KUALA LUMPUR: GERAKAN has suspended its Johor delegate Tan Lai Soon over his remark which had suggested that the Malays, Indians and Chinese are “pendatang” (immigrants).
The decision to suspend Tan was made following Gerakan’s central working committee emergency meeting yesterday, which was in response to the 14 complaints lodged by party members.
Gerakan deputy president Datuk Dr Cheah Soon Hai said Tan was issued a show-cause letter and was given 14 days to respond and explain his position, in accordance with Article 17.2 of the party’s constitution.
“Tan’s statement does not in any way represent the party’s stand. We are all Malaysians, nobody is a ‘pendatang’,” Cheah said at the party headquarters here yesterday.
“Gerakan is a party for all races and we do not condone any remarks that are un-Malaysian.”
On Sunday, Tan had told the Gerakan national delegates conference that with the exception of the Orang Asli and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, everyone in Malaysia was a “pendatang”.
He chastised Umno for calling the Chinese and Indians “pendatang”, and said Malays were also immigrants as their forefathers originated from Indonesia.
Tan, who is Parit Sulong Gerakan chairman and party member of four years, had since apologised and retracted his controversial statement.
When commenting further on the matter, Cheah said he was sorry to the people who might have been hurt by Tan’s thoughtless remarks.
“On behalf of the party, we apologise to all Malaysians who have been offended by his statement.
“We call on all parties to cease making any more accusations that will further aggravate the situation.”