Deputhy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Tajuddin Abdul Rahman issued a harsh warning to Malaysia’s ethnic Chinese community that he would “slap” those who were found to have complained of their plight in the country to foreign entities.
“I want to warn Malaysian Chinese not to run and complain to others when they’re dissatistfied here,” he said after officiating the Herbal Asia Trade Exposition and Conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
“You should be slapped for that,” he added, as quoted by Malaysiakini‘s Shakira Buang.
Tajuddin also said that Malaysia’s Chinese community should stop “dreaming” that a foreign power would come to their rescue.
“Chinese in Malaysia need to stop dreaming that a ‘big boss’ or a ‘Godfather’ will come down here from China to help them,” he said.
The deputy minister’s remarks were in response to Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang’s controversial visit to Petaling Street last week, where he proclaimed that Beijing stood against racism and extremism of any kind.
Petaling Street was slated to be the venue of a second pro-Malay “red shirt” rally lat Saturday, after the Gathering for Malay Dignity on Malaysia Day that saw violence break out in Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street between angry protesters and law enforcement personnel blocking access to Chinese-dominant parts of the city.
After the arrest of Red Shirt spokesperson Jamal Md Yunos, the red shirt rally on Saturday was called off.
Tajuddin reasserted that Dr Huang’s visit to Chinatown last Friday was in the interest of citizens of the People’s Republic of China, not Malaysian Chinese.
“He (Huang) said he was protecting his people, not Malaysian Chinese. Why would he meddle in our affairs? I would be angry at him if tried to interfere,” he said.
Huang, after having been summoned by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said that his presence in Petaling Street should not be misconstrued as a call to Malaysians to oppose Putrajaya.
The Chinese envoy maintained he went to Petaling Street on a cordial visit, and to determine if there would be any security concerns for tourists in the area before deciding whether or not to issue a travel advisory to tourists from China.
Reader Interactions