DAP's Hew in trouble over allegedly racist remarks

PETALING JAYA: DAP's "Superman" Hew Kuan Yau (pic) is in hot water for allegedly playing up the race card during the party's campaign in Batu Kitang for the recently-concluded Sarawak election.

In a video that is making its rounds on social media, Hew, speaking in Mandarin, allegedly asked the voters to support its Malay candidate to enable him to "screw" the Malays in PBB.

According to the subtitles in the video, Hew purportedly told voters to choose DAP over PKR, which was also contesting the seat.

"Please don't waste your vote on PKR in Batu Kitang. Vote for (DAP candidate) Aziz. He would be the first Malay assemblyman from DAP in Sarawak," he allegedly said.

But the Teluk Intan DAP chief claimed that his words had been "twisted" by Umno cybertroopers.

"They mistranslated my speech on purpose," he said, adding that he was referring to ruling party PBB and not Malays.

Hew, who posted a clarification on Facebook, is known as "Superman" because he likes to wear T-shirts bearing the comic superhero's logo during ceramah.

This is not the first time he has courted controversy, and previously had to apologise for attacking a political columnist for being gay.

Asked if DAP would take action, party disciplinary committee chairman Tan Kok Wai said he had yet to view the video.

Batu Kitang saw a five-way fight between Barisan Nasional, DAP, PKR and two independents.

The new constituency was one of six seats where Pakatan Harapan allies DAP and PKR fielded candidates.

DAP candidate Abdul Aziz Isa lost to Barisan's Lo Khere Chiang from SUPP with a 1,840-vote majority, while PKR's Voon Shiak Ni and the two independents lost their deposits.