DAP rep fires back at Zahid over ‘DAP had it coming’ remark
(The Malaysian Insider) – DAP rep R.S.N. Rayer has lashed out at Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for saying that the DAP had it coming because of his “Umno celaka” (Umno be damned) remark.
In response to Zahid’s statement that the DAP has to face the consequences because it was a natural reaction for Umno Youth to threaten to burn down the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, the Seri Delima assemblyman asked what Zahid had done when the wing’s members assaulted the late Karpal Singh in Parliament in 2009.
“What did he do when Umno Youth members wanted to assault Karpal, who was confined to a wheelchair in 2009?
“Did the minister take any action?” he said in a ceramah in Air Itam tonight.
Rayer was referring to a February 26, 2009 incident when a group of Selangor Umno Youth members stopped former Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal from entering the House, demanding that he apologise for a statement he made in Parliament that the Youth wing was behind the two rounds of live ammunition he had received in the mail.
Karpal also purportedly used the word celaka (be damned) to describe the wing.
Earlier today in Teluk Intan, Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said the Umno Youth’s arson threat on Thursday was the price the DAP had to pay for allowing its members to utter derogatory words.
He said the actions of Umno Youth members were a manifestation of the anger of its leaders. He reminded all political parties to respect other parties and not to use any words that could hurt the feelings of others.
“I am worried that a high price must be paid if you misuse words like what Rayer did,” Zahid reportedly said.
About 50 Federal Territory (FT) Umno Youth members protested in front of the DAP headquarters in Jalan Yew in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday and threatened to burn down the building.
DAP leaders claimed the angry group had also destroyed the party’s signboard.
A day earlier, a group of people who said they were Umno Youth barged into the Penang legislative assembly, demanding an apology from Rayer.
Rayer had uttered “Umno celaka” at the assembly sitting on Tuesday and has since stood by his words and refused to apologise.
He was referring to three Umno leaders who took part in a rally in Seberang Jaya in January where protestors brandished a banner bearing the words “Because of DAP’s leaders mouth, May 13, 1969 happened… Want some more?”
Tonight, Rayer introduced himself to Air Itam residents as the “celaka YB” (the Yang Berhormat or assemblyman who said the word ‘celaka’).
“I have many people who have voiced their support for me, telling me not to apologise.
“If I take a microphone to the roadside and scold people stupid and such, I would be crazy. So I take this to the state legislative assembly.
