Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should also be charged under the Sedition Act for accusing non-Malays of being arrogant, Gerakan said today.

Gerakan's Youth wing deputy chief Andy Yong said although he not in favour of the Act, especially with it being so “easy” to charge law lecturer Azmi Sharom, he did not see why the same could not be applied to Zahid.

“It is wholly unnecessary for Zahid to make such a remark, whether he is targeting a particular group or non-Malays as a whole.

“Such comment is tantamount to inciting racial hatred or to politicise racial dominance in the country which is unhealthy,” Yong ( right ) said in a statement.

Zahid, as reported by The Sun , said the Malays were paying the price for being kind to non-Malays.

He said non-Malays were getting increasingly arrogant and were insulting the bumiputeras, the royalty and Islam.

However, Yong said Zahid’s comment was something that “Barisan Nasional politicians should stop making”.

He questioned Zahid’s motive for the remark.

“Doesn’t he realise that we have achieved so much in such a unique and beautiful country?

“If it is merely for  political agenda, (then) I consider him a selfish politician,” Yong said.

Last Saturday, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Ismail Sabri Yaacob said it was imperative for the Malay race to stand united .

“If we unite as one, others will not dare to challenge us,” Ismail said.

DAP: It's criminal defamation

Meanwhile, DAP’s Segambut MP Lim Lim Eng said that making remarks singling out a certain race is not only seditious but also “criminal defamation”.

“Zahid had casually made such claim without giving any facts or evidence (to support it). This is not only slander but also criminal defamation under Section 499 of the Penal Code,” he said.

“Perhaps Zahid has forgotten Islamic teachings which state that any charge must be backed by evidence and that slander is worse than murder,” he said in a statement.

 Lim also expressed doubts that police will act on Zahid for his “provocative” speech since he the force comes under the minister’s jurisdiction.

“Of greater concern is whether police will treat non-Malay citizens poorly following those remarks,” he said.

Gerakan deputy president Cheah Soon Hai ( left ) also expressed his disappointment over Zahid’s remarks.

“If his statement as reported is true, it is prejudicial and it will promote ill-will and unhappiness among the various ethnic groups in Malaysia.

“The statement is uncalled for and unfortunate as it comes from a senior leader of the government,” Cheah said in a statement.

Stressing that non-Malays were equally loyal and devoted to the country, he said the country’s leaders should not brand non-Malays based on the actions of a few.

“(Just like) it is unfair to stigmatise any group because a few members are extremists in their views, for example, like Perkasa or Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma),” Cheah added.

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