Najib hits out at Rayer over ‘Umno celaka’ remarks
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today condemned DAP Penang's Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N Rayer (pic) for his “Umno celaka” (Umno be damned) remarks.
In a Facebook posting, Najib said it was unbecoming of Rayer to resort to things which incited disharmony.
"We may differ in our political opinions but being abusive is uncalled for," Najib said in his posting, adding that we were all Malaysians.
However, Najib also appealed to all Umno members not to overreact by taking the law into their own hands.
"Any reaction should be within the boundaries of the law and maintain the image of Umno," Najib said.
"Do not do anything irresponsible as we must strive to continue upholding the good name and reputation of our party," said the Umno president.
Since Rayer's “Umno celaka” remark in a Penang legislative assembly sitting on Tuesday, protests have erupted on the island.
A group of 60 people disrupted the state assembly for the first time in its history on Wednesday when they stormed into the building.
Police later arrested 12 people for the intrusion, although they were all released on police bail.
On Wednesday, some 50 Federal Territory (FT) Umno Youth members, armed with banners, protested in front of the DAP headquarters in Jalan Yew in Kuala Lumpur.
They later handed over a memorandum to party strategist and Serdang MP Dr Ong Kian Ming.
They threatened to burn the building and DAP leaders claimed the protesters had destroyed the party's signboard.
Yesterday, a group claiming to be Umno Youth members and representatives of Malay NGOs attacked the DAP office in Kuantan.
The incident occurred despite pleas from Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin to members to calm down.
In the incident, the protesters, who waved Pahang flags, carried placards and banners denouncing DAP.
Another banner warned the Chinese party not to play with fire by challenging and inciting the Malays.
The protesters also threw eggs at the DAP office and damaged the party's signboard.
Malaysiakini reported eyewitness Kamarul Hatta Mohamed Ali as saying that the 3pm protest was led by Indera Mahkota division Umno Youth chief Muhammad Faiz Hashim.
Speaking to Malaysiakini, he described the protest as "quite violent" and that the protesters pelted "around 20 eggs" at the building.
"They chanted 'Hidup Melayu' (long live the Malays).
"They wanted to hand over a memorandum but there was no one (in the office)," said the assistant to PKR Semambu assemblyman Lee Chean Chung.
Kamarul said the protesters also trampled and burnt a poster of Rayer. – May 24, 2014.
