KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 — #Merah169 spokesman Datuk Jamal Md Yunos sought last night to explain his defence of the “Cina gila babi (crazy Chinese pig)” remark hurled at a reporter during last week's rally, claiming that his explanation was twisted.
According to a report by Malaysiakini, the Sungai Besar Umno division chief said he never advocated the use of the phrase "Cina babi", and was merely claiming that Chinese people have no problems with pigs since they consumed pork.
"I never called anyone 'Cina babi'. What I said when I replied to a reporter's question is that I denied that I said 'Cina babi'.
“I only commented, ‘what problems do the Chinese have with pigs?’," he was quoted saying after a dinner function at Sekinchan, Selangor.
"For example, Malays have no problems with cows. It's just that if you said 'Melayu lembu' (Malay cows), we would sure get angry.
"It is the same with the Chinese. It's not 'Cina babi', it's just that the Chinese have no problems with pigs, as most Chinese eat pigs. That's what I meant," Jamal said.
Jamal heads the so-called Coalition of Malay NGOs responsible for the “Red Shirt” aspect of the rally as well as its alternate “Himpunan Maruah Melayu (Malay Dignity Rally)” name.
He has since formed a ten-member legal team to trawl social media for individuals spreading false news against him.
Thousands of red shirted people were bussed into the federal capital on Wednesday, which was also Malaysia Day, for the rally officially called “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” or the United People’s Assembly, but which caused concern among traders in the city centre and ethnic Chinese business leaders.
The protest was also marred by sporadic outbreaks of racism, with one attendee recorded calling a reporter “Crazy Chinese pig”, among other insults.
A pocket of rally participants led by Jamal also clashed with riot police in Petaling Street, forcing the authorities to fire water cannons to disperse the crowd.
