Tajuddin: Lempang, tampar don't fit my veteran politician stature

PETALING JAYA: Known for making controversial statements, Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (pic) denied he used words such as lempang and tampar (to slap) on Chinese who highlighted complaints outside the country.

Tajuddin, the Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister and Pasir Salak MP, said such choices of words "are not suitable for a veteran politician like me."

“How can I use the word lempang and so on? That is school kids language. This reporter, I do not understand her. That is her interpretation.

“I am not a young boy. How can I use that kind of word! If I say something, it should suit my stature as a veteran politician. How can I use stupid words like that!" he told The Star Online.

“Malaysian Chinese are Malaysian citizens. If there is any problem in the country, settle it internally,” he added.

At the launch of the Herbal Asia 2015 exhibition, Tajuddin reportedly told a press conference that he warned Malaysian Chinese not to complain about the government to foreigners and hoped to be protected by the foreign governments.

Such Malaysians, he reportedly said, deserved to be "lempang" by him.

Tajuddin told The Star Online that he was "only reminding" the Chinese who hoped to benefit from taking their complaints overseas.

“There are still a few Chinese who think they have a godfather to protect or help them. I repeat - Some Chinese.

“This is a reminder. She (the reporter) used the word warning in her story. I am just telling them, that they should not be thinking this way,” he said.

MCA central committee member Koh Chin Han condemned Tajuddin's statement and asked him to apologise.

In a press statement issued on the party’s website on Thursday, Koh said "such utterance clearly goes against the spirit of 1Malaysia and only intended to add flames to the controversy surrounding the Chinese ambassador to Malaysia."

“We are shocked that such an illogical and racist statement can come from a deputy minister and a Barisan Nasional leader.

“We urge Tajuddin to state clearly when did the Malaysian Chinese complain to foreign governments about the Malaysian government, and when did any Malaysian Chinese said that they intend to ‘return’ to China?” said Koh.

He said without any evidence of Malaysians going overseas to complain, Tajuddin was abusing the opportunity to instigate racial sentiments by defaming the Malaysian Chinese.

“Such extremist statement can only come from an extremist.The Malaysian Chinese are all born and raised here.

“Nobody has the right to slander any race, be it the Malay, Chinese, Indian or other races as such an act can be construed as contempt of the Federal Constitution which protects the rights of all races, which is a punishable crime.”

Koh urged Tajuddin to immediately retract his statement.

“If he ever dares to slap any Chinese, MCA will not sit still. The Malaysian Chinese are proud of Malaysia.

“Tajuddin’s statement can become an international joke and cast a shadow over Malaysia’s reputation which had been painstakingly nurtured over the years.”

In a special briefing on Sept 29, China ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang had reiterated that he never had the intention to interfere with Malaysia’s domestic affairs over remarks he made in Petaling Street on Sept 25 when he said China was against those who resort to violence to disrupt public order.

Dr Huang warned that Beijing would not fear voicing out against incidents, which threaten the interests of the country, infringe upon the rights of its citizens in doing business, or disrupt the relationship between Malaysia and China.