MCA has continued to rain condemnation on Tajuddin Abdul Rahman for stating that he will 'slap' Chinese Malaysians for complaining to outsiders.
The latest imbroglio comes amid strained ties between the two BN partners after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak supported the Sept 16 red shirt rally.
This prompted Pasir Gudang MCA Youth to sever ties with Najib and incur the wrath of Umno leaders.
Taking Tajuddin to task, Gelang Patah MCA division urged Umno to act against its supreme council member to prevent the exacerbation of racial tension.
Division chairperson Jason Teoh (
photo
) castigated the deputy agriculture and agro-based industry minister for insulting Chinese Malaysians with his "low class" mentality.
"His later claim that he never said the word 'slap' has only caused more harm than good.
"Clearly, he does not qualify to be a leader as he failed to take into consideration the importance of racial harmony when he made that provocative remark," he said in a statement.
Teoh, who is also an MCA central committee member, said Tajuddin should have more common sense as a BN leader.
Meanwhile, MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan said the party would raise the matter through the BN channel to call for action against leaders who threaten national unity.
Ong also said Tajuddin's statement had seriously offended and insulted Malaysian Chinese.
"We want Tajuddin to apologise to the people of Malaysia for his damaging remark.
"Clearly, he is fighting against his own shadow as what he criticised has never taken place. As a deputy minister, he should check his facts correctly, first and foremost, before making statements, instead of recklessly commenting on the Malaysian Chinese community.
"The Malaysian Chinese are only loyal to one country: Malaysia. The Malaysian Chinese will never swear allegiance to other countries, let alone lodge complaints when abroad. This is an extremely ignorant statement coming from Tajuddin," Ong added.
The deputy minister's remark came in response to China Ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang's visit to Petaling Street on the eve of a controversial rally, which was later aborted.
Tajuddin, who is also an Umno supreme council member, told Chinese Malaysians not to dream about a ‘godfather’ from China coming to their aid.
He later claimed that he was misquoted, and refused to apologise. But audio recordings from the press conference reveal otherwise.
Related reports
Deputy minister denies Chinese school breeds racism
Tajuddin says no apology for 'slap Chinese' remark
