay is very mechanical - one must be Muslim, practise Malay culture and speak the Malay language.

“Of course he hasn't admitted openly he is an Indian but his father came from Kerala."