DAP has distanced itself from the 'adios' tweet of its Jelutong parliamentarian Jeff Ooi regarding the passing of PAS spiritual advisor, the late Haron Din, yesterday.
"DAP regrets the insensitive statement from Jelutong parliamentarian Jeff Ooi with regards to Haron's passing yesterday. I would like to announce that the re-tweet has been deleted.
"I would also like to express regret if any of Haron's family members felt slighted over Ooi's re-tweet which does not represent the party's stand," said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in a statement.
Lim also expressed DAP's condolences and sympathy for the loss suffered by the late PAS cleric's friends and family.
"While we may have our political differences, DAP is confident that the late Haron has contributed (much) to Islam.
"Once again I express my condolences to Haron's family on behalf of the DAP's extended family and hope that his soul will find a place amongst the pious," concluded Lim.
Lim was responding to words Ooi wrote in a re-tweet last night in relation to Haron's passing. The MP wrote "Adios Harun Din. May there be peace" when re-tweeting another tweet about the PAS spiritual advisor's passing.
He was hit by brickbats from both sides of the political aisle by those who condemned what he said as untimely and insensitive.
However, Ooi defended himself, saying that what he wrote was not meant as an insult, and asking all to refer to dictionaries if they do not know what 'adios' meant.
'Ooi doesn't represent the Chinese'
In a related development, BN component MCA advised social media users not to blame the Chinese community en masse, just because of Ooi's actions.
"This is not the work of the Chinese community. Ooi and his party DAP do not represent the Chinese community.
"By judging the community in such a wanton manner (it) will not do any good, especially if the criticism is based on Ooi's tweet," said the party's Religious Harmony Bureau chairperson Ti Lian Ker.
Ti, who was comes fresh from his no-holds-barred trading of barbs with Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz, advised the Chinese community to not be provoked into making silly retorts.
"It is time for cool heads to prevail and is best for everyone to take a back step first, without rushing out to post insensitive and damaging remarks.
"This will only cause racial and religious tension to aggravate," he said.
In the case of Ooi, Ti said that the former's untimely and insensitive tweet on the passing of Haron must be condemned.
"Even if Ooi considers Haron a political rival, that does not give him the license to insult the dead, especially when the late ustaz Haron had been DAP's comrade in arms before.
"It is still not too late for Ooi to put aside his ego and apologise to ustaz Haron's family," Ti said.
He called upon the police and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Communication to immediately investigate such damaging comments in the social media, starting with the re-tweet by Ooi.
