Published material from a variety of sources shed some light on the continuing controversy over Wanita Gerakan chief Tan Lian Hoe’s Oct 10 speech to the party faithful.

Among others, it was “a reminder of the more recent immigrant origins of the political Malays as distinct from the historical Malays”.

Tan clarified belatedly on Nov 2 at a press conference that her speech, which continues to be politicised by the mainstream Malay media and the extreme Malay right-wing, was “misconstrued”. She offered neither an explanation or an apology to those who are ‘offended’ and are after her blood, if not her head.

As in a similar case involving former MCA deputy head Lee Kim Sai many years ago, they refuse to let the issue go away. The moral of the story, according to observers with a less jaundiced eye: not every immigrant likes to be reminded of his humble origins.

But are some things best left alone? No way, of course, if the issue of ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) continues to be flogged to death.