Umno Youth’s ‘burning anger’, DAP’s price to pay, says home minister

TELUK INTAN, May 24 — The Umno Youth protest at the DAP’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur is the price the opposition party must bear for its lawmaker’s discourteous remark, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

The home minister said that DAP’s Seri Delima representative, RSN Rayer’s choice of words when he uttered “celaka Umno” in the Penang legislative assembly was hateful, adding that people who used such words were immature, uncivilised and disrespectful.

“I want to say that the feelings of burning anger are the price you have to pay when you use the wrong word,” Zahid told a press conference at Kampung Selabak here.

But Zahid, who is also Umno vice-president, also called on all parties to be rational, echoing the statement made earlier today by his party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Najib, who is also prime minister, condemned the DAP lawmaker for using derogatory and abusive words against his political foes, but also advised Umno members not to “overreact” to the situation.

“They can have differences of opinion, but use appropriate words so that no one feels hurt,” Zahid said.

Another Umno vice-president, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein however, took a different tack, calling the police to fully investigate the Umno Youth members who had allegedly threatened to burn down the DAP’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Last Thursday, a group of about 50 members from the Kuala Lumpur chapter of Umno Youth reportedly demonstrated in front of the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur over remarks made by DAP’s Rayer in the Penang legislative assembly.

When debating the Governor’s speech on Tuesday, Rayer uttered the words “celaka Umno” (damn Umno), triggering outrage among the party’s lawmakers.

On Wednesday, some Umno members trespassed into the Penang state assembly while it was in session, demanding an apology from Rayer, but finally left, frustrated.

During last Thursday’s protest in Kuala Lumpur, the group of 50 threatened to burn down the DAP headquarters and reportedly vandalised property belonging to the opposition party.