Gobind challenges Khairy to apologise (Malaysiakini)

Deputy Umno Youth chief and Rembau parliamentarian Khairy Jamaluddin should follow the example set by his boss Hishammuddin Hussein and apologise for having called participants in last year’s Bersih rally beruk (monkeys).DAP’s Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo issued this challenge to Khairy at a press conference held at the Parliament lobby yesterday.“I think what Hishammuddin has done is perhaps the beginning of what should come from Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders: a series of apologies to the Malaysian public at large for issuance of statements that affected them,” Gobind said.“Now an elected representative...a person who is supposed to represent not only himself but all his constituents, in addition to being a deputy Youth chief of Umno and the son-in-law of the prime minister, I think he should take responsibility and own up and apologise. This is my challenge to him.”Gobind was referring to Khairy’s statement on Nov 7 last year during the Umno Youth annual general meeting, urging the authorities to come down hard on the Bersih mass rally for electoral reform that took place three days later.“They claim that electoral process is not clean. Then why contest in 2004 (general election)? They boycotted Batu Talam (by-election), but they contested (later) in Machap and Ijok (by-elections),” Khairy had said in his winding-up speech.“Don’t be like beruk (monkeys) on streets. If you want to fight, fight in the real ring like a man. At the general elections, we (Umno Youth) will fight and we will win!” Gobind said Khairy’s use of the term beruk was “unacceptable”.“You do not go around calling people names like that. His boss has taken the first step towards correcting the wrongs that Umno Youth has (done to) the people of Malaysia. I am challenging him to follow suit. Do the right thing and apologise to the people of Malaysia for saying that,” he said.As for Nik Aziz...Asked to comment on Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat’s use earlier this year of the term orang utan for Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders, Gobind said he was not aware of the incident.“If that statement was made against persons in Barisan Nasional, then perhaps an apology is proper,” said Gobind.Also at the press conference was his father Karpal Singh, the DAP parliamentarian for Bukit Gelugor.“I’m surprised that BN people have not asked for an apology. Maybe what the MB said is right,” he said.