by Sherina Yusof
Although the wind may be against him, Information minister
Rais Yatim is insistent on continuing his feud with Lim Guan Eng, rebuking the Penang
Chief Minister for accusing him of lying and making false statements on the
issue of Penang sidelining the use Bahasa Malaysia at official state functions.
According to him, Guan Eng should have advised the
administration of Han Chiang College to use Bahasa Malaysia at official
functions. Rais was adamant that Huan Chiang College, which is managed by a
well-known person close to Guan Eng, used only English and Mandarin during a
function in which he had attended as a representative of the Prime Minister on
September 29.
According to Rais, the presenter at the event only used those
two languages except when a song was sung in the national language.
"There are no reasons for Lim Guan Eng to say that I
'lied' like Utusan. Presenters from the Han Chiang College did not use a single
Malay word that night. Guan Eng should have advised his friends in that
institution to respect the national language," he said in an SMS to Utusan
on Wednesday.
Rais
wants to create trouble
Rais
was rebutting Guan Eng's press statement issued late on Tuesday night accusing
Rais of making false statements. The Penang Chief Minister had challenged Rais
in a press statement entitled
Datuk Seri Rais Yatim Should Not Lie Like Utusan Malaysia But Prove Which
Penang State Official Function He Attended Sidelined Bahasa Malaysia.
Guan Eng had also reminded Rais that Han Chiang College is
privately-owned, and the function that Rais attended was organised by the
college and not the state government. Guan Eng also warned Rais that should he
fail to produce proof, then Rais must withdraw his words and apologize.
"Rais’ claims that he was the only one
talking in the national language and a little bit of English, is untrue. I had
also spoken in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin. Why did Rais not mention
that I also spoke in Bahasa Malaysia? If Rais was unhappy with the manner Han
Chiang organised the event, why then did he not convey his unhappiness with Han
Chiang? Why did he not demand an explanation from Han Chiang?" said Guan
Eng.
What
did Rais actually say?
On Tuesday, national news agency Bernama had reported
Rais as saying he was frustrated because the national language is not
appreciated in Penang after two years under the DAP-led administration.
"I was the only one to speak in the national language,
and some English. This shows the attitude towards the national language is very
concerning, which is not a good sign in a multi-racial context," Bernama
reported Rais as saying.
Presented with the latest accounts from both Rais and Guan
Eng, Pakatan Rakyat leaders wasted no time tearing into shreds the Umno
leader's "sorry excuse of an explanation".
The pointed to Rais original statement on Tuesday that he
"was the only one" to speak in Bahasa. But Guan Eng stated very
clearly, he also spoke in Bahasa Malaysia, as well as English and Mandarin.
Then on Wednesday, Rais suddenly shifted focus to the
"presenter" speaking only English and Mandarin. Again, he ignored
Guan Eng's presence, as to count the PM Chief Minister, he would be admitting
to his own lie or stretching of the truth.
Playing
the race card again
Pakatan leaders also asked why did Rais bring in the matter
of the "well-known" person managing Han Chiang, whom Utusan reported
is close to Guan Eng? Were Rais and Utusan trying to suggest impropriety on
Guan Eng's part?
As Guan Eng said, GE-13 may be close by but to continue to
stir racial hatred will not only backfire against Umno, but is dangerous for
the nation.
"The Penang state government wishes to
express dismay at the systematic and serial attempts to undermine the Penang
state government with lies and racist sentiments. Even though this is to be
expected in the general elections season, raising the racial temperature is not
only desperate but a highly irresponsible and reckless act that threatens the
harmony and stability of our society," said Guan Eng.
Source : MC
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