Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s alleged remark about the Bugis community has riled up more and more people who are now hitting back at him, calling him rude and lacking the qualities of a statesman.

Today, representatives of 25 non-government organisations under the umbrella of the Johor Malay NGOs Coordinating Council (Gabung) staged a protest against the remark made by Mahathir on Oct 14.

Johor Gabung vice-president Abdullah Md Yusof, who is also the information chief, said they had never expected that a former leader of the country, who once called for unity, would now act to create disharmony among the people.

“Who would not be angry at being called a pirate? As a leader, he (Mahathir) should be more aware of the effects of such seditious remarks on the unity and peace of the country.

“Mahathir should not have let political revenge against someone to lead him to make stupid remarks, which would only cause the country to be ridiculed by foreign leaders and the world community as it would also affect national development,” Abdullah told reporters in Johor Bahru today.

“We want Mahathir to apologise immediately as this has spread wide and upset many people,” he added.

However, Mahathir Mohamad denied insulting the entire Bugis community with his "pirate" remark during Pakatan Harapan's anti-kleptocracy rally last Saturday.

Speaking to a crowd of some 2,000 people at a ceramah in Alor Setar on Friday night, Mahathir insisted that his comment was only directed at "crooks who steal money."

- Bernama