DAP Youth comes to Teresa's defence, Amanah Youth wants apology

• UPDATED 4.20PM | Included Akmal’s response to Yii

DAP Youth chief Dr Kelvin Yii has chided his Umno Youth counterpart, Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, for his provocative remarks towards Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.

In a statement today, Yii said Akmal should have engaged the DAP vice-chairperson in debate and not resort to name-calling.

“The sexist and misogynistic remarks made by the Umno Youth chief towards Kok are downright rude and unbecoming of a youth leader in our nation.

“Such acts should be reprimanded and condemned as they set a bad example to others, especially to the youth of our nation, on how a national leader should behave,” the Bandar Kuching MP said.

Kok is set to be quizzed tomorrow over her remarks that making halal certification mandatory for restaurants could become a burden to businesses and lead Malaysia to global ridicule.

Akmal reacted to her initial remarks by calling her an “old Nyonya” and suggested she have a non-halal logo pasted on her forehead.

“She raised a legitimate concern by the people she represented and even if one disagrees with the point she made, one can always counter it with facts and arguments and not name-calling,” Yii said.

“This important matter will be discussed comprehensively by our leaders in cabinet, and should not be made a polemic and be politicised.

“We can have different perspectives and views on policies - debate and discuss them in a mature manner. Not calling names, demeaning, and being disrespectful to one another,” he added.

Yii urged Akmal to engage in mature and constructive politics that could set an example in bringing Malaysians together.

“As a national leader, the priority should be to build bridges and explain the matter, not instigate division,” he added.

‘Refrain from commenting on Muslim matters’

However, Amanah Youth chief Mohd Hasbie Muda took a different tack, calling Kok to retract her statement and apologise.

“Any views related to the improvement of the proposal (to make halal certification mandatory) should be passed through the DAP representative in the cabinet,” he told Harian Metro.

Hasbie said DAP leaders who are not Muslims should not make any comments related to Muslims.

“This is because sometimes they do not understand technical matters as, even from one angle, there are small traders.

“But due to the current sentiment (or) perception, when a non-Malay leader from DAP comments, it is sensitive for Malay-Muslims,” he added.

The issue emerged when the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) was reportedly considering a proposal to make halal certification mandatory for restaurants and food companies that do not serve pork and alcohol.

Kok objected to the plans, prompting an uproar from conservative politicians, including Akmal.

Notably, she was not the only politician to voice objections.

The Umno ulama council also said the proposal to make halal certification mandatory was unsuitable for restaurants and food companies owned by Muslims.

‘Don’t poke the hornet’s nest’

Meanwhile, in a direct response to Yii, Akmal asked who started the issue, seemingly implying that it was Kok.

It should be noted that the matter was first raised by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, who said the government was mulling the move.

“Check again who started this issue. Please teach your senior leaders to be civil,” Akmal said.

“Don’t poke the hornet's nest. Don’t try to get involved with Malay-Muslim issues.

“If you don’t want us to be rude, don’t be rude yourself, don’t challenge!” he added.

The Umno Youth leader said he can be friendly and be friends with anyone, and will even reciprocate with many kindnesses towards virtuous people.

“But if you have no character and lose your morals, let us show you what real rudeness and impudence is,” said Akmal in a social media post.

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