By Clara Chooi
KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — Umno MP Datuk Mohamad Aziz today withdrew his remarks asking if Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan should be hanged for treason after he was ordered to do so by Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Jaafar.
“Yang dipertua, yang dipertua, yang dipertua. I am a disciplined citizen,” Mohamad (picture) said, sounding emotional and out of breath.
“[But] if my remarks hurt my friends, the Indians, MIC, PPP, and affect the spirit of understanding in Barisan Nasional (BN), I withdraw what I said on June 26.”
But before agreeing to retract his words, the Sri Gading MP first launched into a biting attack against the DAP, calling the party “racist” and accusing DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng of spinning his words out of context.
“In this case about Ambiga, DAP clearly turned it into a racial issue because they are racists.
“I never intended to be racist. I never mentioned Indian or Hindu but DAP did... for the purpose of political gain.
“They are experts at spinning things, they want to destroy my relationship with others,” the angry parliamentarian shouted.
Mohamad also continued to stand by his explanation that his remarks about Ambiga were meant to be a question, and not a statement as alleged by Lim.
Lim had earlier cited Standing Order 36(4), 36(7) and 36(10) against Mohamad, saying the lawmaker had used offensive language in the House.
“They do not understand Bahasa Malaysia. It was not a question,” the Umno MP said.
According to Hansard, the Umno leader had on Tuesday night said in the House: “Apakah Ambiga tidak boleh kita anggap penderhaka kepada Duli Yang Maha Mulia Yang di-Pertuan Agong dan hukum gantung pada dia?”
[Translation: Can we not consider Ambiga a traitor to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and sentence her to be hanged?]
MORE TO COME