INTERVIEW |Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz will not apologise to MCA, a major partner of the Umno-led BN coalition.

In an interview with Malaysiakini, Nazri, who is also an Umno supreme council member, defended his remarks as a sign of a "matured relationship" among BN component parties.

"I can only do this thing if I am confident whatever I said would not affect our brotherly relationship," he said in reference to several MCA leaders who were upset over his brash attacks against billionaire Robert Kuok.

For example, Nazri said while he would take offence if a stranger were to use a derogatory word against him, it would, however, be acceptable in a conversation among close friends.

"If you don't know these fellas, suddenly you said ‘bastard’. Surely, they will get angry.

"But you can say this to your friend: 'Bastard, where did you go?' This is like me with MCA," he explained, laughing off concerns raised over strained ties between him and MCA.

Referring to his reported remarks against MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan, Nazri said he was only responding to the latter’s statements which he said were inaccurate.

“He (Ong) had confused the netizens about something which I didn't say.

“I was just responding to his statement and he happened to be the secretary-general of MCA,” said the minister insisting that the matter should be viewed as a personal dispute between two individuals and not one between two political parties.

Nazri had last week shot back at Ong and labelled the latter “stupid” for schooling him over his call for Kuok to give up his citizenship if he was supporting efforts to topple the government.

As the war of words escalated, MCA Youth staged a protest to demand an apology from Nazri at the party's 69th-anniversary celebrations on Saturday

Among others, they demanded Nazri to apologise over his "crude remarks" against Kuok after the Padang Rengas MP reportedly challenged the Hong Kong-based tycoon to return and contest in the 14th general election.

Read more: Nazri: Non-Muslims must vote BN parties to ensure rights remain protected

'I would need to apologise to a long list'

Nazri insisted that he would not apologise to MCA as he had never done so to others whom he might have offended in the past.

"If I have to apologise (to MCA) then I (also) have to apologise to a long list of names. Some of them are, maybe, dead already.

"So there is no precedent of Nazri apologising," he said, stressing that there was nothing personal in his remarks.

The minister also said he had no issues with being described as “rude” or “offensive”.

True to his outspoken style, Nazri said his guiding principle in almost 40 years in politics has always been to respect freedom of speech, and those who are unhappy with him could seek recourse through the courts under existing laws.

In reference to his spat with MCA leaders, Nazri pointed out that no Umno supreme council member had spoken up in his defence, arguing that this was a sign that the remarks were his own personal stand which was not endorsed by the party.

“I am not someone who is very sophisticated. Some people say I am ‘minister gangster’. That is just how it is with me,” he said when asked about his choice of words against Kuok.

In the following excerpt from Malaysiakini's exclusive interview, Nazri also talked about how he earned the reputation of being a "gangster minister" and the dynamics behind his relationship with MCA.

The interview has been edited for language and brevity.

Some have expressed reservation not about your criticism, but the manner of the criticism, like your choice of words when you are talking about a 94-year-old billionaire, calling him 'pondan'... In your opinion, is this becoming conduct of a senior member of the ruling coalition?

I have done that to (former premier Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad). He is also as old as Robert Kuok. I have also done that to many others… There was a time (former minister) Rafidah (Aziz) said “this Nazri, real kurang ajar”, because I said something about (the late) Tun Ghaffar (Baba).

I have been part of the BN government for 19 years. So any criticisms made towards the government of which I am a member, surely I take offence. So it was just my reaction.

And when Robert Kuok issued his statement (denying funding DAP), I said I really appreciate that. I said I was heartened... I was very pleased and happy.

So don’t blame me... I merely responded to questions asked by reporters... from newspapers which picked up (the allegations from) Raja Petra's blog and it was not rebutted for three days.

I am not someone who is very sophisticated, some people say I am ‘minister gangster’. That is how it is with me.

So, no apology (to MCA)?

Yes, because as I said, there is no precedent to show that I have apologised (before) for being ‘kurang ajar’.

It’s just my branding... For me, nothing is personal… You have your position, I have mine. It’s like playing football - your team and the opposition team, after the game, you exchange jerseys, you kiss and hug.

That's in the stadium, and when outside the stadium, you talk to each other.

But there is a slight difference here, Datuk Seri. Using the football analogy, MCA is claiming that you are tackling your own team and not the opponents.

Can you check the chronology? I never attacked MCA (first).

So you are only retaliating?

Yes. Because in Islam, we don't glorify people so I don't have that culture in me. How do I know if Robert Kuok is their icon, idol or deity? I don't know.

How would I know the connection between Robert Kuok and them? The attack was never meant on MCA. So check back the chronology.

THE NAZRI INTERVIEW

No apology to MCA, Nazri explains why

Nazri: Non-Muslims must vote BN parties to ensure rights remain protected

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