No need to apologise for ‘slap Chinese’ threat, says former Umno minister

As pressure mounts from MCA for Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman to apologise for his "slap Chinese" threat, a former Umno minister has come out to say that there is no need for the deputy minister to do so. Former information minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin took to Twitter to say: "Tak payahlah Timbalan Menteri Tajuddin nak minta maaf pd orang Cina. Tak ada faedah pun. Mereka tak akan kembali sokong Umno atau BN (No need for deputy minister Tajuddin to apologise to the Chinese. No benefit. They will not return to supporting Umno or BN)." This follows Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor reportedly saying that the party will not demand that Tajuddin apologise for the remark. On Thursday, Tajuddin allegedly threatened to "slap" the Chinese if they took their problems here to other countries. He later denied issuing the threat. The deputy agriculture and agro-based industry minister was commenting on the visit to Petaling Street by Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang on September 25, when he reportedly said that Beijing was opposed to terrorism, extremism and any form of discrimination based on race. The latest MCA leader to demand an apology from Tajuddin is secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, who reportedly said Tajuddin's remarks had seriously offended all Malaysian Chinese. Ong had also said the party will lodge a formal protest via the Barisan Nasional (BN) channel for action to be taken against him. On Thursday, MCA central committee member Koh Chin Han demanded an apology from Tajuddin while the party's youth chief Chong Sin Woon had said that the party would be taking the matter to the BN supreme council. – October 3, 2015.