The furore over Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Aik's allegedly racist comments against an Indian Muslim restaurant owner has not died down although the latter has vehemently denied that he ever made those remarks. A group of Indian Muslims is planning another protest against Ng, after a similar rally was organised in Komtar last week, where the Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress handed a memorandum to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, urging him to act against his political secretary.
Komtar Merchants Association vice-president Abdul Ghani Mohammad Jiman (right), one of the organisers of tomorrow's rally, said the protest would be held at the state government offices on the 3th floor of Komtar at 2pm, after Friday prayers.“We thank you for the support towards our platform, Suara Anak-Anak Mamak Pulau Pinang (Voice of Penang Mamak),” Abdul Ghani in an SMS circulated to the media.
The group, which could number about 100 people, is expected to start the rally from the Simpang Enam mosque, located several metres away from Komtar.Meanwhile, Ng expressed regret over the systematic personal attacks against his character by those who did not properly evaluate the rationale behind the action taken at the Indian Muslim restaurant by the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) personnel.
Ng, who is also Penang Pakatan Youth secretary, said an accident on Jan 2 involving two vehicles nearly killed some customers at the Nasi Kandar Mohamed Aliyar restaurant, which necessitated immediate action from the MPPP.The council personnel had to seize the tables, chairs and whatever obstructive equipment or structures along the road and five-foot way, he added. “The council's action was to prevent any serious mishap from happening to the restaurant's customers and to ensure public safety,” Ng said in a statement.
'No malice or bad intention'
“There is no malice or bad intention with regard to the action... in fact whatever well-intended action taken by the MPPP should be supported by all,” he added.Ng said the council was trying not to allow fatal accidents that threaten public safety to happen, and that action would be taken against the restaurant owner, Syed Kassali Mohamed Aliyar.A responsible government has the duty to ensure that lives and property are safe no matter what happens, he said.
“MPPP's action should be reviewed in a holistic manner and not from a narrow perspective which eventually gives the public a wrong portrayal of events.” The media should also play its role to raise awareness of the public towards wrongful acts and the dangers of allowing chairs and tables to be placed on roadsides or corridors so that the accident at Gat Lebuh Macallum would not recur.Asked what right he had to raid the restaurant with the MPPP team, as the area was not even within his constituency, Ng said as a responsible citizen, he was obliged to help prevent accidents whenever the need arose.
“I am willing to help anyone... in or outside Penang. We receive a lot of requests for help. Should we turn them down?” he asked.However, he denied that MPPP personnel had requested his assistance during the controversial incident. He also vowed never to be involved in any enforcement activity of the MPPP or any other authority in the future to avoid any slanderous claim against him.
On the allegations of him uttering 'tutup kedai, balik India' (close shop, go back to India) which have caused waves of protests among the Indian Muslim community in Penang against him, Ng said there was still no proof that he had uttered the racist remark.“All the reporters who covered the incident can be my witnesses... that I did not utter words telling the owner or workers of the restaurant to 'balik India',” he said.
“This is a slanderous, malicious and wild allegation against me, and legal action will definitely be taken against those who have made those baseless charges against me.”
Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/153293
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