*NOTE: This article has been amended from the original version published on Dec 23, 2023, to accurately reflect the statement issued on the subject.*
KUALA LUMPUR: MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan has welcomed the apology issued by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the latter's use of a racial slur during an event recently.
However, Saravanan cautioned against using the word in the future as it can hurt the feelings of the Indian community at large.
In a statement, Saravanan said he had received queries from the media, party members and Malaysian Indians at large over the quote by our Prime Minister using the word 'keling' at a forum.
"I have been receiving queries from the media, party members and Malaysian Indians at large over the quote by our prime minister using the word 'keling' at a forum.
"The video of the prime minister referring the Tamil language to ' Bahasa Keling' has been widely circulated and has caused a furore among the Malaysian Indian community.
"Although the Prime Minister claimed that he was speaking from a historical context, it must be noted that the word is considered derogatory and therefore it is best to avoid using it," he said.
The MIC deputy president was referring to a video clip, which showed Anwar referring to the Tamil language as 'Bahasa Keling', which drew a strong reaction among the Indian community.
Anwar on Saturday had explained that he had merely used the word in a historical context and it was not meant as an insult.
Saravanan noted that in the past, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had also been criticised for using the term. However, Dr Mahathir had justified it by saying it was common for northerners to use such a term to identify Indians or Tamils in the old days.
He said MIC was fully aware of the heated debate on the issue among netizens. He said MIC has taken proactive measures to inform its displeasure to the prime minister over the use of the word, which demeans Malaysian Indians.
"MIC, while in the current Unity Government, will not stand aside in safeguarding the pride and welfare of the Malaysian Indian community.
"While our Prime Minister might not have had any malice in uttering the word, it had certainly hurt the feelings of the community which had supported the current government come to power at the last general elections," he said.
Saravanan said he had personally texted the prime minister over the issue, expressing Malaysian Indians' displeasure over the last incident.
He hoped that such an incident will not recur, especially from the prime minister.
"This should serve as a lesson to all leaders not to trample on the sensitivities of other races in the country," he said.