KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 — Lim Kit Siang promised today to wrangle an apology from DAP MP Teresa Kok for her controversial Chinese New Year video but under one condition — that it is proven to be anti-Malay or anti-Islam.
After the relentless accusations from Muslim groups and politicians, the DAP adviser said he watched the 11-minute video closely numerous times to search for anything remotely un-Islamic, but could not find any.
Instead, Lim said the video was a “stinging critique” on the alleged failures of the Najib administration to resolve pressing national concerns.
“We can agree or disagree as to whether Teresa’s video was good, bad or even atrocious... but what is completely unacceptable is resort to lies and falsehoods to accuse Teresa’s video as anti-Malay and anti-Islam,” he said in a statement here.
“I will ask Teresa to withdraw and apologise for the ‘Onederful Malaysia’ video if anyone can show there is any part which is anti-Malay and anti-Islam,” he added.
Kok has come under heavy fire for producing an 11-minute satirical Chinese New Year view that lampoons current affair issues in Malaysia.
In the video, the MP plays the role of a feng shui talk show host interviewing three panellists on their predictions for the lunar new year.
Among others, the panellists in the clip joked about a variety of hot button topics such as education, the kidnap of a Taiwanese tourist in Sabah last year and others.
Last Thursday, a group calling itself the “Council of Islamic NGOs” slaughtered live chickens in their protest against a satirical Chinese New Year video by Kok, after which they proceeded to smear the blood on a banner with images of DAP and PKR lawmakers.
The banner also warned of “nightmares” of May 13, 1969, in reference to the bloody racial riots of that year, and incited physical violence against Kok by offering members of the public RM1,200 to slap the parliamentarian and record the act.
The six Muslim groups alleged to have been involved in the protest are Pertubuhan Permuafakatan Majlis Ayahanda Malaysia (Permas), Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islam dan Dakwah (Pekida), Pertubuhan Kebajikan Insan Bakti Malaysia (Perkib), Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM) and Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia (MJMM).
