KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesian vice-president Jusuf Kalla has demanded that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad apologise over his derogatory remarks against the Bugis community.
Indonesian news portal Republika reported Jusuf as saying that he was shocked when he found out about Dr Mahathir’s remark towards Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“First, as a person with Bugis ancestry, I protest (the remark) and I am shocked. So, Dr Mahathir should apologise as the Bugis community is not only in South Sulawesi but all over Indonesia and Malaysia.”
Dr Mahathir was reported to have said Najib was descended from Bugis pirates when delivering a speech at the Sayangi Malaysia, Hapuskan Kleptokrasi rally organised by Pakatan Harapan in Petaling Jaya on Oct 14,
Jusuf said Dr Mahathir had to make an apology and withdraw his remarks as it was hurtful to the Bugis community.
“Dr Mahathir should not link (clans with politics),” he said.
Dr Mahathir, who is also the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman has come under fire — both at home and abroad — for the remarks.
Several police reports have been lodged over the issue as the Bugis community in Malaysia took offence.