KUALA LUMPUR: Khairy Jamaluddin blasted Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for defending DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng over the latter's statement related to the 3R (rulers, race, religion) issue.
During the Keluar Sekejap podcast session aired today, Khairy and his co-host Shahril Hamdan agreed that Lim's recent controversial speech in Penang was a clear-cut breach of the 3R rules.
The former Umno Youth Chief said that he was angered by Lim's speech, but what made him disappointed the most is the fact that the Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid defended Lim for making a 3R related speech.
"If you want to defend the cooperation with DAP, it is acceptable, but to defend him for issuing a 3R statement, which is deemed extreme, saying the green wave could threaten the non-Muslim's temples, he has not respected the chair of the Umno president.
"This is the chair held by Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak, it is a sacred chair, I contested for this very sacred chair.
"What have you done to this chair? This is unacceptable and unbecoming of an Umno president," he said today.
He said that Ahmad Zahid's action could result in the Malay voters to punish Umno.
He said that Ahmad Zahid has failed to play his role as the party head which was established to defend Malays, Islam and the Federal Constitution.
Former Umno information chief Shahril said that only the party's youth wing has the guts to raise the issue and called for an investigation against the former Finance Minister for the alleged racial statement.
"Where are the others, does this reflect the state of Umno at the moment?" he added.
Lim landed in hot water over a statement which allegedly touched on the 3R issue.
Police have launched an investigation over his controversial statement.
Lim had disputed news reports alleging him of provoking religious sentiments.
He said his speech, delivered in Mandarin, was misrepresented, making him claim there were parties planning to destroy Buddhist and Chinese temples.
In defence, he said he was referring to the case of a Hindu temple being demolished in July 2020 in Alor Setar, Kedah.