SEPANG, March 11 — The Department of Civil Aviation’s (DCA) director-general meant no insult when he used the term “Balotelli-looking” when speaking about two dubious passengers on missing Malaysian AIrlines’(MAS) MH370, a Transport Ministry official said today.
During a press conference last night, Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Razak had asked the media if they were familiar with the appearance of Italian national footballer Mario Balotelli, in his attempt to describe two Iranians who boarded the still-missing flight using stolen passports.
“No ill-feelings were meant to the personality concerned,” said V. Mano, the ministry’s head of crisis communications, in a brief statement.
Azaharuddin was trying to convey that one would not take Balotelli for an Italian. The latter was born in Italy to Ghanaian parents.
“Do you know a footballer by the name of Bartoli? He is an Italian. Do you know what he looks like? Yes, Balotelli,” Azaharuddin told reporters, in a press conference at the Sama-Sama Hotel here.
“I don’t want to dwell about this but they (nationality and race) are not the same thing,” he added.
Azharudding’s remark drew brickbats from social media users, who criticised the reference as unhelpful in the mystery of the Boeing 777-200 jetliner’s disappearance.
“When asked to elaborate further, Azaharuddin pointed out that nationalities are not necessarily determined by one’s appearance and referred to the Italian footballer only as an example,” said Mano.
Azaharuddin had then been asked to clarify Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s claim that the duo were “Asian” looking.
The search is ongoing for the Beijing-bound plane that vanished about an hour after it took off on Saturday.
