Racial remarks: No sorry from Khairy
Malaysiakini
Oct  3, 2006
Bede Hong

No apologies but only explanation that was given by Umno deputy youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today to his fellow Barisan Nasional youth leaders over his racial remarks in August.

His remarks had then sparked off intense reaction from the Chinese community, including from the members of the Chinese-based MCA and Gerakan - two of the leading coalition partners in BN.

Since then, it was widely expected that Khairy will apologise over his remarks at the BN youth council meeting today.

However after a three-hour meeting involving youth leaders from all 12 coalition partners, BN youth chairperson Hishammuddin Hussein reported that the youth council have resolved to “work together” and to put the incident behind them, and had described the meeting as a success.

“It’s about sincerity, and the spirit of co-cooperation. The relationship between the youth members need to be built on so there is no misunderstanding while we carry out our duties,” he told reporters after chairing the meeting.

Throughout the meeting, Hishammuddin reiterated the need for Barisan youth to “move forward” and not to allow “racial sentiments to cloud judgements”.

“It was explained that Khairy had not meant to insult any ethnic group. All leaders have agreed to bring Khairy’s explanation to the committee and grassroots level to avoid the issue being misinterpreted again,” said the Umno youth chief.

“The issue he brought up was in fact played up and misconstrued by some parties,” he added.

Efforts by the media to get Khairy to speak was rebuffed by Hishammuddin.

A question by a reporter that was directed at Khairy was blocked by Hishammuddin, who said: “I’m charing this meeting. I’ll be the one answering the questions. Any questions you can direct at the individuals later.”

Several youth leaders, including Khairy, Hishammuddin, MCA youth chief Liow Tiong Lai and Gerakan youth chief Mah Siew Keong posed for a photograph. Khairy did not speak to the media later.

Are they satisfied?

In a separate press conference held later, MCA and Gerakan youth leaders said that they were happy with the way the meeting was conducted, but the group had conspicuously avoided stating that they were satisfied with explanation offered by Khairy.

Asked if he was satisfied with Khairy’s explanation, MCA youth chief Liow Tiong Lai said he was “very satisfied the way the meeting has been carried out”.

When pressed further by reporters that he was avoiding the question, Liow replied , “That’s your own interpretation.”

When asked whether Khairy needed to apologise, Liow said that reporters have to speak to Khairy on the matter. “It’s up to him,” he said.

When asked on the details of Khairy’s explanation, Liow shot back “I don’t have to explain here. Do I need to?”

“Here we work by consensus. We have given our opinions and frustrations. I think it was conveyed in the spirit of BN we must have a consensus,” said Mah

“We hope that this Khairy matter will be a lesson. I’m sure he will make an effort to be more cautious. In the next few months is a chance for Barisan Nasional pemuda to show that we are sincere to create a bangsa Malaysia,” he added.

Also present were MCA youth secretary general Dr Wee Ka Siong, Gerakan deputy youth chief Lim Si Pin and Gerakan youth secretary general Ho Siew Ho.

Strong stand

Today’s decision is likely to have caught both MCA and Gerakan in a bind. Party members have levelled their disapproval at the their respective general assembly meetings held last month, at Khairy, who is also the prime minister’s son-in-law.

The issue was also given wide coverage by the Chinese dailies. Chinese-based MCA had last month rejected a compromise reached through a private meeting between Khairy and MCA deputy youth chief Ling Hee Leong.

Wee had earlier said that the party youth wing would not accept Khairy’s explanation and that the media could not be blamed.

“There was no inconsistency in newspaper reports about what Khairy said and they (media) can’t be fabricating the stories together. The media should reveal tape recordings of what Khairy said.”

“We want Khairy to understand that he must be responsible for his remarks, which are untrue,” he had said.

In August, at the opening of the Jerlun Umno Youth division delegates conference in Kedah, Khairy had warned party members that Chinese Malaysians would exploit the current infighting within the ruling party to advance their community’s interests.

“The internal split within Umno will weaken the party’s position and this will pave way for the Chinese Malaysians to make various demands to benefit their community,” Khairy was quoted as saying by Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily.