KUALA LUMPUR: Former Penang DAP leader P. Ramasamy has called out Umno youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Salleh for his alleged ignorance over the existence of vernacular schools in the country.
This follows Akmal's statement earlier, arguing that "it is the attitude of individuals like Ramasamy" that has hindered unity among races.
"People like you in politics are the real reason why unity among races cannot flourish. Are you drunk or what?" Dr Akmal said via his Facebook yesterday.
Akmal said Ramasamy claiming his party as multiracial contradicts the idea of building a Malaysian nation.
"When it comes to education, you want it to be segregated?"
In response, Ramasamy said on Facebook that he expected Akmal to have responded rationally and maturely to his argument.
"He is trying to peddle the usual and mundane stereotype of racists and bigots that as an ethnic Indian I might have some proclivity towards alcohol."
A typical racist Umno leader who cannot even engage in a normal debate about the vernacular schools and why the necessity for the government to review them," he said.
He also challenged Akmal to call for the closing down of vernacular schools as he "would like to know how his DAP friends would take this challenge.
"The passion for the existence of the vernacular schools, said Ramasamy, is fuelled by the ethnic and religious discrimination against the non-Malays.
He said misguided and misinformed leaders like Akmal have no understanding of history, or perhaps a distorted version of Malay hegemonic history.
Ramasamy also took to explaining the identity of his party, the United for the Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai), claiming that it is not racially or ethnically defined.
"The membership is open to all the races, particularly the disadvantaged and marginalised."