KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — DAP’s P. Ramasamy should not be so arrogant as to say he does not fear a repeat of the May 13 racial riots and should not forget that he resides in Malay-majority Malaysia, Perkasa’s Datuk Ibrahim Ali told the Penang Deputy Chief Minister II today.

Ibrahim sarcastically added that the federal opposition lawmaker was right not to fear the prospect of another ethnic clash as “the Malays have been kind enough” in tolerating the influx of immigrants into the country in the past and right up to the present.

“If he is not afraid then ok lah… because the Malays have been kind enough… that is why many people came to Malaya. Even when it changed to Malaysia they still come.

“Congratulations if he is not afraid. I am not sure if I am afraid or not… but don’t be arrogant,” the Perkasa president told The Malay Mail Online in a text message in Malay.

Citing a popular Malay idiom urging a person to respect local custom wherever he lives, Ibrahim added, “Remember di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit di junjung”.

Ramasamy, who is Batu Kawan MP, had challenged Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last Sunday to “bring [on] May 13” in response to the deputy prime minister’s remark on the deadly interracial clash between Malays and Chinese 45 years ago.

Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, reportedly said on Friday that a repeat of the May 13 race riots could occur if the country’s ethnic communities continue to criticise one another.

Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia reported Muhyiddin as saying in Johor that ethnic tensions that were allowed to simmer would lead to unrest when the various communities start to eye each other with suspicion.

Muhyiddin had not mentioned the date specifically but in its report, Utusan Malaysia had inserted the May 13, 1969 date to his quote in parentheses.

The Umno deputy president also said he has been receiving text messages from those expressing concern about the welfare of the Malays, the country’s dominant racial group, and Islam.

The statement drew immediate condemnation from DAP leaders, including veteran Lim Kit Siang who accused Muhyiddin of wanting to instigate racial conflict.

Ibrahim, today, also took a swipe at Lim, saying the Gelang Patah MP should not be making such criticism since Ramasamy “is not afraid of May 13”.

“When the DPM reminded (people) of May 13 why should LKS make so much noise? Relax because Ramasamy said he is not afraid,” Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim’s junior colleagues from Perkasa took a similar stand.

Selangor Perkasa chief Abu Bakar Yahya commenting on the matter said the group was not afraid to “take up the challenge”.

“We do not wish to beat our chests or break any laws but if we are destined to take up the challenge, kecil tapak tangan nyiru kami tadahkan (more than willing) rather than become a slave on our own soil,” he said.

Malay concerns over the Bumiputera special privileges have also bubbled to the surface in recent months after Putrajaya’s National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) proposed three draft bills to replace the Sedition Act.

Among others, the laws and the members of the NUCC responsible for drafting them have been accused of being anti-Malay.

Hundreds of Malaysians are believed to have died during the May 13, 1969 clashes between the Malays and the Chinese.

Although ostensibly triggered by the results of Election 1969, it was rooted in ethnic tensions between the two communities.