GEORGE TOWN: Despite apologising over the ‘pendatang’ (immigrant) remark made during his speech in Nilai last week, Penang Umno Youth today demanded for action to be taken against Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran.
Speaking to newsmen after lodging a report at the northeast district police headquarters this afternoon, state Umno Youth vice chief Anuar Faisal Yahaya said Kulasegaran should face the full brunt of the law as what he had uttered was seditious in nature.
“Just because he apologised, this does not mean that there is no need for investigation to be carried out or action to be taken.
“As a minister, he should be careful with his words, and should not be seen as issuing racist or seditious remarks,” he said.
Anuar said if Kulasegaran is simply let off the hook by apologising, then such an incident will recur in the future.
“We do not want the act of apologising after making racist remarks to become a culture in our society since it can trigger widespread anger.
“Before this, he denied uttering such word and claimed the media had twisted what he said. Today, he apologised and admitted to making the remark,” he added.
The embattled DAP national vice-chairman issued the apology today, a day after he denied labelling the Malays using the term.
Kulasegaran, who is Ipoh Barat member of parliament, said he had never been “a controversialist” on issues of race and religion and would always abide by what had been enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
He also claimed that his speech in Tamil had been misinterpreted in other languages.
Kulasegaran came under fire after what he said was shared in social media, with numerous groups now planning to lodge nationwide police reports against him.
In a report published on Friday, Kulasegaran was quoted as saying that various Hindu temples were discovered in Lembah Bujang in Kedah, which was proof that Hinduism had long existed in the country.