Apparently, after living in Malaysia for the past seven generations, I’m still seen as a pendatang or immigrant.

UMNO Bukit Bendera division chief Datuk Ismail Ahmad was quoted by the media a few days ago to have called Malaysian Chinese population as pendatang (immigrants) and was also reported to have said that “as the Chinese were only immigrants it was impossible to achieve equal rights among races” during a ceramah in Permatang Pauh on Aug 25.

People have filed police reports against this man, demanded for public apologies but today, after days of keeping mum, he comes up with a refusal and worse, a lame justification for his shameful words.

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“Why should I apologise? I didn’t do anything wrong. Those who do wrong should apologise but I haven’t done anything,” Ahmad said, when met outside his Bayan Baru office Thursday.

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More here.

To be honest, an apology from a lowlife like him would be meaningless as it would be done not out of sincerity but force. If anything, what I want from this man is a jail term and a fine. We have put people in jail for less so why not for someone who spouts demeaning and seditious words?

Dear Editor,

Being abroad, news reaches me slightly late and thanks to a friend, I was informed of the recent misgivings of a Datuk Ahmad Ismail. I read your reports on the Bukit Bendera Umno division chief with much disgust and anger. No, I am not ashamed that a man like him spouts ignorance whenever he opens his mouth and why should I be when it is obvious that he has little idea of what made this country and him ultimately.

Studies worldwide have shown that countries and continents like the US, Australia and Europe were built on the backs of immigrants. Without these “strangers” or pendatangs, the local population and economy would have collapsed years ago. Also, antropological studies have shown that not only did the Chinese move to Malaysia, the population which makes up the Malays came from other places to reside in this country that we now call Malaysia. So this is really the case of the pot calling the kettle black. Make no mistake about it – unless Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s ancestors were Orang Asli, he is just another pendatang or immigrant like my ancestors (and myself).

I cannot believe that even after 50 over years of independence, people like him are still allowed to trawl and populate this country without a care in the world! Granted I may not have been in Switzerland for long, only six months but I have never EVER read of anyone telling a citizen who’s ancestors immigrated a long time ago that they do not deserve equal treatment because they were still being considered as immigrants despite the real fact that they hold a Swiss passport. In fact, even people like myself who are not citizens are warmly welcomed, not being told that we don’t deserve any equal rights.

During the Olympics ceremony in China, does the good Datuk think that the Chinese people in Malaysia were rooting for China? In fact, I got angry at people who think that I should. I should and have been rooting for Malaysia, a place my family has called home for the past seven generations!

I believe that the time for public apologies are long over – more often than not, these public apologies come out half-hearted at best and usually forced. Why demand a public apology from someone who absolutely isn’t repentful or doesn’t see the error of his ways? Why excuse such behaviour and apologize on his behalf? If we can come down hard on criminals, what makes the crime of racism any less of an offence that corrected only by an apology? Like murder, words, when uttered, will never and can never be taken back. I feel that we should punish people who make racist or sexist remarks with a fine. Too long have we taken these offences lightly, resulting in more and more cropping up every year with the perpetrators thinking “Aiya, why worry? I’ll just apologise and people will forget about it after a while.”

Sorry, Datuk but this Malaysian isn’t about to forget the travesty that you’ve just committed. Beyond an public apology, I demand that the authorities fine and jail him for his disgusting words!

Sincerely,
Mabel TEOH