KUALA LUMPUR: Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran has apologised over the 'pendatang' (immigrant) remark made during his speech in Nilai last week.
The embattled DAP national vice-chairman issued the apology one day after he denied labelling the Malays using the term.
In a statement today, Kulasegaran said remarks he made in the speech had become the subject of controversy in the media.
"These remarks have been misconstrued to suggest I used the word 'pendatang' with reference to people who would resent its application to them.
“I hereby unreservedly apologise for the hurt I may have caused and withdraw the offensive references in that extemporaneous speech,” he said.
Kulasegaran, who is Ipoh Barat member of parliament, said he had never been “a controversialist” on issues of race and religion and will always abide by what had been enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
He also claimed that his speech in Tamil had been misinterpreted in other languages.
“Words are so chameleon-like they often take on different meanings in different languages like that I spoke of in Tamil,” he said, adding he decided to apologise and to withdraw the remark to prevent the controversy from worsening.
“I am sorry for any hurt I may have caused,” he said.
Kulasegaran has come under fire after what he said was shared in social media, with numerous groups now planning to lodge nationwide police reports against him.
In a report published on Friday, Kulasegaran was quoted as saying that various Hindu temples were discovered in Lembah Bujang in Kedah, which was proof that Hinduism had long existed in the country.